Ticking engine after adding oil. ('07 Z4 3.0Si)

[g3org3y]

Bit of an unusual one.

Car seems to have a bit of a valve cover gasket leak as below:


Went away and didn't use the car for a week. On first use, idle seemed a touch unstable. Started off at 1000rpm but after 30 seconds settles to about 875rpm.

No warning lights. No codes. Apart from that first number of seconds, perfectly smooth, pulls well, no issues.

Monitoring the oil this week, it stayed consistent but on the low side of things. The digital read out stated OK, but it was probably one up from the minimum. Took this as an opportunity to add 500ml which would take it closer to the upper end (but not up to max) which I did this morning.

On starting the car, it seemed rather smokey around the area where the suspected leak is. Ever since I've added the oil, the car has been extremely ticky to the extent I've concerned. I've only driven it up and down the street so far. The engine actually feels smooth and pulls ok.

I'm pretty sure I've not overfilled it. Min to max is 1L.

Could it be the additional oil has increased the pressure to the extent it has exacerbated the valve cover leak?

I know these engines suffer with noisy lifters but this is the first time the car has done the noise and it is only since I've added the 500ml of oil.

Starting it up again, it appears the ticking is coming from the back of the engine.

EDIT: Couple of videos of the sound:

https://streamable.com/kck3t

https://streamable.com/zp8t5

Any advice very much appreciated.

Edited by g3org3y on Thursday 25th July 09:22

[d_a_n1979]

I agree it's probably a sticky lifter; they're known to be a bit tappity...

If the cars running and idling fine; take it for a quick Italian tune-up

Re the leak; it's not major, but the gasket does need sorting, otherwise you'll have to put up with puffs of smoke appearing from the engine bay and the smell of burning oil...

Hopefully it's just the gasket and not a cracked cover

[JakeT]

Sounds like classic N52 HVA tick. If all you've done is add oil, and it's not overfilled I'd wager it was there before, that you were a little hyper sensitive over it.

Drive it up to temp fully, I'm sure it'll be fine.

[Knoxville2410]

Hi,

I used to own a Z4 3.0si for two years and heard that sound once during my ownership.

I was concerned like you are, but after a good spirited drive and then leaving it overnight, the noise had then disappeared by morning. It used to use probably around 1 litre of oil every 2-4k miles depending on how hard it had been driven (put 20k miles on it!). Mine had an oil filter housing leak (which I never repaired) so this probably contributed to the loss of oil.

I wouldn't worry about it, see if the noise goes away after a few days. Enjoy the car - I miss that N52 engine so much! That car only cost me new discs and brakes all round and a small piece of exhaust, I took it from 80k - 102k.

Peter

Edited by Knoxville2410 on Thursday 25th July 16:59

Edited by Knoxville2410 on Thursday 25th July 16:59

[g3org3y]

Thanks for the input chaps.

d_a_n1979 said:

Re the leak; it's not major, but the gasket does need sorting, otherwise you'll have to put up with puffs of smoke appearing from the engine bay and the smell of burning oil...

Hopefully it's just the gasket and not a cracked cover

Yes, got it booked in for next week to get it sorted.

JakeT said:

Sounds like classic N52 HVA tick. If all you've done is add oil, and it's not overfilled I'd wager it was there before, that you were a little hyper sensitive over it.

Drive it up to temp fully, I'm sure it'll be fine.

500ml added when the oil gauge was showing one above minimum, so I'd be staggered if overfilled.

Promise the ticking wasn't there before. Only had the car a few weeks so really listening out for any issues/problems.

Knoxville2410 said:

Hi,

I used to own a Z4 3.0si for two years and heard that sound once during my ownership.

I was concerned like you are, but after a good spirited drive and then leaving it overnight, the noise had then disappeared by morning. It used to use probably around 1 litre of oil every 2-4k miles depending on how hard it had been driven (put 20k miles on it!). Mine had an oil filter housing leak (which I never repaired) so this probably contributed to the loss of oil.

I wouldn't worry about it, see if the noise goes away after a few days. Enjoy the car - I miss that N52 engine so much! That car only cost me new discs and brakes all round and a small piece of exhaust, I took it from 80k - 102k.

Peter

Thanks. Will take it out Saturday morning and see how things go.

[g3org3y]

Thanks for all the replies chaps. :thumbsup:

Well, the problem seemed to solve itself. I was worried that perhaps the oil sensor may have given an inaccurate reading and so perhaps I'd overfilled it. With that in mind, thought it might be prudent just to change the oil/filter and then I'd know 100% how much oil is in there.

Started it this morning and it was still making the ticking noise. Backed the car in the garage and switched off. Went to jack the car up but turns out the jack simply isn't low enough for the jacking point!

Thought about things for 10 mins over a cup of tea and made a decision to postpone the oil change until I buy a new (low) jack.

Started the car to move it out the garage and the ticking was gone. All back to normal. Took it for a decent run and it felt fine, smooth all through the rev range, no ticking at all.

https://streamable.com/gn2ef

Oil is now reading just one off the top which makes sense to me.

Still need to get that oil leak sorted though...

[d_a_n1979]

g3org3y said:

Thanks for all the replies chaps. :thumbsup:

Well, the problem seemed to solve itself. I was worried that perhaps the oil sensor may have given an inaccurate reading and so perhaps I'd overfilled it. With that in mind, thought it might be prudent just to change the oil/filter and then I'd know 100% how much oil is in there.

Started it this morning and it was still making the ticking noise. Backed the car in the garage and switched off. Went to jack the car up but turns out the jack simply isn't low enough for the jacking point!

Thought about things for 10 mins over a cup of tea and made a decision to postpone the oil change until I buy a new (low) jack.

Started the car to move it out the garage and the ticking was gone. All back to normal. Took it for a decent run and it felt fine, smooth all through the rev range, no ticking at all.

https://streamable.com/gn2ef

Oil is now reading just one off the top which makes sense to me.

Still need to get that oil leak sorted though...

No need for a low jack; just get these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-LAS5669-Low-Rise-Ra...



I use them for my 530i touring and previous E39s; lowered on coilovers or lowering springs, still easy enough to drive them up these ramps to get to the front subframe jacking point etc

[g3org3y]

d_a_n1979 said:

No need for a low jack; just get these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-LAS5669-Low-Rise-Ra...



I use them for my 530i touring and previous E39s; lowered on coilovers or lowering springs, still easy enough to drive them up these ramps to get to the front subframe jacking point etc

Thanks for the link.

During my tea break I was thinking of constructing a make shift ramp equivalent but tbh decided I couldn't be arsed.

[JakeT]

Glad you're all sorted! To get a proper jack under my cars I use a scissor jack to raise it just a little (with all the wheels still on the ground), and then use the jack to go under the front subframe to then lift the car and put it on stands. When not lifting it high the scissor jack for one works fine.

[Mr Tidy]

Great to hear your problem has fixed itself, George.

FWIW the E85/E86 models don't have a central front jacking point (unless they are M models), only a rear central one.

I used to drive the front wheels of my E46 onto a couple of bricks to get my old trolley jack under the side jacking points when I was swapping to/from winters. After the suspension was decompressed it was never a problem getting the jack out, or getting it under the rear points.

Then the jack gave out, so I bought a lowline one from SGS Engineering that easily fits under my E86 Sport. For the price it has been great! Link here:- https://www.sgs-engineering.com/tjl2-2-tonne-low-p...

[naturalaspiration]

If it comes back just add Ceratec and ticking will be the thing of the past. I have it in E66 with N52 engine, and even after sitting for a year it starts up with ticking whatever - runs extremely smooth.

[g3org3y]

JakeT said:

Glad you're all sorted! To get a proper jack under my cars I use a scissor jack to raise it just a little (with all the wheels still on the ground), and then use the jack to go under the front subframe to then lift the car and put it on stands. When not lifting it high the scissor jack for one works fine.

I thought I had one somewhere but couldn't find it.

Mr Tidy said:

Great to hear your problem has fixed itself, George.

FWIW the E85/E86 models don't have a central front jacking point (unless they are M models), only a rear central one.

I used to drive the front wheels of my E46 onto a couple of bricks to get my old trolley jack under the side jacking points when I was swapping to/from winters. After the suspension was decompressed it was never a problem getting the jack out, or getting it under the rear points.

Then the jack gave out, so I bought a lowline one from SGS Engineering that easily fits under my E86 Sport. For the price it has been great! Link here:- https://www.sgs-engineering.com/tjl2-2-tonne-low-p...

Bricks were my plan for the make shift ramp. Thanks for the link to the jack.

naturalaspiration said:

If it comes back just add Ceratec and ticking will be the thing of the past. I have it in E66 with N52 engine, and even after sitting for a year it starts up with ticking whatever - runs extremely smooth.

Thanks for the advice, this stuff? https://products.liqui-moly.com/cera-tec-2.html

Will look into it. Never heard of it before.

[naturalaspiration]

That's it. You need 400ml (one bottle is 300ml) or 6% of the oil filling capacity. Add with every oil change regardless of the 30k miles claim - it does wear at some point during a subsequent (ceratec-less) oil change.