Engine Ticking Under Load
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 721
Likes: 10
From: Irvine CA
Engine Ticking Under Load
I’ve done some searches and seen many posts about engine ticking. I saw one with my symptoms but it had no cause. So I’ll try again.
2003 ZO6, stock, 89,000 miles. Daily driver, some track sessions. 86k of the 89k miles were put on by me. Trouble free.
I started getting a ticking sound from the front a few months ago and it just started getting louder.
Engine is quiet at idle. You can only hear the ticking under load. Light load is enough. It is quiet at 70 on the highway. It is also definitely RPM related. It is not loud. Sound is completely masked by the radio. If you accelerate hard, the engine sound masks the ticking. There are no codes and the engine seems to run just fine. No water in the oil or oil in the water. This weekend I did a HPDE with no indication of any problem.
I’m thinking exhaust leak or plug wire because of the load factor condition.
I think any mechanical problem; springs, valves, lifters, would be present under any condition and cause some performance issues.
Any guesses?
2003 ZO6, stock, 89,000 miles. Daily driver, some track sessions. 86k of the 89k miles were put on by me. Trouble free.
I started getting a ticking sound from the front a few months ago and it just started getting louder.
Engine is quiet at idle. You can only hear the ticking under load. Light load is enough. It is quiet at 70 on the highway. It is also definitely RPM related. It is not loud. Sound is completely masked by the radio. If you accelerate hard, the engine sound masks the ticking. There are no codes and the engine seems to run just fine. No water in the oil or oil in the water. This weekend I did a HPDE with no indication of any problem.
I’m thinking exhaust leak or plug wire because of the load factor condition.
I think any mechanical problem; springs, valves, lifters, would be present under any condition and cause some performance issues.
Any guesses?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
EXHAUST LEAK!!
Had a leak that I didnt know about and found it during my SEAFOAM treatment.
Saw the smoke puff out of the passengers side AIR flange when I started the engine after the SEAFOAM soak. The gasket at the flange was bad.
Jack up the car on stands or on a lift. Plug up the exhaust pipes with rag/s and start the car. If there are any leaks, you will be able to feel the pressure come out of the bad area. Someone may have to hold the rags in the exhaust pipes to help build up the back pressure.. If you have leak/s,, they will easily stay in the pipes!
Had a leak that I didnt know about and found it during my SEAFOAM treatment.
Saw the smoke puff out of the passengers side AIR flange when I started the engine after the SEAFOAM soak. The gasket at the flange was bad.
Jack up the car on stands or on a lift. Plug up the exhaust pipes with rag/s and start the car. If there are any leaks, you will be able to feel the pressure come out of the bad area. Someone may have to hold the rags in the exhaust pipes to help build up the back pressure.. If you have leak/s,, they will easily stay in the pipes!
