Trying to figure out a noise..

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Jukelemon

Jukelemon

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Threads
283
Messages
2,381
Location
Louisville, KY
Hi all.

Since I bought my truck, I have always heard/had a noise in the engine that sounds like a very loud tap that increases with engine speed. I am not

I can hear it the best if I get beside the driver's front fender well OR if I listen right over the valve cover. Here is the weird thing, I can feel, for lack of better words, the tapping on top of the valve cover in the very back.

So, it sounds like it is coming from the bottom BUT it feels like it is at the top end.

It is NOT regular valve noise i.e. clicking. This is a tap that I can actually feel through the valve cover.

Any ideas???

I have 0 performance isues, 0 buring oil, 0 smoke etc.
 
I know the clearance under the valve cover is really tight, especially if your valve cover gasket is old and compressed and the 4 nuts are torqued too tight. Perhaps one of the tappets has backed out, or maybe one of the jam nuts has backed off the tappet and floated up till it's hitting the valve cover?
 
does it go away when warm? it could be piston slap, common on toyotas. when was the last time you checked valve clearances? pop the valve cover off and have a look for obvious stuff... my old zuki somebody(previous owner) screwed up when they did a valve set, and when i pulled the cover off there it was: an adjusting lock nut floating around in the head.
 
No, it doesn't go away when warm. Always there.

I did a valve adjustment when I did the timing chain i.e. about 5k or so ago.

I NEVER have replaced the valve cover gasket so maybe.

I need to just pull the cover off but it is so damn cold here and I dont have a garage any more.
 
Jukelemon said:
No, it doesn't go away when warm. Always there.

I did a valve adjustment when I did the timing chain i.e. about 5k or so ago.

I NEVER have replaced the valve cover gasket so maybe.

I need to just pull the cover off but it is so damn cold here and I dont have a garage any more.
Click to expand...

52in/lb's is the torque spec, hardly anything.
 
Jukelemon said:
You guys really think you can torque it down that much where the valves hit the cover???
Click to expand...

I have heard of it happening........
When you had the valve cover off, did you look down the timing chain case at the guides?
Mine made a similar sound when the drivers side plastic guide broke and it was slapping against the case.
 
Put it this way: when I upgraded to ARP head studs, I had to grind away a couple of the ribs in the inderside of the valve cover so they wouldn't hit. They were only about 1/8" taller.
 
i came across a valve cover once that had signs of the rockers hitttin the baffle. seems like it would eventually break it all off and quit makin noise. somthin to check into...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom