engine knocking and ticking

jimmhuth · Jul 16, 2009, 11:11 PM

so i started up my car after work today and the engine starting ticking instantly. it gets worse as the rpms go up. it sounds like i bent a valve. does anyone know of anything else it might be? i need help.

imalancerman · Jul 16, 2009, 11:17 PM

Worst case scenario, spun bearing, although thats more of a knock than a tick but it can start as a loud tick and progress into a knock in my experience with some vehicles. Check your oil level cause if its low, your valve train will tick loudly as well.

03lances · Jul 17, 2009, 02:30 AM

If you have a bent valve loud enough to make noise like that I would imagine you would have a noticable loss in power. However this is easily diagnosed by a compression test. Imalancerman is correct if your oil is low or old it will cause the ticking sound

jimmhuth · Jul 18, 2009, 02:06 PM

well the car has oil and the compression reads 180, 185, 180, and 160. any other suggestions? i'm running out of ideas

03lances · Jul 18, 2009, 03:13 PM

Vavles are just fine then, although that 160 should be a little closer to the others. Any way you could make a video of it so we know exactly how bad the ticking is? My Lancer has 85K on it and I noticed about 10K ago a little ticking when cold but goes away when warmed up, nothing for me to worry about though for sure. Whaat oil weight do you run?

jimmhuth · Jul 18, 2009, 03:54 PM

i run 10w30. i'm really leaning on the fact that it may be a sticking lifter...the noise is really fast, a little to fast to be a spun bearing or a knocking rod. i dont really have anyway to make a video.

mcgarvey · Jul 18, 2009, 03:56 PM

Assuming you've run only 5w30 oil and changed it regularly, it's 99% not a bottom end issue. 4G94s just don't make enough power to blow themselves up unless you either have some serious modifications or if you only bother to change your oil every 10k miles. Most likely it's just a hydraulic lash adjuster. They tend to get sticky after a while and make some noise. Replace them or take them apart and clean them out. If you choose the latter, you better have some small agile fingers.

jimmhuth · Jul 18, 2009, 04:08 PM

any idea on the price of lifters? do you have to remove the head to inspect them?

djbenny · Jul 18, 2009, 06:53 PM

Anymore info on this? cuz my sisters car is making the same noise i think, it sounds like knocking, and when you go higher up on the RPM's it gets faster its pretty noticeable.

jimmhuth · Jul 18, 2009, 11:47 PM

heres a video of the noise.

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...t=IMG_0146.flv

imalancerman · Jul 18, 2009, 11:57 PM

Your link doesnt work. Anyways, look up on youtube for ticking car or knocking car or something like that. There are a lot of videos and feedback on videos to help you figure out what is going on. I said only HELP you figure out. I know that mitsubishis often times develop ticks that are harmless. My cars old engine had a tick at about 2000 rpm that wasnt there at any other rpm. Kinda like a clatter sound actually. But it was harmless. From what your saying though, it does sound like the valvetrain is the case. I would try doing seafoam in your oil. Not the actual seafoam treatment as all that does is free up stuck valves and clean your cylinders really well but actually use the stuff the way its meant to, by putting it in the oil so it can have access to your lifters. I wish your link worked so I could hear the problem but maybe try to go a little farther in depth with a description? Ive had good luck with getting rid of ticks with this seafoam procedure though.

jimmhuth · Jul 19, 2009, 12:01 AM

already tried the sea foam...

imalancerman · Jul 19, 2009, 12:02 AM

They dont work because your trying to get me to log into your facebook and your email. Sorry. Try to find something similar on youtube and post the link. Is it kinda like a fast buzzing sound maybe or just a ticking?

jimmhuth · Jul 19, 2009, 12:09 AM

haha alright i just put it on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=031opzR4HrI

imalancerman · Jul 19, 2009, 12:20 AM

I have to be completely honest, that sounds like rod knock IMO. That sounds only slightly quieter than my car when I had it but virtually identical. There is a tick in there but im not as concerned with that as I am that knock. Thats pretty audible and while I really hope its your valvetrain, Im not thinking it is. But don't take it from me. Wait for the other guys to get on and help diagnose. 03lances will be on later and Im sure he'll have a good idea of whats going on. Better to get a couple opinions rather than jump to conclusions.