Inherited an intermittent ticking noise today.....any clues?

[blueyonder]

Took the Chim up to Yorkshire to visit my Mum and mates for the Easter weekend. Run up the M42/M1/M18 on G/Friday was fine...she behaved well even in the queues on the M1 in the warm sunshine - roof off of course , no overheating/fans kicked in when they were supposed to.

Saturday...went to visit a mate, along with Burriana in his Griff, and went for a little blat around some loveley Yorkshire country roads, all OK and Burriana commented on the gorgeous sound of the engine On my way back I decided to fill up with V-Power for the first time since buying the car in January, always filled up with Ultimate before that (no Shell garage near to me).

Sunday....run to York for a meal with friends, seemed to run OK but noticed that the engine didn't sound as sweet as before and seemed to run a little rough & lumpy!

Monday....on returning to my Mums from a short drive to visit Burriana I noticed a ticking noise coming from the engine! Checked the oil - OK, then started her up again and the ticking still there but quickly disappeared after I revved her a little. Now bearing in mind I was about to leave for my 135 mile return journey home on a BH I was a little concerned, so decided to top up with some Ultimate and whilst pulling into the BP garage the ticking returned! I filled up with Ultimate and started her up....ticking gone!! Decided to get on the motorway and head home. Drive home (and traffic) fortunately uneventful and got home OK and no ticking sound!

Some background info - when Leven's did the 12k service in January, Simon said that he detected a very slight ticking in one of the banks and suggested that one or two of the hydraulic lifters were probably sticking and said it could be down to the previous owners lack of use but following the oil change they may free up with use.

I trawled through the FAQ's and it seems that it could be the exhaust manifold gasket as this seems to be symptamatic of a ticking noise and there are loads of people on here who have had problems when they chop and change fuels so 3 questions please:

1. Is it a coincidence that this has happened after I have tried a tank of V-Power? Can certain fuels expose weaknesses in your engine i.e sticking lifters, or should the ECU compensate to avoid the lumpiness/roughess?
2. Can the change in fuel have caused the ticking noise and is it more than likely an exhaust manifold gasket or could it be something to do with the sticking lifters and therefore a potentially more expensive problem?
3. Could the tappets just need adjusting?

I realise this is difficult to describe on a forum, but any help from you guys would be appreciated I will probably take her to David Gerald's for a professional diagnosis, unless someone can recommend someone else?

[nikman]

I'd say it's absolutely a coincidence with the switch to V-Power. Trouble is we can get fixated about such things because it's always the easiest to see or most 'obvious' cause that we blame on the effect. But really no unleaded fuel can cause a ticking sound you describe. Clearly it's not pinking from what you say (ticking only when you press hard on the loud pedal). Unlikely to be a manifold gasket unless it's happening only when the engine is hot or only when it's cold. From what I've read I'd say it's a return of what Simon said he heard and I'd go back to him before going elsewhere unless the journey from wherever you are to Essex is a long one. Let us know what it was!

Edited by nikman on Tuesday 10th April 01:13

Edited by nikman on Tuesday 10th April 01:14

[snorky]

just done my driver's side gasket and mine was ticking but was deffo worst whilst accellerating hard ie you could really hear it then. not so bad whilst putling around...

[burriana]

Maybe it was just p!ssed off that you didn't take it out for the dawn run with me?

(he was up late watching the golf apparently!)


Seriously though, that is one of the smoothest silkiest sounding RV8s that I have ever heard

In fact, shall we take yours to Le Mans instead of mine ... the passenger leg room in the Griff is just ridiculous.

[Nuggs]

Have you had the precats out?

Mine ticks a bit as I haven't got non-reversal cones where the precats once were...

[blueyonder]

nikman said:

I'd say it's absolutely a coincidence with the switch to V-Power. Trouble is we can get fixated about such things because it's always the easiest to see or most 'obvious' cause that we blame on the effect. But really no unleaded fuel can cause a ticking sound you describe. Clearly it's not pinking from what you say (ticking only when you press hard on the loud pedal). Unlikely to be a manifold gasket unless it's happening only when the engine is hot or only when it's cold. From what I've read I'd say it's a return of what Simon said he heard and I'd go back to him before going elsewhere unless the journey from wherever you are to Essex is a long one. Let us know what it was!

Edited by nikman on Tuesday 10th April 01:13

Edited by nikman on Tuesday 10th April 01:14

Thanks nikman...wasn't thinking that the fuel was causing the ticking more like it may have have brought out an underlying condition due to a different fuel octane and therefore the ECU having to compensate by adjusting the timing or something? You can tell by that statement that I am an imbicile when it coomes to anything technical

Leven's are just a tad too far to return the car to Simon so will take it to David Gerald's who are up the road from me.....they fixed my throttle linkage when it went just a week after buying my P&J.

Anyone know if it's a major job to fix sticking hydraulic lifters and is it going to fry my wallet??

[blueyonder]

burriana said:

In fact, shall we take yours to Le Mans instead of mine ... the passenger leg room in the Griff is just ridiculous.

and the boot is bigger Could do, but I would need to get quite a bit done before then i.e. new brake discs/pads all round, possible repair to the said hydraulic lifters, may need to fit a new rad to prevent any future potential overheating problems (current one badly corroded according to Simon at Leven's - althought no problems at the moment and doesn't necessarily need to be the more expensive Aluminium one) and sump needs resealing (not a major problem though).

Edited by blueyonder on Tuesday 10th April 16:04

[blueyonder]

Nuggs said:

Have you had the precats out?

Mine ticks a bit as I haven't got non-reversal cones where the precats once were...

No idea Mark. How would I know? It's a 97' 400 Chim. The thing that concerns me is that the ticking came and went which leads me to think that it's the lifters rather than the exhaust manifold gasket. What would cause the ticking to come and go and why is the ticking louder when it does return and am I damaging the engine by driving it? As I said in my original post it behaved (if a little rough sounding) on the drive home. Maybe I should give Simon a call.

Del Del Del! Oh knowledgeable one, what do you reckon?

Edited by blueyonder on Tuesday 10th April 16:05

[burriana]

blueyonder said:

Del Del Del! Oh knowledgeable one, what do you reckon?

He doesn't often visit the Monkey House

[nikman]

I'd definitely give Simon a call but I don't think you need to worry about 'causing more damage' by continuing driving. It's really a question of sorting out the expensive noises from the not expensive ones. Ticking is usually OK, knocking is not!! My guess would be that Simon will assume it's more of what he heard when you were there for 12,000 mile service. But really, I'm not saying "relax" but I really don't think it will suddenly go 'bang'on you!

[Nuggs]

blueyonder said:

Nuggs said:

Have you had the precats out?

Mine ticks a bit as I haven't got non-reversal cones where the precats once were...

No idea Mark. How would I know? It's a 97' 400 Chim. The thing that concerns me is that the ticking came and went which leads me to think that it's the lifters rather than the exhaust manifold gasket. What would cause the ticking to come and go and why is the ticking louder when it does return and am I damaging the engine by driving it? As I said in my original post it behaved (if a little rough sounding) on the drive home. Maybe I should give Simon a call.

Del Del Del! Oh knowledgeable one, what do you reckon?

Edited by blueyonder on Tuesday 10th April 16:05

You'd know as the manifolds would have noticable re-weld seams.

However, that's academic as you'd be getting that noise all the time if it was the manifolds...

[mattg7]

My 97 400 Chim also ticks quite loudly under hard acceleration - should I be worried as I've only had it a week!!!

[snorky]

you can do damage if the manifolds are leaking as it could eventually cut into the face of the head which will then need resurfacing ie: heads off. How long it would take to do this amount of damage ??????

[blueyonder]

Just took her out for a little run this evening and again, one moment she's running OK then the next the ticking returns usually when she's warmed up and at lower revs when approaching junctions/roundabouts. Seemed OK when I opened her up on a dual carrigeway though....I'm still none the wiser as to what it could be

[blueyonder]

Well, I have just returned from David Geralds and typically it didn't make the ticking noise all the way there....sods law I suppose. Anyway he seemed to think it might just be a sticky lifter and asked when I last changed the oil and what oil was in it. The oil was changed at the 12k service at Levens at the end of January and Simon put Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 in, which DG's reckon is a little too thin for a RV8, so something a simple as an oil change to Mobil 1 might resolve the problem but as the problem isn't continuous then to just keep an eye(ear) on it and to not to spank it when the ticking is there but if it comes back permanently then lifters may need replacing

Intend to see if it comes back or worsens before going through the expense of an oil change so soon after the last one.

[blueyonder]

mattg7 said:

My 97 400 Chim also ticks quite loudly under hard acceleration - should I be worried as I've only had it a week!!!

mattg7 - Have you had it serviced and checked the oil as your problem may be the same as mine i.e. sticky lifters? Although my ticking disappeared when accelerating and returned when I slow down and the revs reduce

[jonnyb]

You can read about my ticking noise here

Worth checking before going down the lifters can route. Apparently they had a problem with the pads about 96-97. Also if you go down the lifters route you really should change the cam as well, so I've been told.

[blueyonder]

jonnyb said:

You can read about my ticking noise here

Worth checking before going down the lifters can route. Apparently they had a problem with the pads about 96-97. Also if you go down the lifters route you really should change the cam as well, so I've been told.

Thanks jonnyb - I've also been told that you should change the cam at the same time as the lifters. I'm hoping that it won't come to that and if the lifters continue to stick then I'll try the different oil route first. I'm just going to have to use her more than the previous owner did and the extra use may free up the lifters...I hope so anyway!

[burriana]

blueyonder said:

The oil was changed at the 12k service at Levens at the end of January and Simon put Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 in, which DG's reckon is a little too thin for a RV8,

ultra thin oils are never a good idea on the RV8 ... it's about a 50 year old engine design when all said and done!

Also Mobil 1 comes in various viscosities ... then you have the syntheitic over semi-synthetic argument.

Do a search as I'm sure there are loads of discussions on it. But bear in mind that you do not have a high revving engine and you also have an old engine design that is prone to the odd leak at the best of times.

[blueyonder]

burriana said:

blueyonder said:

The oil was changed at the 12k service at Levens at the end of January and Simon put Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 in, which DG's reckon is a little too thin for a RV8,

ultra thin oils are never a good idea on the RV8 ... it's about a 50 year old engine design when all said and done!

Also Mobil 1 comes in various viscosities ... then you have the syntheitic over semi-synthetic argument.

Do a search as I'm sure there are loads of discussions on it. But bear in mind that you do not have a high revving engine and you also have an old engine design that is prone to the odd leak at the best of times.

What oil did TorqueTVR put in your Griff last week at the service? Your engines a 97' like mine although I think yours has done a few more miles than mine?

If it's a question of just changing the oil first then I would probably get the sump resealed at the same time, although DG's were quoting £120-£130 for an oil change seems a bit steep? Could probably get it done elsewhere for less and before everyone starts saying 'do it yourself' I would, except I don't have axle standa, or a ramp, or an inspection pit in my garage so will probably need to get someone to do it for me for less than DG's - and reseal the sump at the same time