Unfortunately I have no means of recording it at the moment, but I'll work on that. All I can do for the moment is describe it.

First off, it doesn't seem to really be on one side or the other. I've tried listening with a screwdriver to my ear and haven't gotten any further. When I'm on the Driver's side, I'm sure it's on the passenger side and vice versa. So I'm thinking it's pretty much in the middle.

It's not a tick, and it's not a knock. It's more like a clattery metal sound, but it's consistent like a tick would be. I don't think there's something randomly flopping around in there. I dropped the oil pan to replace the gasket when I first bought the car (and it was making this sound then, too). The bearings looked okay.

It does it when it's cold or warm, but usually more so when warm and especially after I get on it a little bit. Before I bought my car, a high pressure oil pump was installed. My oil pressure is about 70 when cold and 50 when warm. I use Mobil1 10w30, and I don't leak or smoke even at 110k miles. It doesn't seem to affect anything at all, but my knock sensor picks it up so that's no good.

Anyone have any idea what it may be? It doesn't sound anything like a lifter or a rod. The guts are stock so unless something is really badly wrong I don't think it's a piston slap. Wristpins maybe? I'd hate to have to rebuild it since I'm not using any oil at all, and my oil looks brand new even after 2500 miles. Hopefully someone can give me some pointers of what to look for before I tear into it.

 

Had the sound since you have owned the car......Injectors maybe???

 

Yep, it's always been there for the 6k miles I've owned it. I've replaced the injectors and the sound didn't change at all.

Just out of curiosity though, how loud can those stock injectors get? I've heard of people complaining about them, but I can't possibly imagine them ever getting as loud as people sometimes describe them.

 

I’ve grown accustom to the sound and really don’t “hear” it anymore. Seems like it can be heard with the hood closed. I’ll have to pay more attention in the future. :crazy:

 

Have you checked your valve train at all? Like looking really close at the springs to make sure one hasn't failed, made sure a rocker arm isn't loose or misaligned.

Also, unless you have a bigger pan with extra oil you may induce a little oil starvation at high RPM useage with the High Volume oil pump. Food for thought.

 

I was going to do this soon anyway, when I can find some time. Since the valve covers have to come off, I'll use it as an excuse to finally paint them.

I agree here. I don't know why the previous owner put one on.. I guess the original went out, so he tried to be Johnny-On-the-Spot. Rather than put a bigger oil pan on (which he didn't), I'm just going to put it back to stock. But that's a subject for a different topic.

 

Are you sure it's not one of the accessories?

You can run the engine without the serp belt to check.... only for a little bit though... you don't wanna overheat it.

 

LT1/4 doesn't need the serp belt for water cooling. Pump is cam driven. But the battery will die.

 

I'm sure it's not one of the accessories (though my air pump is going south. I can hardly wait to remove it). The closest I can get to identifying it is by putting a screwdriver to the valve covers and listening against it. It seems to be right between the valve covers.

 

As simple as it may sound, try checking your bolts on your manifold. I had one of mine work its way out and it sounded like i had a lifter pecking but never could find where or which one it was coming from. Put a new bolt in and it stopped it right away. So just check to see if all your bolts are tight and the exhaust manifold gasket is in good shape so that you don't have any air leaks.

 

I have the same damn cricket...I am sure its the AC compressor, it drives my wife crazy...Im so deaf I only hear it now and again....seems to change when I turn compressor on or off...but cant pinpoint it.

:crazy:

 

Spark plugs in tight?
Is the sound crankshaft speed or cam shaft(half of crank) speed?
Audible under the car by the oilpan?
Could try unplugging one injector at a time while engine running for kicks.


[Modified by 89 Paul in Cal, 3:19 AM 9/19/2003]

 

I've checked the spark plugs for other reasons and they seem to be in good shape. It's probably time for some new ones anyway, so I'll work on that.

I'm not sure about the speed.. it has the same speed as a lifter ticking, but it's not a ticking sound at all. It's like a metal clatter.

I can hear it under the car near the oilpan, but not so much.

As for the injectors.. I'm not sure it would make the same sound even after replacing the injectors, but maybe there's something up with the wiring that would cause that. I let a mechanic hear it yesterday, and he wasn't sure what it was either. He said it could be wrist pins, but all the wristpins I've ever heard were more of a thud (depending on what they hit, I guess).

It'd be nice if it was just the injectors.