Hi,

I researched "tick" in the archives, but still need to ask on the board.

My daily beater V8 Caprice now has a loud tick coming from the driver's side of the engine. Seems to be from the valve cover area. I've had it before, at a lower volume, and it went away by itself.

Started it up this morning, no ticking sound when cold, but on the way to work, it started. You can hear it at idle, and it gets louder as you rev the engine. Seems to be from one cylinder / rod / piston, etc.

What's mystifying is how it could come out of nowhere like this. No tick yesterday, and loud tick today. I changed the oil and filter about 150 miles ago.

Hoping it is lifter tick and will go away by itself, or with some MM oil. Or maybe a piece of carbon stuck in a valve opening temporarily.

Could a loud exhaust manifold leak happen all of a sudden like this ?

Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks,
John

 

You could always use the home-made stethescope (scrap of heater hose) idea to listen for the noise's source... just follow general safety precautions ok?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards

 

Could be an exhuast leak. I have a ticking sound from under my hood as well because my right exhaust manifold has a minor leak. Also it could be a tapping lifter. For some reason a friend of mine has a lifter that only taps perodically in his camaro with a TBI 305. Hope this helps.

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TPI 305,
Gutted airboxes,
gutted MAF,
K&N filters,
Corvette Servo.
14.9@93mph

"Speed kills, wanna live forever, drive a Ford."

 

I'll try the hose stethoscope method. I am also going to drain out a pint or so of oil, and add some MM oil, and see what happens, hoping it is a sludged up lifter. A fellow motorhead gave it a listen and says he thinks it is not an exhaust leak. Must've been that new Pennzoil "Clean Engine" formula that I used in my last oil change. Must've broken off some sludge but not dissolved it. Well, maybe....