Ticking is driving me mental

[Figuarus]

Guys I've got a little bit of a problem. When I drive my truck on the freeway and get it good and hot, it starts to tick once you get it back down to idle.

It comes in waves. Growing from barely noticeable to "yeah it's ticking" and back to gone over the course of about 7-10 seconds. It cycles through and it's starting to make me nervous. I'm thinking it's oil pressure but don't know how to properly diagnose.

I know that if I bring the engine to idle once it's been run hot the oil pressure reads below 15 psi. When I lean on the gas just a little with my foot the pressure Rises slightly and the ticking noise starts to go away. I haven't actually found out where the noise is coming from but I'm thinking it may be in the valve train. Is there a good way for me to know what is causing this problem?

My brother and I rebuilt this engine about 15 years ago but the engine doesn't have more than 10000 miles since it was done. I'm wondering what should my oil PSI be at normal operating temperature?

[storm9c1]

What I do (and not everybody can do this) is count the number of ticks per minute. Either count them over a full 60 seconds or 30 seconds then double the count.

If the result lines up with the idle RPMs (ie: 750), then you have a crank or bearing noise. If the result is half the idle RPMs then it's a valve train noise.

This only works if the tick is consistent. If it comes and goes at idle, that makes it a little harder, but a trained ear could listen with an engine stethoscope and tell right away.

Can you make a video of it and post it?

If not, we can only guess. Tick sounds are often valve train noise. But they can be caused by other things too like an exhaust leak, spark jumping out of a wire, etc etc. And based on the symptoms you describe (happens when hot, at idle, etc), sounds like a lifter going bad. Oil is thicker when cold, which may be enough to pump up the lifter. But once the oil thins, the lifter may not be pumping up fully.

A quick solution may be to do a running valve adjustment to see if you can adjust out the tick.

[Figuarus]

yeah. i'll get a video done in the next few hours and post it.

It just seems to me that like you said, it's a lifter, but the fact that it cycles in and out makes me think it's an oil supply issue.

[brad_man_72]

Throw some 20w50 in it. Makes my miata sound like a sewing machine. 5w30 the thing sounds like a diesel pickup.

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

Throw some 20w50 in it. Makes my miata sound like a sewing machine. 5w30 the thing sounds like a diesel pickup.

Or a can of STP!!

[chevyguyase]

I noticed you have a 283. Do you still have the mechanical fuel pump? if so use a mechanic's stethoscope to listen to it. A broken pump arm return spring will cause a ticking noise. It was pretty common back in the day. Harbor Freight has a pretty good one for a reasonable price.

[TJ's Chevy]

All great possibilities. Don't worry! It's just acting like a solid lifter setup! My worn out 292 had more of a Clatter than a tick. ALL the lifters were shot and in the morning it sounded like a cummins diesel. When hot it was a tad quieter and idled at 5 oil pressure. You might try some Lucas Oil stabilizer. That stuff Works.

[63burban]

Might not have a steady flow of oil to the lifters. Check the holes in the ends of the heads by the valves springs, oil might not be returning back to the pan fast enough at spreed.

[68gmsee]

Lifters, piston slap, rod bearings, main bearings, wrist pins, etc., all make a different sound. See if you can find someone who is familiar with engines -maybe an older mechanic who has experience with the noises engines make.

Another way I use to get close to where the noise comes from is with a 2-3 ft. section of garden hose to use as a stethoscope. Place it along the engine area until you find the approximate location.

[Figuarus]

Well, I didn't get to make a video today, but I did stop by the parts store and pick up a bottle of Lucas. Seems to have helped, though I didn't get to drive on the freeway. I'll try driving it hard tomorrow and see if the noise comes back. I do think it's definitely a valvetrain noise.

[TJ's Chevy]

Here's the noise I got used to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H6MOkFshSU

[Figuarus]

man, TJ, that sounds like a cummins!

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by Figuarus

man, TJ, that sounds like a cummins!

haha! That engine has long been pulled out. But since that video I had put a few thousand miles on the motor before the valve train went south. Held up really well to a lot of abuse.

[Figuarus]

Ok, a weird update

So you know how I said I put that bottle of Lucas in?

I filled up about an hour ago, and took it for a long drive on the freeway. I did about 15 miles at high RPM (averaging 3k rpm) and lo, The tick is gone.

I'm thinking either my engine is REALLY sensitive to low oil, or the oil needs to be thicker.

Since we are going into fall, would it be wise to go to a 20-50 oil? This truck is my daily driver, and I only put about 10 miles a day on it.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by Figuarus

Ok, a weird update

So you know how I said I put that bottle of Lucas in?

I filled up about an hour ago, and took it for a long drive on the freeway. I did about 15 miles at high RPM (averaging 3k rpm) and lo, The tick is gone.

I'm thinking either my engine is REALLY sensitive to low oil, or the oil needs to be thicker.

Since we are going into fall, would it be wise to go to a 20-50 oil? This truck is my daily driver, and I only put about 10 miles a day on it.

I'd run straight 40 in it and keep running the lucas. Sounds like a lifter is worn out and the lucas is helping to keep things pumped up.

[storm9c1]

Yep, sounds like a lifter issue. You may need to experiment... 10W40 in summer and see if 10W30 in winter keeps her quiet. Also if the Lucas keeps it quiet, then what the heck, run whatever oil you are running now plus Lucas. I've never been a fan of additives, but no reason for me to discount something that is actually working for you.