ticking noise while at idle
- Thread starter wozzie1
- Start date
sx sonic
New member
How's your oil level?
It sounds like the lifters making noise. They're hydraulic and need oil psi to control any slack in the valvetrain (known as valve lash). If they don't get enough oil either because they're bad or the oil is low or there isn't enough oil pressure they won't "pump up" and take up the slack.
It's common for hydraulic lifters to make a fast ticking noise immediately after start up and the quiet down once oil psi builds up.
If It's constant you may have an issue. The lifter noise isn't a bad thing but could mean there is an underlying issue that needs addressed.
It sounds like the lifters making noise. They're hydraulic and need oil psi to control any slack in the valvetrain (known as valve lash). If they don't get enough oil either because they're bad or the oil is low or there isn't enough oil pressure they won't "pump up" and take up the slack.
It's common for hydraulic lifters to make a fast ticking noise immediately after start up and the quiet down once oil psi builds up.
If It's constant you may have an issue. The lifter noise isn't a bad thing but could mean there is an underlying issue that needs addressed.
ecohauler
New member
I second sx's diagnosis. If you hear your engine clicking, the first thing you should check is your oil level. It should also go without saying that you should never go beyond the recommended oil change interval (~7500 miles per DIC. Use synthetic on these cars).
If adding/changing oil doesn't help and you're sure you're using the right viscosity, there's probably a bigger problem. I'm currently rebuilding a '99 Malibu that suffered oil abuse. It came to me with a loud clicking/clanging sound in the engine. Diagnosed stuck lifters. Push rods (Chevy likes to keep the V engines old school) were banging against the rockers. Cleaned the journals and replaced all lifters, as well as a couple of bent push rods. Put it all back together, got a different clicking noise. Diagnosed a bad rod bearing. Got the engine apart and found that the bearing on cylinder 4 had worn all the way through and the crankshaft journal was worn down ~4mm. This was all in addition to lots of sludge in the crankcase and throughout the engine that I've cleaned out along the way. Replaced the crankshaft as well as all bearings and seals, and everything seems tight enough now. I am now in the process of putting the engine back together so I can put it back in and sell the piece of... I mean, glorious, wonderful work of American engineering and manufacturing.
Of course, that was all on a push rod V6 that's over a decade old and had clearly been making some warning noises for a while, and the owner clearly ignored a lot of stuff. Pay attention to what your engine's telling you and change your oil, and you'll probably never have to go through what I'm doing now.
If adding/changing oil doesn't help and you're sure you're using the right viscosity, there's probably a bigger problem. I'm currently rebuilding a '99 Malibu that suffered oil abuse. It came to me with a loud clicking/clanging sound in the engine. Diagnosed stuck lifters. Push rods (Chevy likes to keep the V engines old school) were banging against the rockers. Cleaned the journals and replaced all lifters, as well as a couple of bent push rods. Put it all back together, got a different clicking noise. Diagnosed a bad rod bearing. Got the engine apart and found that the bearing on cylinder 4 had worn all the way through and the crankshaft journal was worn down ~4mm. This was all in addition to lots of sludge in the crankcase and throughout the engine that I've cleaned out along the way. Replaced the crankshaft as well as all bearings and seals, and everything seems tight enough now. I am now in the process of putting the engine back together so I can put it back in and sell the piece of... I mean, glorious, wonderful work of American engineering and manufacturing.
Of course, that was all on a push rod V6 that's over a decade old and had clearly been making some warning noises for a while, and the owner clearly ignored a lot of stuff. Pay attention to what your engine's telling you and change your oil, and you'll probably never have to go through what I'm doing now.
RoXXXanne13
New member
what octane fuel you run? youll see that with 93 or higher sometimes get a little valve tick cuz the spark n all that... I had it wicked in my impala when I ran 110 octane haha smelled delicious too
Am I crazy, or has this been discussed before? Of course I cannot actually hear this sound, but the fuel injectors do make a clicking or ticking sound that is entirely normal. It sounds pretty loud because everything else is so quiet, and it too will increase with rpm.
If you have doubts, it doesn't hurt to have a dealer look at it or whatever.
If you have doubts, it doesn't hurt to have a dealer look at it or whatever.
Scot
Athletic Supporter
No. Port fuel injection.
