z18xe ticking

[j12 mkw]

hello all,on starting my car from cold when on fast idle theres this sort of ticking noise and as the idle drops it goes, untill you rev the engine its there again but when the cars bin driven for about 3 mins it goes completley untill thr engine stood for a couple of hours it comes back again sound like its coming from down by the cam belt cover, could it be the cambelt tensioner to slack and getting tighter as engine warms up? any help much appreciated.
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[v6-conv]

Have you changed the oil recently ?

I would say more than likely the hydraulic lifters.

[j12 mkw]

yes changed the oil couple of weeks ago doesnt sound like the lifters to me noise seems lower down.

[Hebs!]

hmmmm not sure

[rhydgte]

Listen to the tappets with either mechanics stethascope or long screwdriver placed on the rocker cover (plastic shielding removed) with your ear on it.

Move it along and listen to the top end, you'll soon notice if one or two tappets are noiser than others..

Take off the cambelt cover and run engine, see if noise is now 'louder'..

While it's off see if you have plastic cambelt tensioners/rollers as they're renound for being sh1t, and break easily..

[Tab]

how many miles are on it mark? and do you know when it last had a cambelt kit fitted?

[j12 mkw]

41.000 m8 had new cambelt and rollers and tensioner when i first had it on about 37.000.

[wayne85]

my money on tappets drain 1litre of oil top up with derv run for 10 mins drain fully replace oil and filter job done

[j12 mkw]

tryed them things you suggested m8 i dont think its the tappets do you think it could be the belt tensioner?does the belt tensioner tighten the belt up when the engine warms up? so when the engine is started from cold the tensioner is rattleing for some reason?

[rhydgte]

tryed them things you suggested m8 i dont think its the tappets do you think it could be the belt tensioner?does the belt tensioner tighten the belt up when the engine warms up? so when the engine is started from cold the tensioner is rattleing for some reason?

Did you take the cover off and did the noise get louder?

[j12 mkw]

took the top half of the cover off didnt seem to be much loader, not really sure its hard to say.whats your thinking m8?

[rhydgte]

You done other obvious checks like loose things?

How loud is this ticking? Noticeable in the car or just outside with bonnet open?

Dan's 1.6 16v SXi Mk4 had a ticking noise last year sometime, draining oil and filling with GTX Magnatec got rid of it all together.

You said cambelt kit was changed recently?

[j12 mkw]

yes mate always put belt kit on when i have a car so its been on about 4 months, you cant here the noise in the car only if the windows down what i cant understand is, it goes after about 5mins and the engine sounds really sweet.