Ticking when I start it up

[blacksport]

For a month or so now my car ticks really bad when I first start it up. I started noticing it after I got my oil changed a while back.


From the time I start it up til about 1-2 minutes it sits there an ticks really loud. I wouldnt consider it a knock. It sounds like the lifters, not a rod.

What is the problem? Is this normal (I'd guess not)? One of my freinds told me it was my oil pump? Is the ticking because it is just taking a while for the oil to flow up to my lifters?


The car has a steady 65-70 on the oil pressure. It does not lose any oil preassure. It doesnt really leak any oil.

The car is a 2001 with the 3.8

[98Camaro3.8]

Does it do it while idling? While driving? Change with engine speed? Go away when it warms up?

[blacksport]

it goes away after about 1 minute or 2 minutes and doesnt do it again. It doesnt really do it but only on cold starts.

[Nathan]

I had that problem a few months back. Problem was a collapsed lifter. Symptoms were ticking when started, goes away after car warms up, sound speed increases with rpm's. If this sounds like what you are going through I would bet on a bad lifter.

[pontiac nino]

Thats a lifter alright, it's a distinct ticking sound that sets itself apart from all the other car noises you hear huh? Probably gonna have to tighten down the rocker arms a bit or gonna need replacement. If you go w/ the replacement route while you are at it, it's best to change all 16 lifters at the same time. Good luck w/ whatever you decide.

[Fredless]

Mine had the same problem for months. You know what solved mine? I was putting in a little too much oil, I was putting in close to 5 quarts.

Try just under 4.5 quarts. I tried different brands of oil, different weights etc...nothing helped. I said screw it, well about 10k later, me putting in less oil for some reason made it go away. Now my dip stick measures in the half way (in that little acceptable range) and its gone.

I know it may be a long shot for you, but thats what cured my problem. I drove and went to the track many times with that noisy lifter(s) and nothing bad happened (yet). I've got 100k on my car now.

Good luck.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by pontiac nino:
Thats a lifter alright, it's a distinct ticking sound that sets itself apart from all the other car noises you hear huh? Probably gonna have to tighten down the rocker arms a bit or gonna need replacement. If you go w/ the replacement route while you are at it, it's best to change all 16 lifters at the same time. Good luck w/ whatever you decide.

theres only 12 lifters in our v6's ;) ;) [img]tongue.gif[/img]
unless you got a extra vavle in 4 cyclenders [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Originally posted by pontiac nino:
it's best to change all 16 lifters at the same time.

He wishes he had 16 lifters!

[Drone51]

mine ticks but i think its the injectors


I have heard before that the injectors can tick any one else heard this?

[Ian]

I just got a ticking noise, from just the driver side of the engine. I cant really tell if its an injector, rocker, or exhaust leak. It is loudest at startup, and gets just slightly quieter when the car heats up. It may not even get quieter at all, its hard to tell.

Injector, rocker?

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

injectors tick all the time

lifter usally stop ofter they get oil and heat up

[pontiac nino]

Originally posted by AZ3.8Camaro:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by pontiac nino:
it's best to change all 16 lifters at the same time.

He wishes he had 16 lifters! </font>[/QUOTE]HAHAHA [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]
Thats what I get for posting so damn early, I meant 12, just could't count last night dammit. 2 per cylinder my bad. hehe :D

[blacksport]

Originally posted by Nathan:
I had that problem a few months back. Problem was a collapsed lifter. Symptoms were ticking when started, goes away after car warms up, sound speed increases with rpm's. If this sounds like what you are going through I would bet on a bad lifter.

Those are the excact symptoms.

I was also wondering about the oil because it started right after it got changed and never did it before that. I put sythentic in and shelled out $50 for it so I wouldnt think it was because of the oil. But I did think the dumb *** that worked on my car put to much in it.

The **** head put damn near close to 5 in it and was just over the full mark. Didnt really affect my pressure so I wasnt to worried but did go up there to see if they could drain some of it and do it right. I went up there and they got *****y with me telling me it would be fine and I dont need it done but couldnt get to doing it til like a week later (way to make customers happy). I was PO'ed, I am getting my oil changed soon, hopefully that solved it.


I'm going to try Royal Purple Oil (I think thats what its called). I've read some reviews on it in mags and seems to be some pretty good stuff. Does anyone here use it?