My engine was so quiet when new I could hardly hear it. Slowly it seems to have developed a valve lifter tick when warm. It has been pretty cold here in Alaska lately, but I can't imagine what else would start ticking as a loose lifter sounds. With roller tappets and synthetic oil, how could it loosen up so soon, unless it was not tightened properly in Japan? Anyone know if they are robotically adjusted on the assembly line or man-ually? What do you think? Is this normal?
der Mond wrote: My engine was so quiet when new I could hardly hear it. Slowly it seems to have developed a valve lifter tick when warm. It has been pretty cold here in Alaska lately, but I can't imagine what else would start ticking as a loose lifter sounds. With roller tappets and synthetic oil, how could it loosen up so soon, unless it was not tightened properly in Japan? Anyone know if they are robotically adjusted on the assembly line or man-ually? What do you think? Is this normal?
I have noticed in pretty much all of my hondas (at least the 4 cyl models) that as they get older you will hear a bit more valvetrain noise, even if you adjust them regularly. I'm not sure why they're so danged quiet when new but eventually you hear more of a "tappety" sound.
Last night at -20 I stopped to get gas and it was ticking at idle initially. Then I let it run for about ten minutes while I went in to the convenience store, and when I came out it had the "normal" valve lash symphony, which really sounds quite healthy. So I'm wondering if the below zero air entering the engine compartment and flowing through the radiator at highway speeds (65 mph) is keeping the engine a bit too cool or else making something else tick temporarily. At initial startup it's pretty quiet and when it's been sitting idling it quiets down, but after driving even 40 miles in the cold at highway speed, when I stop it ticks noticeably. Any
Honda mechanics out there that can 'splain that? Thanks.
the only thing I can say, is that as far is i know, all new hondas 4 bangers do that... (I don't know to what extent yours is) but if other fit owners chime in and tell you their experiences, it will be more beneficial maybe.
I bought an 06 ex and it did that after a few thousand miles.
same with an 06 si...
the ex, was more noticeable than the si, significantly i would say, the most major difference between the two i think is the sohc vs dohc config.
yours is a sohc.. so it sounds pretty similar to what my ex did.
if it REALLY worries you, take it in, at least it'll be on the records..
my car has 8k miles now and ive heard my car start to tick too..i was worried but i think its normal..i have an 07 civic si anyone else have the ticking noise?
I think it's related to temperature. You could bring it into the dealer and have them check for valve clearances (or do it yourself), but until the engine head gets to "normal" temperatures you're bound to have the valves a bit off, leading to the ticking sound. In an environment like Alaska in the winter I'm not surprised =) Don't think it's anything to worry about.
der Mond wrote: My engine was so quiet when new I could hardly hear it. Slowly it seems to have developed a valve lifter tick when warm. It has been pretty cold here in Alaska lately, but I can't imagine what else would start ticking as a loose lifter sounds. With roller tappets and synthetic oil, how could it loosen up so soon, unless it was not tightened properly in Japan? Anyone know if they are robotically adjusted on the assembly line or man-ually? What do you think? Is this normal?
Could it merely be the injectors making the noise? My brother bought a new Civic EX in '03, and I could hear the "valve tapping" at such a low mileage. So he took it to the dealer and the technician said it was actually the injectors, and that they are louder on the newer cars. Sure enough after listening around the engine a little closer I could tell it was the injectors. And now his '07 Si sedan is the same way. It sounds exactly like my old Hondas when the valves need adjustment, but in his case it's just the injectors functioning normally. Just a thought.
Injector noise is a new concept for me, so thanks for that heads-up. Now that the warm weather has resumed, it's not an issue. It seemed to be happening after driving at speed for awhile at say, -30 F. After sitting at idle for 5 minutes its quiet again. I will listen to the injectors.
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