Ticking...
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 134
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From: Fl
Ticking...
Noticed recently when I pull into my garage I hear a loud ticking. I can barely hear it in the morning when I start it up but as the car warms up it gets louder. 99 btw.
I also noticed that when I go for a 30 or 40 min highway run (80mph avg maybe a little faster here and there) that the ticking will be pretty much gone when I get home. It seems to happen when I do my 15 min drive to and from work.
It doesn't sound anywhere near as bad as a valve tapping, I've listened to a bunch of videos of LS1s with bad valves.
Some one mentioned it could be an exhaust leak and my flowmasters are rusting away, theres a loose baffle that rattles ect, I'm odering a new setup in a week or two. Idk
Any help would be appreciated. I have a warranty that covers everything BUT it has a $500 deductable so I'd rather ask you guys first. I also believe some of you are probably even MORE knowledgeable.
Heres a video I took tonight with my phone when I got home from work, it can be heard just as I hear it no changes from the recording.
I also noticed that when I go for a 30 or 40 min highway run (80mph avg maybe a little faster here and there) that the ticking will be pretty much gone when I get home. It seems to happen when I do my 15 min drive to and from work.
It doesn't sound anywhere near as bad as a valve tapping, I've listened to a bunch of videos of LS1s with bad valves.
Some one mentioned it could be an exhaust leak and my flowmasters are rusting away, theres a loose baffle that rattles ect, I'm odering a new setup in a week or two. Idk
Any help would be appreciated. I have a warranty that covers everything BUT it has a $500 deductable so I'd rather ask you guys first. I also believe some of you are probably even MORE knowledgeable.
Heres a video I took tonight with my phone when I got home from work, it can be heard just as I hear it no changes from the recording.
Last edited by Firstorlast; Mar 5, 2013 at 08:08 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 134
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From: Fl
I'd also like to specify only mods to my knowledge - exhaust.
Also I haven't been abusive, I've only had it for afew months. I literally haven't even done a burn out yet. I've punched it a few times, not recently. I'm saving the motor for when I get full exhaust cam ect. So when I got it, it sounded great and now after two months of babying and a recent oil change, spark plug/wire change I get this.. ???
Also I haven't been abusive, I've only had it for afew months. I literally haven't even done a burn out yet. I've punched it a few times, not recently. I'm saving the motor for when I get full exhaust cam ect. So when I got it, it sounded great and now after two months of babying and a recent oil change, spark plug/wire change I get this.. ???
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 21
From: east taunton ma
Kinda sounds like a exhaust leak to me. Have you tried to snug up the exhaust manifold bolts? How many miles on it? Also the pullies that the serpentine belt goes around can make funny noises, take the belt off and spin all of them by hand. But honestly it does sound like a exhaust leak, it could even have a small leak by the AIR tubes that go in the manifold.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 19,864
Likes: 146
From: South East TN
This is how I pinpointed an exhaust leak on an old 440 magnum engine i had. Some people my not like doing this but it worked fine for me.
Start the engine while it's cold and exhaust manifolds have not heated up yet. With a water hose on lightly run the stream of water across the exhaust manifold all over until you hear the ticking stop. When the sound stops is where the leak is.
If it's not and exhaust leak then this won't find it.
I don't recommend doing it to a hot manifold as it could warp or crack.
Start the engine while it's cold and exhaust manifolds have not heated up yet. With a water hose on lightly run the stream of water across the exhaust manifold all over until you hear the ticking stop. When the sound stops is where the leak is.
If it's not and exhaust leak then this won't find it.
I don't recommend doing it to a hot manifold as it could warp or crack.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Fl
Kinda sounds like a exhaust leak to me. Have you tried to snug up the exhaust manifold bolts? How many miles on it? Also the pullies that the serpentine belt goes around can make funny noises, take the belt off and spin all of them by hand. But honestly it does sound like a exhaust leak, it could even have a small leak by the AIR tubes that go in the manifold.
Yeah I really hope its just a leak.. then its a hunt instead of a small fortune. Anyone have any tips for pinpointing a leak??? I do plan on removing my exhaust this weekend because it has a rattle inside the muffler and its ridiculously loud. Damn aluminum flowmasters.. planning on odering a new setup in about a week.
Allthough if I have a manifold leak and require new gaskets I might have to change plans and just oder cat'ed LTs and run no exhaust for awhile..I do live in FL now.. its probably frowned upon to have mufflers on something like a vette.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 19,864
Likes: 146
From: South East TN
This is how I pinpointed an exhaust leak on an old 440 magnum engine i had. Some people my not like doing this but it worked fine for me.
Start the engine while it's cold and exhaust manifolds have not heated up yet. With a water hose on lightly run the stream of water across the exhaust manifold all over until you hear the ticking stop. When the sound stops is where the leak is.
If it's not and exhaust leak then this won't find it.
I don't recommend doing it to a hot manifold as it could warp or crack.
Start the engine while it's cold and exhaust manifolds have not heated up yet. With a water hose on lightly run the stream of water across the exhaust manifold all over until you hear the ticking stop. When the sound stops is where the leak is.
If it's not and exhaust leak then this won't find it.
I don't recommend doing it to a hot manifold as it could warp or crack.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Fl
This is how I pinpointed an exhaust leak on an old 440 magnum engine i had. Some people my not like doing this but it worked fine for me.
Start the engine while it's cold and exhaust manifolds have not heated up yet. With a water hose on lightly run the stream of water across the exhaust manifold all over until you hear the ticking stop. When the sound stops is where the leak is.
If it's not and exhaust leak then this won't find it.
I don't recommend doing it to a hot manifold as it could warp or crack.
Start the engine while it's cold and exhaust manifolds have not heated up yet. With a water hose on lightly run the stream of water across the exhaust manifold all over until you hear the ticking stop. When the sound stops is where the leak is.
If it's not and exhaust leak then this won't find it.
I don't recommend doing it to a hot manifold as it could warp or crack.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Fl
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 170
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From: Aztec, NM
It doesn't sound like an exhaust leak if its going away. I'd start looking at valve train since it doesn't seem to be fast/loud enough to be piston slap.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: Broussard Louisiana
Sounds like a Donut gasket or Manifold gasket. After it heats up it stops so thats what i would think it is. Hows your oil pressure in the morning and after youve driven? look normal? I wouldnt think it would be not getting enough oil to the top of the engine or it would sound alot worse. Doesnt sound like a lifter tapping either to me.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4
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Sounds like a Donut gasket or Manifold gasket. After it heats up it stops so thats what i would think it is. Hows your oil pressure in the morning and after youve driven? look normal? I wouldnt think it would be not getting enough oil to the top of the engine or it would sound alot worse. Doesnt sound like a lifter tapping either to me.
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I had a similar sound that went away after it warmed up. Went on for a couple months and started getting worse. Could not pin point it so I tore the engine down. Turned out that it was a lifter. The bearings in the roller felt smooth when rolling it but if you push hard while rolling it it got real rough and crunchy. It made a line on the cam like it would lock up every now and them. Nothing major just a smooth line. Glad I tore it down before something blew.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 134
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From: Fl
Finally put my BBK shortys and OBX exhaust on last weekend. Happy to say the ticking noise is gone, car sounds perfect now, couldn't be happier with the difference the mods made. Totally different car, sounds like a monster.
Pretty sure the exhaust leak was coming from the drivers side manifold to cat gasket. Car has 52k, the header to cat gaskets were pretty bad. Large rust cracks and holes, no question they were leaking.
Pretty sure the exhaust leak was coming from the drivers side manifold to cat gasket. Car has 52k, the header to cat gaskets were pretty bad. Large rust cracks and holes, no question they were leaking.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,103
Likes: 7
From: Sandy Ego Ca.
Yeah... thats a leak or a spark plug wire? Is there a slight stumble at any time when the car runs up... Check the "AIR" tube.. nobody ever checks thoes.. most check the gaskets on the heads..