Valve tick - not HLAs....

[fishbone79]

Hi Fellas... Long story short, I put a new NA motor in my wagon ~2 years ago (only had 7k on it). At the time I did not remove all the rubber seals/etc. from the new motor and lube them as I should, so I expected a few leaks (which happened) and maybe some beat up lifters (which I replaced).

I'm now turning about 40k on the motor and getting what sounds like a valve tick on the D-side head, only when the motor is warmed up. The tick is not present when the car is first started, and only make's itself known when the motor gets up to temp, at which point it is persistent. I initially thought maybe it was a bad lifter, so I bled and replaced them - but the noise has not changed. It's been getting progressively more pronounced in the last month or so; before it was only audible in the driver's seat, but now I can hear it when I put my ear to tailpipe with the car idling. At the tailpipe it makes a distinct "tink-tink-tink..." noise roughly once every 4 revolutions or so (roughly 3-4/second at ~600 rpm idle). The noise changes with RPM, and goes away (or is washed out) above 1600 RPM or so. I haven't seen a loss of power or an increase in oil (or fuel) consumption or blowby.

I'm beginning to think it's a sticky exhaust valve guide that perhaps expands when the engine is warm and is retarding the valve ever so slightly on closure, any thoughts?? My idle is also slightly rougher than I think it aught to be. I don't have a whole lot of experience with top end, so I'm at a loss. Thanks for the help!

[ericem]

I have had so many tick noises from my 93 legacy N/A. Alot of times it was just my stupid spark plugs or the wires. I suggest you check them out.

[Legacy777]

You could try some seafoam in your oil. That however may make it worse.....so use that suggestion at your own risk.

[fishbone79]

Thanks. I've gone thought he gambit of simple things - checked + regapped the plugs, moved suspect wires, nailed down all vibrations, etc... This appears to be internal. It's very noticeable from the cabin, and its loud and clear when I use the old big-screwdriver-stethoscope method on the D-side head (cyl 4 perhaps?). You are right though, these are some of the naturally noisiest motors I've ever heard.

Whats the theory behind the seafoam in the oil trick, blow out all the crud?

One thing I just thought of... how noisy do these injectors get?

[Legacy777]

Yeah, seafoam will help disolve any gunk on there. It can however dislodge stuff that may get stuck elsewhere.

Injectors are going to make some noise, but they should not be that loud.