Lifter Noise

[lino]

I never drove in any other Q45 before so I really can't compare my car to another one to know if the noise I'm hearing is normal. I feel like my car has some lifter noise. It is the loudest of any of the cars I've driven in the last few months. Some of the cars are a 1998 BMW 540i, 1999 Lexus GS400, and a 1989 Mercedes 300. I'm obviously not going to compare brand new cars.

I tried to record a movie to give you guys a better idea, but for some odd reason, my camera refused to record sound this morning. I'm going to try to borrow another cam.

[ahmed_wasim]

Does the lifter tick go away after the engine reaches it normal operating temperature?

[lino]

No it doesn't.

[JT_MONEY_2004]

What type of oil are you using? Maybe a heavier grade would help. Going from 5w30 to 10w30 (mobil1) did it for me and others.

[goody90q45]

I had one lifter ticking so I added 4 ozs. of Marvel Mystery Oil to the crankcase, did my nomal driving for the day, and changed the oil and filter the next morning. The oil was black when drained and the ticking is gone. Also added the same amount to about 3/4 tank of gas to clean up the injectors. Good stuff. You can buy it at any major auto parts store.

[Q45tech]

Unlikely MM will clean the injectors [see the components of MM below] but not as bad as adding diesel to gasoline.

"Older cars with problems are the only ones I dump the stuff in. It's alast ditch shot for stuck lifters and rings I try before breaking out thewrenches.

Does it dissolve crud? Absolutely. Makes a good parts cleaner too, asI found out at a certain shop I used to work at where we bought it in55 gal drums. Don't ask :-)

Can the crud hurt the motor? Yes, of course. But if the motor didn't haveproblems, you would not need it in the first place.

Do you need to change the oil and filter after a couple hundred miles ofuse? absolutely. And probably again in another 500. As long as thefilter is working and not bypassing, you should be OK.

BTW, I've been using Marvel oil for at least 20 years. I've not noticedany change in the consistency. To answer another question, Chigaco Pneumaticscalls out MMO by name as the recommended lube for their air tools so Idoubt the newly labeled stuff is any different. It probably addressesthe "you want me to put WHAT in my air tool?" syndrome.""".................John De Armond).......one of the finest auto engineers I knowX-Source: The Hotrod Mailing listDate: Sep 1992

"Ray: Marvel Mystery Oil is kind of like chicken soup, Les. It probably won't help, but it can't hurt.

MM is composed of:

BENZENE, 1,2-DICHLORO- CAS Number 95501 MINERAL SPIRITS CAS Number 8052413 NAPTHENIC HYDROCARBONS CAS Number 64742525

[3rd Q]

Also had one of the dreaded ticking HLA's. Did 3 or 4 BG Quick Clean flushes over a 10 month period and ran BG MOA in the oil in between changes and the tick is mostly gone, usually don't hear it at all. Will do one more flush and hopefully get rid of it altogether.

My engine has only 84k on it and looked pretty clean internally when I did the chain guides. Noise started after that, so maybe I knocked some varnish loose that clogged a ballcheck in the HLA. My ticking also was not there at start-up, only after fully warm did it make noise.

Some have tried the Bilstein or Envirolution engine flushes. I wanted to go the less invasive route.

Paul

[elwesso]

lino, after listening to it on the phone, its not lifter tick.

[lino]

What type of oil are you using? Maybe a heavier grade would help. Going from 5w30 to 10w30 (mobil1) did it for me and others.

I'm using 5w30 full synthetic. I've only done one oil change since I bought the car. I put approxiamtely 1000 miles on it so far. I'm going to go with 10w30 for my next oil change.

[lino]

lino, after listening to it on the phone, its not lifter tick.

What do you it might be? I know I have noise from the alternator bearing and/or possibly a pulley.

[Q45ver]

Guys

You may in fact be hearing lifter noise, but I'm more inclinded to think that someone new to the Q is actually hearing the injectors. They are the noisest I've heard. My car is just broken in with 51K, and it has always sounded this way. I've always used synthetic and changed frequently, so after investigation with my trusty stethiscope determined it to be the injectors.

[lino]

Guys

You may in fact be hearing lifter noise, but I'm more inclinded to think that someone new to the Q is actually hearing the injectors. They are the noisest I've heard. My car is just broken in with 51K, and it has always sounded this way. I've always used synthetic and changed frequently, so after investigation with my trusty stethiscope determined it to be the injectors.

My noise sounds internal and the pitch changes with acceleration. It sort of sounds like a sewing machine or a locomotive. It feels like the finesse and silkiness are not there.

[Q45ver]

I see you have loads of posts, so you will obviously have heard lots on the dreaded chain guide saga and have already taken action. I have heard it said that you can hear the results of seriously worn guides. I would think they would have to be in a near castostrophic state to account for really apparent noise varying with RPM.

[lino]

I see you have loads of posts, so you will obviously have heard lots on the dreaded chain guide saga and have already taken action. I have heard it said that you can hear the results of seriously worn guides. I would think they would have to be in a near castostrophic state to account for really apparent noise varying with RPM.

According to the previous owner, the guides were done in my car. He gave me the telephone number to the mechanic who supposedly did the work. The mechanic was working for Infiniti at the time and did the job for him on the side. I asked him for the phone number for the mechanic and I called him up immediately after I hung up the phone with him. The mechanic did confirm that he had done the work and gave me a brief description of the job. I have no way of confirming this since I have no paperwork and I wasn't there. I'm not sure what reason they would have to lie. I have almost all the other service records though.

[Raxephon]

Out of curiousity, is it more of a "KLACK" than a "TICK" sound?

[elwesso]

Lino see if you can get that video going.....

[maxnix]

My noise sounds internal and the pitch changes with acceleration.

It is neither lifter nor injector operation then, as only the frequency of the operation would change, not the pitch.

If you have known failed compnents or deferred maintenance, it is best to replace or perform those first before trying to diagnose some minor operational quirk. Multiple wear item failures or deferred maintenance increase the difficulty of diagnosing an operational abnormality exponentially.

[Infinitiguy19]

OK I finally found some one with the same problem I am having, i realize i have made many threads on my problem But I have yet to receive a definite answer to my problem.

My car is having the SAME problem as Lino, and if your still around Lino did you ever solve it?

But a bit more of info on my problem: I checked injectors 1 and 8 and there is a difference in ticks meaning that 8 is slower than 1.

And in the morning (Or when warming up from sitting over night) it sounds like a sewing machine till finally warmed up then it is fairly quiet except the tick is still audible.

For the first 2-3 seconds it is non existent, the fan is not to loud either the noise just does'nt appears till after 2-3 seconds after starting up.

Also I placed the mechanics stethoscope on the valve covers and I could hear a barely audible tick but that may be just noise transferred from some where else.

All belts, bearings and pulleys were replaced in 12/5/07

Compressor is disconnected (No belt going to it)

Motor mounts and transmission mount was replaced on 5/18/05 at 80,533 K miles

Transmission fluid was changed every 2 years, no sure if that has anything to do with it.

[OwnerCS]

Also had one of the dreaded ticking HLA's. Did 3 or 4 BG Quick Clean flushes over a 10 month period and ran BG MOA in the oil in between changes and the tick is mostly gone, usually don't hear it at all. Will do one more flush and hopefully get rid of it altogether.

My engine has only 84k on it and looked pretty clean internally when I did the chain guides. Noise started after that, so maybe I knocked some varnish loose that clogged a ballcheck in the HLA. My ticking also was not there at start-up, only after fully warm did it make noise.

Some have tried the Bilstein or Envirolution engine flushes. I wanted to go the less invasive route.

Paul

Here's also got the dreaded post chain guide lifter noise on the drivers side bank.. I used a mechanics stethoscope to isolate the noise.. The noise is most present around the ignitor or it seems to be concentrated around the ignitor..

Last night I changed the oil with some temporary (that I plan to replace tonight or tomorrow) generic (Mobil produced) 5W30 synthetic and a quart of MMO to get the lube in and it seems to have helped but the noise it is still present..

Could turning the engine over by hand to check the chains without any oil circulating through the lifter chambers cause the lifters to pick up air? I see a reference in the FSM where the lifters need to stay submerged in oil to avoid air like it is some bad condition to avoid.

I’m so embarrassed about the lifter noise that I don’t want to let anybody I know hear the Q running at this point..

[Q451990]

My old Q would tap from time to time, and it would go away after a few times of starting and stopping the engine. I don't think anything you did would cause them to go flat. I think I would let it ride for a little while and maybe try some BG quick clean... half can, warm it up and let it idle for a while... drain and repeat.

As a last resort you could make a drive to Jacksonville and get this http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/tls/2101972557.html or find a shop with one in your area.

Heath

[djwarner]

My '02 Q will ocasionally make lifter noise on a cold start noticable in the garage. It turns out to be a quart low on oil, just like a '60's GM product. Put in a quart and the noise is instantly gone. (been burning a quart every 3K miles).

[qship96]

My '02 Q will ocasionally make lifter noise on a cold start noticable in the garage. It turns out to be a quart low on oil, just like a '60's GM product. Put in a quart and the noise is instantly gone. (been burning a quart every 3K miles).

Then get in the habit of checking it every 1500 miles and top off {should be 1/2 qt} no need to "wait" til it gets a full quart low and creates noises and possible damage. On the 90-96Q a dipstick reading level of 1/2 way between full and low marks equals 11 ounces, and that is when I replenish with 11 ounces of fresh oil, always takes it back exactly to the top full marking on the dipstick. I always keep a quart of oil and graduated cylinder in trunk for the occasional topoff.

[OwnerCS]

The lifter noise has all but gone away. I have noticed an exhaust click in or under the plenum. I think there may be an issue with the EGR valve.. Basically mine doesn't open or close or flutter with vacuum pressure changes after warm up.

Engine sounds around the valve covers sounds like the following video at 1 minute 30 seconds into the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kCcZl8 ... re=related

Also if you can parse out the turbo sounds I recognize the engine sound in the following video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ5nBw9MeBU

I tried to compare the engine sound to the VQ30DE in the Maxima. Just due to engine design differences I don't think it will ever be that quiet..

[Infinitiguy19]

Thats a HLA tick alright, I would also check the exhaust system for leaks or loose heat sheilds just in case though.

I read a review on Google Books from a Popular Science magazine review I think it was. They compared the Lexus, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi and of course the Infiniti flagships. They said the Q45 is quietest at idle. When I got my Q45 it was so quiet I tried to start up when it was running because I thought it was'nt!

Get a Craftsmen Mechanics stethascope from Sears ($10 as of 12/19/2010) and track down the noise. Screw Autozone, Pep Boys...Junk!

[qship96]

Some lux. cars actually put a inhibitor relay into the starting circuit to prevent the starter from engaging when engine is already running to prevent such mishaps!

[Infinitiguy19]

I resealed both valve covers on my car. That's a job I don't want to do again any time soon. I have pictures I plan to post soon. I found pieces of paint on the left cylinder head when I removed the valve cover. They looked like they came from the timing chain guides, who knows...

I put it all back together and when I first started it up it seemed like the ticking nose went away (Ticks when the car warms up). But I must have been mistaken because when I revved the engine (no more than 2000 RPM's) the ticking was there.

So after doing both sides there was no change in the ticking noise nor did the idle get any smoother. There was oil in the front two spark plug tubes. I took some spark plugs out and I could see the piston tops which is a good sign.

Spark plugs are not hard on these car, I have no idea why people complain.

Honestly I can't remember how long I have been living with the car like this but I am almost at the point of just giving up and living with the way the car runs. People try to convince me all the time that it has 160K on it and its bound to have issues, others think I am insane because the car idle pretty smooth (no dead injectors).

I am going clean the fuel rail out with the new canister I got, hopefully that wasn't a waste of money.

[Q451990]

Congrats on finishing the dreaded valve cover job. Be nice to your low back for a few days...

Heath

[Infinitiguy19]

The right side (Passenger side) took two days to do in 90*F weather outside. The Left side took three days to do in 84*F weather because I got lazy. Had to go to work right after I was done.