Loud ticking noise from engine - sometimes

rp850 · Post by **rp850** » 14 Apr 2007, 21:13

I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned the oil pan o rings as a possible culprit. Also, this noise may also be normal. It's referenced in the users manual:

Hydraulic valve lifters

This engine features hydraulic valve lifters which means that valve clearance is adjusted automatically. It is possible that the valve lifters will produce a ticking sound for the first few seconds after the engine is started, while the oil pressure is increasing.
If the car has not been used for a long period of time, this ticking sound may last for up to 15 minutes. This is entirely normal.
Do not exceed 3000rpm until the ticking sound disappears.

Post by **luketrash** » 15 Apr 2007, 09:17

My 960 and 850 have lifter tick if I haven't driven them for longer than a week.

The 850 has lifter tick sometimes out of the blue. I think after I'm done using Auto RX, I'm going to put Mobil 1 synthetic oil in it, which stopped the ticking in my 960 (unless I've let it sit for a month.)

My fuel injector rail makes quite a bit of noise, and it's also random. Sometimes it does it, other times the car is decently quiet.

I'd be interested to hear the cause of the fuel injectors clicking so loudly, since no other vehicle I own does this, and they all have very similar injectors.

The cure for lifter ticking is to go run down the road in low gear at 4000+ rpm for a stretch. It will go away when the oil has heated up and you're able to get oil up into the lifters. I am pretty sure the Mobil synthetic 5w30 gets up there better than my 10w30 Castrol I run as dino lube.

L33t A2 · Post by **L33t A2** » 15 Apr 2007, 09:36

If its definitely the injectors and they are much louder than what is the accepted norm of volume, you can send them out to get professionally cleaned and tested for about $10-$20 an injector depending on who you use.
Ive heard good reviews for http://www.witchhunter.com/ they also have a good bit of info on cleaning, including pictures and videos on their site.

dejongmc · Post by **dejongmc** » 16 Apr 2007, 19:45

How do I know if the ticking is caused by an injector or a lifter.

Anyway I can find out it is one or the other?

Post by **JRL** » 16 Apr 2007, 19:55

dejongmc wrote:How do I know if the ticking is caused by an injector or a lifter.

Anyway I can find out it is one or the other?

Real easy, just let a VOLVO mechanic listen to it, he will know

bobsnow100 · Post by **bobsnow100** » 17 Apr 2007, 07:36

It is very possible that you have a collasped lifter. They can wear out and this would cause clearance between the lifter and the valve which will definitely give you a tick sound ,As the engine speed increases the ticking sound will get faster with the rpm's. If this is the problem don't wait to fix it because you valve can break.

Post by **luketrash** » 17 Apr 2007, 11:42

I have a mechanic's stethoscope (louds, hurts your ears)

You carefully hold the tip of the listener end to various parts of the engine, and you can learn a lot about your car. You can hear which lifters are ticking, which fuel injectors are making the noise, find bearings going bad, etc..

It isolates noises, and allows you to hear inside the valvecover.

dejongmc · Post by **dejongmc** » 17 Apr 2007, 20:39

In the last few day I paid attention when the ticking starts, and I noticed that the ticking starts if the car idles for a while. Like driving into a traffic jam, ticking starts after a few minutes.

But no ticking at startup in the morning.

Does this make sense?

Post by **JRL** » 17 Apr 2007, 21:18

dejongmc wrote:In the last few day I paid attention when the ticking starts, and I noticed that the ticking starts if the car idles for a while. Like driving into a traffic jam, ticking starts after a few minutes.

But no ticking at startup in the morning.

Does this make sense?

Yes, it sounds like low oil pressure.
Have the O ring seals in the pan checked. they probably need replacement.
When the oil get hot combined with low oil pressure the lifters are not getting oil along with all the other engine parts. like the bottom end bearings

I would not let this go long at all, at least have it checked out

Post by **luketrash** » 17 Apr 2007, 21:51

Is it easy to get in there and change the o rings?

I haven't really been under my 850 much.