What are normal ALH sounds while coasting? (5spd)

[Figit090]

I am having trouble searching for what "normal" is for engine ticking/pump noises while coasting in gear for the ALH. I would just like to know; should it be super smooth? Slightly ticky?


I ask because I seem to recall my engine sounding completely smooth (perhaps I just never NOTICED ticking) like a nice gas engine off-throttle. Lately however, especially when it's cold, I hear a reasonably noticeable ticking when I coast down a hill above 1200RPM.
I hear it best with the windows up; not quite as loud as the injection pump if I use throttle. It sounds like a single thing rather than multiple sources; related to engine RPM, not vehicle speed.

I tried using a stethoscope to see where it was coming from yesterday but while idling there's naturally too much going on. I did hear that cylinder 4 at the block is ticking louder than the others but again, hard to tell if that's the same tick.

I might try having someone drop it from higher RPM to idle so I can listen.

 

[steve6]

It sounds like Turn the radio up louder

 

[Figit090]

It sounds like Turn the radio up louder

LOL. m'kay.
It's PROBABLY no biggie, I just want to learn.

 

[red16vdub]

Drive more, worry less .


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[Figit090]

Drive more, worry less .


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Less worried, mostly curious.

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[BobnOH]

Yea, it could be something, but other than oil, nothing to really check or troubleshoot.
I might suggest that as your car has gotten older, it's lost a bit of sound deadening capabilities.

 

[KrashDH]

Those are all sounds of money entering your piggy bank

 

[csstevej]

Just for S&G’s pull the valve cover and take a peek at the lifters and lifter tops.....might be as simple as a weak lifter.
How many miles on engine?

 

[Figit090]

Yea, it could be something, but other than oil, nothing to really check or troubleshoot.
I might suggest that as your car has gotten older, it's lost a bit of sound deadening capabilities.

I do have some sound mat removed at the moment so, that might be it!

Just for S&G’s pull the valve cover and take a peek at the lifters and lifter tops.....might be as simple as a weak lifter.
How many miles on engine?

98k.
Gah, my valve cover doesn't leak though I don't wanna start that

Might be worth a look just to see how things are though.

 

[Andyinchville1]

Hi

Ticking can mean lifter.... my minivan does that and has done that for as long as I can remember although mine you can hear very slightly at pretty much any speed (maybe our diesels are so loud normally the only time its easier to hear is when you are coasting?) .

The same minivan has an ac compressor that ticks (or at least sounds like it ticks when it engages and is running...

Ticks can also come from cv joints (mainly when turning tho), possibly a bent disc brake shield hitting something etc ..

My inner cv joint started making clicking noises even driving straight.... that's why i had to replace them on my car...

Andrew

 

[Figit090]

So does anyone have a good answer for whether ticking is normal while coasting? My car has 98k miles or so, so I'm not anticipating advanced wear, but perhaps a sticking lifter. I just don't want to open it up if the tick is totally normal.

Hi

Ticking can mean lifter.... my minivan does that and has done that for as long as I can remember although mine you can hear very slightly at pretty much any speed (maybe our diesels are so loud normally the only time its easier to hear is when you are coasting?) .

The same minivan has an ac compressor that ticks (or at least sounds like it ticks when it engages and is running...

Ticks can also come from cv joints (mainly when turning tho), possibly a bent disc brake shield hitting something etc ..

My inner cv joint started making clicking noises even driving straight.... that's why i had to replace them on my car...

Andrew

Thanks, I know it's engine and not transmission related because I can hear the sound while sitting still as well. Might be a noisy valve.

I did find the glow plugs were leaking air so I fixed that but I still have the ticking while coasting and I can't find a consistent time, it just seems loud sometimes, others not. My girlfriend actually noticed it one day.

I've read that it could be a lifter not getting enough oil pressure so I'm going to do the recommended sound check after a 2min 2500rpm run after warm and see if it's quieted down. I might also try cracking open injector lines one by one to see if I can isolate a different sounding cylinder.

Beyond that I guess I should pop the valve cover and have a look. Will it most likely develop a leak after I do that? I'm guessing I need to put new silicone at either end when I put it back down right?

 

[Andyinchville1]

So does anyone have a good answer for whether ticking is normal while coasting? My car has 98k miles or so, so I'm not anticipating advanced wear, but perhaps a sticking lifter. I just don't want to open it up if the tick is totally normal.




Thanks, I know it's engine and not transmission related because I can hear the sound while sitting still as well. Might be a noisy valve.

I did find the glow plugs were leaking air so I fixed that but I still have the ticking while coasting and I can't find a consistent time, it just seems loud sometimes, others not. My girlfriend actually noticed it one day.

I've read that it could be a lifter not getting enough oil pressure so I'm going to do the recommended sound check after a 2min 2500rpm run after warm and see if it's quieted down. I might also try cracking open injector lines one by one to see if I can isolate a different sounding cylinder.

Beyond that I guess I should pop the valve cover and have a look. Will it most likely develop a leak after I do that? I'm guessing I need to put new silicone at either end when I put it back down right?

To prevent leaks, If you remove the valve cover, I would use a new valve cover gasket ... before installing the new one make sure the mating surfaces are clean and free of any debris / old gasket.

Torque to proper spec and you should be leak free.

Good luck finding the noise.

Andrew

 

[Skydvr]

Is someone making a valve cover gasket for these now?

The OE valve covers have a molded, non-replaceable gasket. Last I checked there wasn’t an aftermarket one available. The fix for a leaky gasket has always been to replace the valve cover with a new one or known good used one and hope the gasket wasn’t damaged in the process of removing it.


When was the last oil change. I always notice a significant difference in the noise level as I approach the oil change interval (I’ll change it a little early if I notice it getting louder). It quiets down after the oil change.

 

[Figit090]

Is someone making a valve cover gasket for these now?

The OE valve covers have a molded, non-replaceable gasket. Last I checked there wasn’t an aftermarket one available. The fix for a leaky gasket has always been to replace the valve cover with a new one or known good used one and hope the gasket wasn’t damaged in the process of removing it.


When was the last oil change. I always notice a significant difference in the noise level as I approach the oil change interval (I’ll change it a little early if I notice it getting louder). It quiets down after the oil change.

It's replaceable if you don't mind scraping the old one off first. Third party sells them, I probably won't do that though. Oil was recently changed, it's fresh...

Thanks for the replies everyone, until someone says it's normal to hear off-throttle ticking I'll keep thinking about it. Not to worried but since lifters do fail I'll keep an ear on it and stethoscope it more.

 

[Tdijarhead]

There is a certain amount of noise with the alh engine. If you really are worried about it try removing the serpentine belt and see if it’s actually engine related or if the noise goes away, accessory related. AC compressor, power steering pump, alternator, etc.

At 98k, your engine is barely broke in. Try popping the transmission in neutral while going downhill and see if that tick is still present which would indicate that something moving like a wheel bearing, tire or axle could be going bad.

I understand your reluctance to remove the valve cover, once they start leaking it hard to get them to stop.

 

[Figit090]

Interesting discovery; yesterday I left work and it was smooth sounding, but then I started hearing the ticking
so I thought maybe it's something that switches on/off electrically.

A few minutes later when I was almost home I shut the ignition off while coasting and all of the ticking stopped and everything was smooth. I'm assuming it's not valvetrain related now!

So I'm guessing it's fuel pump or an accessory that is powered or turned on/off. I'm also less worried! Maybe it's my advanced timing causing the sound?

I'll get it adjusted and report back. its too advanced now so silly me, I suppose that could be it.

There is a certain amount of noise with the alh engine. If you really are worried about it try removing the serpentine belt and see if it’s actually engine related or if the noise goes away, accessory related. AC compressor, power steering pump, alternator, etc.

At 98k, your engine is barely broke in. Try popping the transmission in neutral while going downhill and see if that tick is still present which would indicate that something moving like a wheel bearing, tire or axle could be going bad.

I understand your reluctance to remove the valve cover, once they start leaking it hard to get them to stop.

Thanks for the input, especially confirming the cover removal.