Ticking coming from an 02 VQ35DE ... done my research, help please!

[starbai]

Hey there everyone, so I picked up a 2WD 2002 Pathfinder LE last week, 131k original miles. Its a pretty nice SUV all around but my biggest concern is a loud ticking coming from the engine. I hear it most up top, but I also hear it quite a bit from the passenger wheel well. The ticking is constant, doesn't matter if the engine is cool, warm, running at idle and when revved the ticking gets faster.

So I'm reading a number of things, the one that stands out most to me is the problem is quite possibly the valve lifters. As such, I have tried the following:

1. Drained all the oil and ran ATF in it for a few minutes at idle to see if that would make a difference, it didn't.
2. After this, I of course changed the oil with Mobil 1 Synthetic 10w30 and added a little sea foam in it... but no fix here either.

So at this stage I'm thinking my only option is to replace the valve lifters. The problem is the FSM is very vague on this. I can't figure out how many new lifters I need. I have seen people argue over whether or not the VQ35DE even has hydraulic lifters.

1. So first question is, does anyone know of a good DIY write up, or has anyone done the lifters on the 02 Pathfinder's VQ35DE that can walk me through this/answer some questions for me?

2. Primarily when I look through the FSM it talks about a shim type Valve lifter, and a shimless type. I think I have a shimless type since the FSM says shimless was produced since August 2001, and my SUV is a 2002. But can anyone help me figure this out definitively?

3. How many lifters are there?

4. Are any special tools needed to remove the old/install the new?

5. What is the likelihood that its something else and not the lifters, or a combination of other things? What else should I check?

Spending the money and putting the time/work into replacing the lifters and it not being the issue.

I really want to enjoy this SUV and I don't mind giving it the TLC it needs, but I'm not in the habit of throwing money at the problems. I need help diagnosing and if it is the lifters, help beyond the one page or so of the FSM with exactly what to order to do the job and some guidance on how to do it.


Here are two videos to show you guys the sound:

Video 1 This was the night I picked it up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yYkSH5nAcU

Video 2 This is after running some ATF before doing a full oil change, as you can see no improvement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EQ4ejwP8hk

[yeldogt]

All of mine have made some noise -- my current one with 90k has a little tap. I always use the high mile oil -- it is supposed to have additives that give some cling. Not sure what you thought the ATF was going to do?

I would add get some top end additive/ high miles additive and see if the sound changes. If it changes you know the problem ..

I'm not one of those -- lets change parts because I think this is the problem. A much better track is to pay someone to find the problem .. and fix it once.

[MisterH]

I agree with YeldogT's recommendation. Get it professionally diagnosed. To remove the valves means removing the entire cylinder head and if you have to go that far it would make better economic sense to replace/rebuild the entire cylinder head; given the miles on the vehicle.

[atraudes]

My guess is the valve clearances need to be adjusted. The Chiton guide has a section on how to do it, but it says you need specialty tools and the process doesn't sound like something I'd be up for. Based on the quantity of noise, I'd say do it sooner than later.