Anyone got a clue what this tick is? It seems like it's on the driver side, possibly in the valvetrain. What is the fix? I really dont want to take it to a dealer, but am scared to tear into myself with out knowing what to look for.

 

you need to post more details. when does the tick happen (idle, cruising, etc), how frequent and how loud? details!

 

It ticks at idle and all the way through the RPM range. It gets faster as the RPMs get higher.It isnt any worse cold or hot. Its loud enough to hear driving woth the windows down at 15-20 MPH. It isnt a knock though, it's in the upper engine.

 

valve tap?... does it sounds like this?

 

hm... i think i have that (as in OCG35's video) - but i can only hear it very the engine is idle, very faint valve tap. anything easy that can be done about it?

 

on mine I'm almost positive it loose valve lash... I had JWT cams installed and the specs on the exhaust valves are a little tighter than OEM - but shop measured and adjusted to OEM specs so there's about .001-.002 too much clearance.

A good valve job adjusting lash will fix - but adjust overhead cams aren’t an easy task (quite expensive) the buckets alone cost $22+ each and depending on how many need adjusting its over $500 just for parts (if all had to be redone) and about 15 hrs labor ... so mine will remain like this for a while

 

what's the down-side? worst case? new engine?...

 

buckets might wear faster? Valve opens a little late.

No major concern (if in fact it’s the lash)... engine noise is real hard to diagnose without a trained ear and stethoscope... nearly impossible over the internet.

It could be something bad like piston slap or and entirely different problem... so if you have new/unusual sound, I'd have a mechanic look/listen

 

good advise. well, i had Fuel Injection service at Pennzoil station (yeah, I know, but I know them and I stood next to my car the whole time and watched them do it - they hook up fuel injection cleaner to intake vacuum line and let it seep into intake while engine is running) - it took care of some rough idling and i think the valve tap (let's call it that) is almost all gone. so, for now, i'll sit on it and see if it stays gone.

 

No, Mine isnt that pronounced. Compared to my noise that sounds like a diesel engine. I will shoot a clip and post it tonite. I'm fairly convinced its valvetrain noise, but not sure how it came to be.The car has 75k miles on it and the tick has been getting progressively louder for the last 5-7k miles.
Were the prices you quoted ($500 for buckets) installed at the dealer/ mechanic or bought parts?

 

I think you misunderstood my post... what I said was: buckets are $22 each (there are a total of 24 buckets) - if you had to replace all of them (which isn’t likely) it would be over $500... when my cams were installed only two buckets were replaced - but that was to OEM specs... the JWT S2 exhaust lash is different than OEM specs so technically mine aren’t adjusted properly.

The $22 per is about as cheap as you will find for OEM... labor is way more than the price of the buckets... 1K-1.5K

 

Sounds like you are ok then.

 

What is a good source for these buckets? The dealer? Or is there a reliabke source that you guys use instead?

 

I would check your oil right now.

 

Im changing it and checking it reguarly, nothing in the oil... Im pretty convinced it is valve lash noise. I have the service manual and am going to tear into it this weekend, order the "buckets" on Monday and put it back together.

If it is indeed the "buckets", What happened? Why was there wear this early?