Can an EGR vale thats going bad make ticking noises like sticking lifters and sludge? I know that one thats going bad can make the engine run hotter, get worse mileage, have a harder start, and cause a rough idle, all of which is happening to my car on and off randomly. But a while ago I posted a thread about sludge, because it sounded like my lifters were sticking because of sludge, but now after Marvel Mystery Oil and oil changes, the sound isnt going away, and it only makes the sound on the passenger side, the same side as the valve, and it only does it around 2000RPM, where I do most of my accelerating/driving.

Next, since its been enlightened to me that the whole rear axle of the car is lubricated through the differential fluid, can a differential thats low on fluid make humming noises, and make wheels make rubbing/scraping/screeching sounds around corners? The rear differential has never been touched before, so as far as I know, its the original fluid in there. I have records for the car, and none for a rear differential service from any garage, and the people that had that car didn't know much more than how to change a battery and alternator.

Thanks for any and all help!

 

Anyone know?....

 

........

 

Check the tightness of all the exhaust bolts on the pass side, and that the donut isn't cracked as well. It could be that something is loose over there and is rattling or letting exhaust leak.

Oh, and do a check for loose valves. I know that after I replaced my head gaskets, I set the valves right, and I come back some time later and they were loose and rattling like a snake.

 

THANK YOU!!!

 

Oh, and if you don't think it's ever been done, change the rearend oil. I'll warn you, though, that the crap that's going to come out of there is probably the worst smelling crap you'll ever have come out of any car. Even when fresh. You'll need either a diff cover gasket or a bead of RTV silicone to seal the cover. Also check for oil in the rear brakes and oil leaks around the axle seals.

 

how do you change the fluid in the diff?

 

Unbolt the cover, and all the oil will come out.
Spray down the gears with brakleen and scoop out the bottom of the housing.
Clean gasket surfaces.
I put RTV on the cover then stick the gasket to it. (its easier to clean off the cover then the housing if you have to change it again)
Bolt the cover back on.
Pop out the plug and fill with oil.

Filling with oil is the tricky part you'll need something like http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...fier=2366_0_0_
Best $4 I ever spent.

 

Sorry to bring this one back up, but I finally got some tools of my own, so I've been working, yesterday I took off my EGR vavle and cleaned it with carb/choke cleaner and the part of the manifold it sits on, and now all my sounds have dissapeared!

Those sounds weren't from sludge, they were from a clogging up dirty EGR valve!

 

I'm glad you found the problem, I was going to suggest the same thing.

The digital EGR's on later cars are just mechanical pintles slamming open and closed via electronic command, they can get noisy as hell if carbon takes up all of the clearances. If you ever Seafoam your car, expect to do it again.

 

Ohhhh yeahhh....that thing was BAD! I don't Seafoam my car anymore, or I haven't for a while, but it doesn't take much for those things to get dirty!