hey, it's that time again, I have a problem with my car.

Today, I replaced a belt (accessory belt), checked the oil (kind of black, but still a good amount), and ran seafoam through the brake booster line. it smoked just as it should have, and ran great. I went to the track today, and on the way there, I noticed I had a ticking noise, and it got faster the greater the rpm's got.
I looked in my engine bay, and it sounds like it's coming from the rear valve cover. I disconnected each coil pack (it wasnt a coil issue) and checked the IACV. The car runs fine, although a little slow, but the ticking is there and it's very annoying. I've searched for this on the .org, and i went to Requin6's thread, where he had to replace his engine cause it was valvetrain related.

I'm hoping it's not, I didn't beat on the car before this happened, so I don't know what the issue would be.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be, and a possible solution?

Thanks alot.

 

I hear ticking sometimes, but not when accelerating, etc. Only when it's idle I sometimes hear ticking from the passenger side, down near the wheels I hear it most.

 

i'd give 90% for timing chain i have same issue

 

Noticable ticking from a valve cover is most likely a lifter/valve clearance issue. Only way to diagnose it is to measure valve clearances. It amazes me that these cars do not have a scheduled valve adjustment in the maintence tables - many cars specify adjustment around 100K. The manual simply says "If valve noise increases inspect valve clearance." Nissan, for some reason, made the adjustment process very complex, (special tools, micrometers, 64 sizes of shims to choose from, etc.).

 

The bucket and shim system is a very stable & long lasting valve lash setup. It requires very little, if any maintenance over the life of the engine. Many engines use that design, including quite a few motorcycle engines. My Yamaha has that design. Valve adjustment interval is at 25K for a small 1300cc motor with a bucket and shim setup, usually there right on spec.
It's a very dependable and long lasting design. Thats why Nissan put it in the VQ.

 

I agree, it's the best system for stability/longivity. My only complaint is that it's beyond my capabilities.

 

I gotta look into this on my ride.

 

oh well, i guess i gotta get a new engine.

 

i checked the oil, and it's pretty black. i'll change the oil and see if it goes away.

 

just changed the oil, and installed a new oil pressure gauge, about 13psi at idle, and 70psi at 3k rpms. I added STP oil stabilizer, and I still have the SAME TICKING. ANYONE have this same problem?

 

If you have a compression tester handy I would use that to see if there is any signs of low compression in one of your cylinders. You might want to also use a s***hescope to help pinpoint where it may be coming from.

 

Let the oil due its job, go on the highway let the oil get hot. your engine might have sludge build up.

 

Mine does have a lite tick, just loud enough so I hear it at idle but the engine seems ok. My tick sounds like its coming from the timing chain. I'm running some AutoRX to see if anything happens. I would say just keep driving it.

 

i'm gonna focus on getting a new engine. This engine has finally gotten to me, with its starting issues, and now this.

VQ35's going in soon. Anyone need a spare VQ?

 

Go on the highway if it doesnt clear up, put 1 pt of trans fluid in the oil go back on the highway see if it clears up. Drive around put some miles on.