im hearing a tapping noise coming from the engine bay area not exactly pinpointed as from where yet (hoping its not valve taps) but it more audible from inside the vehicle while its warmed up and in D.

any tips on what to check for?

oil is brand new castrol GTX highmileage...
just noticed the tapping after changing the oil out today

 

fuel injectors maybe mine make a tapping noise almost sounds like valve tap but its not

 

no its not injector tap its audible inside the car.
i was running synthetic oils and i just went back to conventional...that wouldnt have anything to do with it would it?

 

NO!

Confirm it's indeed a valve tap, might use a stethescope (sp?) to pin point the noise. If it's a valve tap keep one thing in mind. The VQ has a bucket and shim setup. There is no hydraulic lifter. A bucket and shim setup normally requires very little if any maintenance. You can check valve lash and change the shim if it's out of spec, but I'd be willing to bet there's a reason the valve lash is out of spec, and that isn't going to be pretty.

 

i will try n post a video up tomorrow but the noise is coming from the front valve cover area

 

no video but i did figure out i do have valve tap. Nissan master tech looked at my car and said he knew exactly what it was. I put synthetic oil (mobil 1 10w30) back in as well as some lucas upper cylinder lubricant and still have the tapping but my question is

Is engine longivity or performance compromised due to slight valve tap that doesnt effect idle?

 

If you have a valve tap, you have engine wear.

 

well thats obvious but wasnt my question.

*edit* also the valve tap only occurs at idle and up to 1500rpms warm and in idle but does not occur on acceleration

 

after 5k miles get your oil tested at blackstone labs. they will tell you if it's anything to worry about.

you sure you never heard it before the change? if so then something is different with the oil or filter you are using.

what filter did you install? what did you use previously?
what oil did you use previously?

I get a cold start TC rattle with every oil I've ever tried except Valvo Maxlife. I even replaced the tensioner and installed the special tensioner gasket. that made no difference. but for me the oil does make a difference.

after this fill go back to what you were using before (oil and filter). and get your oil tested.

 

i drained out the oil and put my standard mobil 1 syntehtic 10w30 i used that oil for the past 3 years (55k) on my car with no issues usually using oem nissan oil filters...i have a fram tough gaurd (the higher up $10 filter) i got for free when i bought my oil....think i should change out the filter?