Engine ticking

[Blackwater32]

Ok, my engine is making a ticking sound at low rpms and it kinda goes away at higher rpm's. I've read a few threads about the ticking and i'm pretty sure it's the lifters. My cousin and I changed the the clutch, rebuilt the drivers side axle, and installed a new passenger side axle last week and he said it sounded like the lifters. What can i do to fix this? I do have a can of seafoam in my trunk too, but I'm scared I might kill my engine.

Also, I took off my oil pan last week to pound out some of the dents in it and it's leaking from the spot I pryed it out from. I plan on fixing that before the suns game tommorrow too.

Here's a video courtesy of Marty from awhile back. I have the black p10 with the nasty clicking.

[Loek]

If this is rod-knock, don't drive it anymore and check bottom-end (crank) bearings asap. Otherwise it's end of story.....

[Blackwater32]

I don't think it's rod knock, cause i've been driving with it like this since i got the car about a year ago.

[Loek]

Well, I would take it to a mechanic asap anyway, it sounds like sh.t...

[Blackwater32]

Well, I would take it to a mechanic asap anyway, it sounds like sh.t...

Hey don't talk about my car like that Loek man... Just kidding it does sound like isshh. I read somewhere something about bleeding the lifters which I don't know anything about, but it runs fine right now except for the oil pan leak.

[plastikcaktus]

yeah it does sound like air in the lifters. i think i remember a post on sr20forum about how to remove that...

[Mean Green G20]

You must prime the lifters with oil. Check the FSM under the EM(engine mechanical) section for the specs. I have done it and it really did not fix the clicking to my satisfaction. Where are teh engine gurus?

[Blackwater32]

You must prime the lifters with oil. Check the FSM under the EM(engine mechanical) section for the specs. I have done it and it really did not fix the clicking to my satisfaction. Where are teh engine gurus?

How long did it take you, and how hard of a job was it? I have the fsm right here on my laptop so ill take a look. Thanks for the help.

[javcrodgz]

did the previous owners do a motor swap? like a chevy 350 or something? sounds like it haah

[jjacob]

Actually does not sound like lifters to me.

First of all it does not take that long for the lifters to bleed air out. So if it is the lifters then they are sticking. You can try running something like Rislone to see if it helps. I would not put Seafoam in the engine oil.

It sounds to me like a leaking exhaust manifold gasket, or a cracked manifold. I know this because my car is doing it also (although not as loud as yours). When the exhaust manifold to cylinder head gasket, or the exhaust manifold to the downpipe develops a small leak or crack, it sounds just like valve ticking. If it seems to be louder or worse when you rev the engine, or when the engine is under load, then it is exhaust.

[Blackwater32]

Actually does not sound like lifters to me.

First of all it does not take that long for the lifters to bleed air out. So if it is the lifters then they are sticking. You can try running something like Rislone to see if it helps. I would not put Seafoam in the engine oil.

Whats this rislone stuff?

[JPC94G20t]

I tried Risoline before and it worked for a while, but the tick came back in by GSR. You can get it at any parts store, its in a yellow container. If you use Seafoam, use a can in the crankcase and change you oil in about 100 miles, to drain all of the crap out so you don't clog the oil pump. But it does sound like lifters or valve chatter. Your noise is coming from the cyl. head, not the shortblock, so don't be too worried. If this doesn't work, consider doing a valve adjustment, they might me a little out of spec, depending on your mileage and age of the engine. Also could certainly be an exhaust leak. Did you change out you header lately, do any exhaust work???

[Blackwater32]

I've never done any exhaust work on my car thats why I don't think its a leak. How do you add the rislone to the car? I sent a local shop a pm about a valve adjustment the other day, but they still haven't got back to me.

[jjacob]

I've never done any exhaust work on my car thats why I don't think its a leak. How do you add the rislone to the car? I sent a local shop a pm about a valve adjustment the other day, but they still haven't got back to me.

My car has never had exhaust work done either (97,000 miles) but I have an exhaust leak. Sometimes gaskets and pipes just develop a leak. Cast iron can crack. You may have to remove the engine manifold heat shield(s) to check. With the shields removed see if you can feel any air escaping around the gasket area. Have someone rev the engine to see if you can hear where the sound is coming from. Look for black sooty marks which might indicate an exhaust leak area. Be safe around a running engine and the fans.
Rislone is oil with a high detergent package. It can help if your engine is not too gunked up. Just add it to the crankcase. If you buy the concentrated one (16oz instead of 32oz) you can just dump it in. The 32oz would be too much, you would have to drain out a quart first, or use it as one of your quarts of oil during an oil change.

[JeeDub]

i have almost the exact same clikcing in my car
and i believe its the exhuast due to the increase in noise and speed of the clicking under acceleration

any way to make sure its exhuast and not internal?