The classic ticking Topic is solved

[Eddystone]

I would switch oil brand and use oem oil filter in the future, might be worth a try.

Out of curiosity, if he's using Mobil 1 oil, do you mean Volvo-branded oil when you say OEM? Surely that could not make a difference.

[hausmeister]

Out of curiosity, if he's using Mobil 1 oil, do you mean Volvo-branded oil when you say OEM? Surely that could not make a difference.

No, I mean volvo filter.
Oil, just a different one maybe. In my experience some were worse for lifter noise than others. But I know oil is a tricky topic, everyone has their own snakeoil
Probably won't help here, sounds pretty bad.

https://youtube.com/shorts/72FYtMc-oXE?feature=share

I don't know how to embed that, sorry

That sounds like a single stuck lifter to me.

[jsrnsis]

Out of curiosity, if he's using Mobil 1 oil, do you mean Volvo-branded oil when you say OEM? Surely that could not make a difference.

No, I mean volvo filter.
Oil, just a different one maybe. In my experience some were worse for lifter noise than others. But I know oil is a tricky topic, everyone has their own snakeoil
Probably won't help here, sounds pretty bad.

https://youtube.com/shorts/72FYtMc-oXE?feature=share

I don't know how to embed that, sorry

That sounds like a single stuck lifter to me.

Oil does seem to be one of those things nobody can agree on and everyone has their own folklore, like diets, laundry stain removal, leather reconditioning, etc.

I tried keeping it revved at 3000 rpm for a minute to see if that would unstick anything, and for a couple seconds after I let off the gas, the sound is gone. The sound seems to stay away after I've driven it for 10 minutes on sport mode to keep my revs high, but still comes back after about 3 minutes if I leave it parked idling. Sound starts a couple seconds after the car is turned on, goes away past ~3000 rpm, comes back when idling, but the more "aggressive" I've driven or revved it, the longer it takes for the sound to come back. There is a very slight "burble" to the exhaust.
Anything I can do besides pulling off my cam cover to rule out a lifter?

[scot850]

What oil viscosity is your Mobile 1?

I am wary of engine treatments as some can cause more harm than good on old engines. Like you say, for everyone that gives a thumbs up for something there will be someone who says that is a bad idea or wrong.

Like I asked previously, have you had the oil pan 'O' rings replaced? On the cars with hydraulic lifters the oil pressure to the head is more important as that is what keeps the lifters quieter.

That would tie into the fact you say that when driving faster your engine quietens (you have higher engine oil pressure) and when returning to idling the noise comes back.

It could be a stuck or bad lifter but hopefully not.

If you plan to change your oi anytime soon, I may suggest trying a can of Seafoam in the engine oil for about 100 miles prior to the oil change to see if that helps.

Neil.

[jsrnsis]

What oil viscosity is your Mobile 1?

I am wary of engine treatments as some can cause more harm than good on old engines. Like you say, for everyone that gives a thumbs up for something there will be someone who says that is a bad idea or wrong.

Like I asked previously, have you had the oil pan 'O' rings replaced? On the cars with hydraulic lifters the oil pressure to the head is more important as that is what keeps the lifters quieter.

That would tie into the fact you say that when driving faster your engine quietens (you have higher engine oil pressure) and when returning to idling the noise comes back.

It could be a stuck or bad lifter but hopefully not.



If you plan to change your oi anytime soon, I may suggest trying a can of Seafoam in the engine oil for about 100 miles prior to the oil change to see if that helps.

Neil.

I have been using 10w-30 and I don't know for sure, but I'm assuming the o-rings were never changed. I just changed my oil since I was close to 5000 miles and I thought maybe it would fix the ticking, but no change. I have opened the filler with the engine running, and there is plenty of oil up there, but maybe despite there being plenty of oil, there's not enough pressure. Maybe I'll go get an exhaust check to rule that out.

[scot850]

The 'O' rings I am talking about are between the oil pan and the lower block. It would require the pan to be dropped and new 'O' rings fitted. These feed oil from the pump to the head.

Neil.

[hausmeister]

just my opinion:
It seems similar to my engine - When I got the car and it was standing for some days It would have that noise until I drove regularly, then it was gone. Now, after ~2months standing it goes away within ~10 minutes and stays away.
I believe the 0w40 helped, but what really improved it the last years was the additional engine flush.
Of course, what works for me might not work for someone else.

[rsmigel]

I have had my ‘94 850 Turbo since 1995 and from ~2000-2010 I had the common lifter tick at startup and cold idle. Beginning 2010 through today (200K miles) I’ve flushed the engine prior to oil changes using ‘Motor Medic’s’ five minute oil flush then add the recommended amount of Sea Foam on top of fresh oil. I’ve changed my oil religiously using synthetic oil at recommended change intervals since 1995.

A few thousand miles after the first flush my ticking permanently went away. My engine has never been rebuilt.

[jsrnsis]

The 'O' rings I am talking about are between the oil pan and the lower block. It would require the pan to be dropped and new 'O' rings fitted. These feed oil from the pump to the head.

Neil.

I got the car last year, so I don't know the history, but I'm assuming they weren't done. I've been busy but the next time I get off I'm going to try to isolate the source better.

[jsrnsis]

just my opinion:
It seems similar to my engine - When I got the car and it was standing for some days It would have that noise until I drove regularly, then it was gone. Now, after ~2months standing it goes away within ~10 minutes and stays away.
I believe the 0w40 helped, but what really improved it the last years was the additional engine flush.
Of course, what works for me might not work for someone else.

I believe the car sat for a while before I bought it, but I've been driving it almost every day to work, plus some highway trips. My trip to work is quite short, but I let it at least get to temperature every trip. I haven't done anything with the oil though besides changing it, I'll have to look into a flush.