Engine tick... - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

AusXH · 05-21-2003, 19:50

I know the first thing everyone is going to say is lifters and I have done the searches so I know generally what the problem is. I find it strange though that my problem started so quickly and so badly. My car has always had a fairly quiet valvetrain, and previous to this has never suffered from the start up lifter noise that others describe.

Yesterday afternoon while driving to a mates place from uni (so at 60-70km/hr) A very pronounced tick begins all of a sudden. It rises and falls with the engine revs but didn't get quieter as the engine warmed up. Drove around for about an hour doing different things like giving full throttle to increase oil flow and the opposite trying to hardly use the throttle at all to sustain speed.

Tried pulling over, turning off the engine for a minute and restarting. Nothing I did caused the tick to become any less apparent and this morning its still the same. The noise appears to be coming from the rear of the engine, but since its so loud its hard to pick the exact location.

My question is as while I'm sure its a faulty lifter, what causes a lifter to die all of a sudden? Will it be evident as to which one it is when I pull the rocker cover? If not can I run the engine with the rocker cover off? Could it be something else?

Thanks all.

XR_Strider_GuY · 05-21-2003, 21:30

Ryan,

Your symtoms happened exactly the way my EF started making the noise. I was driving and then all of a sudden i could hear this tick. Not sure how you can identify which lifter it is. Sounds like it's the same symtom as your car has about the same km's as when mine happened.

Just for the record, i got all my lifters changed and the noise is still there to this day. Though in your case i would not out rule lifters just yet.

Failing changing the lifters, i would hazzard a guess in the timing chain tensioner filter and/or timing chain/guide itself.

Venom XR · 05-21-2003, 22:18

If the noise increases/decreases with acceleration/decceleration, is could be the purge valve.

EB2Fairmont · 05-21-2003, 22:23

Mine does it too. Drives me nuts. Does go up and down with speed, but doesn't seem to be getting worse.

David

AusXH · 05-21-2003, 23:59

Quote:

Originally posted by XR_Strider_GuY
Failing changing the lifters, i would hazzard a guess in the timing chain tensioner filter and/or timing chain/guide itself.

I initially thought this, even hoped it was this but the sound is definately coming from the rear (firewall) end of the engine.

Quote:

Originally posted by Venom XR
If the noise increases/decreases with acceleration/decceleration, is could be the purge valve.

The carbon canister purge valve? It is definately related to the engine revs since it speeds up and slows down as you rev it in say park. It does become louder when you rev it, but I think thats just because there's alot more ticking going on.

I've had a few thoughts about what might have happened to the lifter (if that is my problem).

- First thought is that the lifter depressed and is stuck like that, creating a gap between the rocker arm and the valve stem.

- Second thought is that the oil track to that lifter/rocker has become blocked by some debris preventing oil from reaching it.

- Third thought is that the lifter has shat itself into a few hundred peices... :hrm:

I cant help but think though every minute I drive it like this is causing more damage and I'm yet to make the 100km pilgrimage home. I for one can't wait to hear *tick, tick, tick, tick...* for an hour or so up the freeway. :dead:

TIKFD6 · 05-22-2003, 02:00

How loud is it ryan?
does it sound like it is coming from the front passanger side?
i had the same sound, i pin pointed it to the purge valve, i sucked and blew it it a few times and it stoped.

AusXH · 05-22-2003, 02:36

It's pretty loud I reckon. A person walking along the street can hear the ticking over my engine noise I reckon.

It sounds like its coming from the middle of the engine.

MADXF · 05-22-2003, 02:49

Just a thought, but I have heard injectors make some loud clicking noises.

yeah right · 05-22-2003, 04:37

If you decide it's a lifter next time use a flush before you change the oil - there's one I used to get rid of the lifter noise in the subaru - worked brilliantly - never heard it again and that was 2 years ago - think it's called gold eagle or something like that - in a tin you have to open with a can opener.

AusXH · 05-22-2003, 22:21

Well today I pulled the rocker cover and found the dud lifter just by pushing on each rocker arm. It was the only one that would move and moved around 2-3mm.

Off came the running gear and out fell both the bad lifter and a good one next to it. You could see by comparing the two that it was stuck in. Trip to the wreckers and $10 later I had another lifter/lash adjuster. Put it all back together and check the oil level. It had fallen around 1-1.5L since I checked it the other night in Newcastle. (NOTE to those with noisy lifters and high oil usage, could be related)

Topped it back up with oil, started it up and its good as new. Very nice and all for $10. Gotta be happy about that. :s4

Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions. Much appreciated.