Valve lifter noise

[rochversa]

I have a 2007 versa sl..since it is getting cold where I live (Minnesota) I've started noticing a valve lifter type noise. When driving the car with the windows up, even when car is warmed up, the car sounds like a sewing machine. Is this a characteristic of the versa engine? Does anyone else think their engine is noisy?

[Knightro2]

I live in Florida and we had our first cold (cold as in the 50's...that's cold for us Floridians) morning this morning and I noticed the "sewing machine" sound. Mine went away by the time I got to work though which is about 50 miles away.

[rochversa]

Thanks for the reply...I'm taking it in for the local Nissan dealer to have the service dept evaluate the noise...I'll let you know if anything other than 'normal operation' is determined.

[APEXi240]

My Versa is an 08 with 17k on it and has made the ticking lifter noise for about 7k or a little longer now.

Every Nissan I've owned as well as my Tacoma make that sound, although the Versa has the fewest miles of any car I've owned.

Please keep us updated.

[Slither]

I thought this had been discussed before on another thread and the sound just turned out to be normal injector noise.

[BBISHOPPCM]

What you are hearing is typical for any engine without hydraulic lifters. Don't panic. Instead of using hydraulic lifters (self-adjusting), most Nissan engines use a "shim-and-bucket" system, where the valves will require adjustment after about 60,000 miles. Simply put, a technician will determine how much play is between the cam lobe and lifter surface, and shim as needed.

The good; our cars will never require costly hydraulic lifter replacements, which often become excessively noisy on high mileage engines (or they can fail completely, causing serious engine problems).

The bad; Shim-and-bucket lifters (or "solid" lifters) are slightly noisy when cold, especially after the break-in period. Extra play is required to allow for thermal expansion; too much play will cause cam lobe damage and incorrect valve timing; not enough play will cause poor valve sealing, lower compression, burned valves, and ultimately, poor performance. Just the right amount of clearance is needed, and noise will occur when cold.

If you've ever heard a typical Datsun/Nissan four-cylinder engine, they all have a distinctive "sewing machine" sound. This is due to Nissan using solid lifters in these engines. Nissan uses hydraulic lifters in their V6 engines, and possibly some of the newer four-bangers. Also, if the noise becomes excessive (determined by a qualified mechanic,) adjustment may be necessary. This is considered "maintenance," (unless the car is less than a year old, and has under 30,000 miles or so), and due to the MR18DE's design, can be a costly service.

My suggestion? take it in to see of the noise is unusually loud, otherwise, consider it a part of Nissan's heritage of building noisy four-cylinder engines.

Every Nissan 4-cylinder engine I have ever owned sounds exactly like my Versa's. I've owned two 2.4l 1987 NAPS-Z engines, a 1992 2.4l KA24D, a 1999 1.6l Sentra, and a 2004 Frontier with a KA24DE.

[rochversa]

Thanks for the detailed response...as previously noted, I'll let everyone know what the dealer says.

[APEXi240]

Thanks for that response. I was unaware of all of that info. I have had some pretty noisy Nissan engines.

[Driving Instructor]

Get use to it............ I have 120 000 kms and I noticed it for a long time! I don't burn any oil so i am not worried. I even run synthetic.......did not help!

[BBISHOPPCM]

Glad I could help! I grew up around Nissans, my father was a Nissan mechanic from 1979-1993, so I absorbed alot from him! This was especially useful as I became addicted to mid-80s Nissans.

[Concord]

Mine sure are getting noisier at 26,000 miles.I just looked at the factory service manual and they are not adjustable

Lifter Measurements are made and if out of spec, lifters are replaced with larger ones.

[BBISHOPPCM]

This is semi-correct. The lifters are adjustable via shims. It's labor intensive. My engine almost sounds like it's going to fly apart when the temperature gets below freezing, but sounds tight as a drum once it reaches operating temperature. Yup, it's a Nissan, and always will be.

Now let's think about what life would be like with an engine that has hydraulic lifters, and is out of warranty. When a Hydraulic lifter fails (as they sometimes do), replacement is mandatory. An engine with a collapsed lifter will run poorly, as the valves affected never fully open. The sound of a collapsed lifter is similar to a rod knock, only it happens once every other crank revolution. If left un-repaired, a collapsed lifter can cause mechanical damage to the valve train.

A noisy solid lifter engine can be noisy for hundreds of thousands of miles.

[equlizer]

I get this noise as well but during the whole day. It does not go away after getting warm

[BBISHOPPCM]

I'd be interested to hear an audio recording of your engine. You might have lifter that is legitimately out of spec.

[Concord]

This is semi-correct. The lifters are adjustable via shims. It's labor intensive. My engine almost sounds like it's going to fly apart when the temperature gets below freezing, but sounds tight as a drum once it reaches operating temperature. Yup, it's a Nissan, and always will be.

Now let's think about what life would be like with an engine that has hydraulic lifters, and is out of warranty. When a Hydraulic lifter fails (as they sometimes do), replacement is mandatory. An engine with a collapsed lifter will run poorly, as the valves affected never fully open. The sound of a collapsed lifter is similar to a rod knock, only it happens once every other crank revolution. If left un-repaired, a collapsed lifter can cause mechanical damage to the valve train.

A noisy solid lifter engine can be noisy for hundreds of thousands of miles.

I'm curious to see where you found info on shimming the lifters. I have the Factory Service Manual. Under the "adjustment" section it only speaks of replacing with larger lifters and lists the sizes that are available

[BBISHOPPCM]

These are known as "shims." I reread the manual, and you're right. My bad.

[grogman]

Thanks for the detailed response...as previously noted, I'll let everyone know what the dealer says.

ya and so it has been awhile. not saying i have engine noise but i do like how the engine growls when you accellerate quickly. keep us posted rockversa.......

[davidl340]

Are you sure it is lifter noise? Does it change when the engine is under any load vs idling?

Lifter noise would not change if the engine is under or load vs not. It could be piston slap.

Mine has piston slap (11K miles), and it is severe enough that I am considering bringing it into the dealer. It does go away after the engine is fully warmed.

[2dr_sentra]

it could also be the injectors ticking

[versaBRN]

My car makes a noise like our old MM tractor did when we needed to adjust the valve tappets. I took it in to the Dealership and they said it was the Aftermarket oil filter I was using. No anti-drainback valve.. (it did have one) I bought 3 nissan filters and it still rattles like a banche! The dealer can't hear anything wrong with my car.. (A hearing impared friend of mine noticed the Valve noise also) Got 20,000 on my versa in toasty warm Wisconsin!

[aidan80]

Interesting post, I too just noticed this new sound coming from my now one year old Versa. It first cropped up a few weeks back when it was cooler in the morning (cooler for Florida lol) but went away as the engine heated up. I'm glad to find it's normal, I didn't find the sounds so terrible (from my experience at least) that I'd bring it in to be looked at although the thought crossed my mind to mention it. Anyway glad I saved myself a 1-2 hour wait at the dealership only to be told all is well.

[jdub03]

Same here, I just bought a versa this past weekend. I noticed the tapping noise one cold morning which lasted for 10-20 minutes. Sometimes there's no tapping and other times it lasts for 20 minutes. I'm going to have the dealer look at it just in case. At least this way I can have it documented.

[WaVersa]

My car makes a noise like our old MM tractor did when we needed to adjust the valve tappets. I took it in to the Dealership and they said it was the Aftermarket oil filter I was using. No anti-drainback valve.. (it did have one) I bought 3 nissan filters and it still rattles like a banche! The dealer can't hear anything wrong with my car.. (A hearing impared friend of mine noticed the Valve noise also) Got 20,000 on my versa in toasty warm Wisconsin!

I have the same issue , this week I had to bring my Versa to the dealer, while My car was over there, they lends me a 2007 Sentra ( 2.0 Engine). This car had the same noisy problem on cold Canadian morning. To me this noisy engine problem seem to be common Nissan problem.

[led hed]

yep, my previous 2002 spec-v had this noisy valvetrain. seems all nissans are noisy, and sometimes this can be embarassing "ya it's new, just a noisy valvetrain".
and my versa almost sounds like a diesel when i first start her up on a cold morning.
gonna switch to synthetic very soon to get the oil up top quicker.

[BlackMetal]

I have to say that our 09 versa HB is quiet! if I start to hear a start up knock, I`ll replace the oil filter bc the ADBV is prolly leaking back...
the Versa has less than 13K on it now...

over the years I have found out that synthetic doesn`t do jack for noise, just flows quicker when it counts...

I currently have Mobil One in the AC, and am thoroughly disgusted how it sounds like POS all the time... with less than 15K on the clock...

[MTLPhil]

After months of putting up with lifter noise, yes sounding like a sewing machine. I finally got rid of it by using 89 octaine gasoline. Also added fuel injector cleaner in the first tank. Half way through the second tank of 89 octaine the lifter noise went away. So much for Versa's running on regular gas.