It could be this little thing on top of the inlet manifold...

Try touching it with a metal pipe or screwdriver and hold against your ear. If it sounds louder in this area then anywhere else it probably is.

This is quite normal unless it has packed in.

If it seems to be coming from the top of the inlet manifold ans sounds like a bag of tools rattling then the inlet manifold has packed in... Click Me

Or it could be that just the VIS motors need attention..

Edd

 

Thanks Edd. Going through your pointers 1 by 1..

1. Ticking sound is not coming from the circles appendage in your photo (or is not limited to the appendage).

2. Ticking sound is coming from both sides of the manifold (or both sides of the engine-rear).

3. Manifold is silent.

Does it sound like the VIS motors, or could it be the belts? I say belts because I saw in video that there are 2 belts at both sides of the KV6-rear.

Power is still there - does that rule out the manifold? I tested by going from 0 to 70 mph on the motorway in 2nd gear and that was fine but attention is needed! The ticking is horrible - it sounds like a big old diesel lorry and the sound is turning heads - I'm hanging my head in shame

 

Brilliant, Mr Edd. I'll check that and update...

 

Do a search for "Slack Tappet Simulator" or "STS" for other threads on the topic (waste fuel vapour recycle system).

TC

 

This noise had gone away by itself, but today it came back with a vengeance. It was incredibly loud and I haven't pin pointed the source.

Am I right in thinking that STS is a constant speed? Note: the speed of my tapping sound increases with revs. Could fuel be related?

I think I had used Total 97 both times that the noise was audible, and BP 95 when it was inaudible. BP 95 has been my choice in trouble-free Jan/Feb. Could 97 kill the manifolds??

 

Hi guys,
I can't see it being fuel myself, maybe just a coincidence. The only thing fuel could be related to is a noisey injector. Doubt very much it would cause the manifold to be noisey. Try disconnecting your VIS motors to be sure it's not them. Silly question now, have you checked your oil level? Is the noise worse when it's hot or cold?

 

It's not present when cold, so I thought maybe fuel recycling, but the rate of ticking is linked to speed of car (its not constant).

I checked oil and it seemed very low to me, but then RAC guy checked and said its fine (he said the oil is just at one end of the engine because the roads are not flat).

Definitely worse when hot. I'll try disconnecting the motors..

This is Edd's photo. I just pull out the two plugs shown in the image and drive as normal, right? (its my first car so I don't know much..)

 

@TC. Why is that?

I only put it through the full rev range. It was a one-off to see if I could feel where the problem is. It didn't help me find it though.

Any new ideas on the ticking?

 

Check it again on a level surface and when cold. What condition is the oil in. If very black then it maybe due for a change and new filter. Which is what I would do first anyway. If the VIS motors have packed in the car will still run although under powered. a lot of people including myself are not aware the VIS motors have gone.

I still think it is the inlet manifold (see my link above) as mine sounded awful when it packed in. Been perfect since I replaced it with a new one, but not cheap I'm afraid. Unless you know what you are doing they are not repairable.

Usually the only way to locate the noise is with a long screwdriver or metal tube held against various areas and then to the ear. Move it around until you find the loudest point.

Hope I am not teaching you to suck eggs.

Edd

 

I live on a hill, lol, but the oil level seems low again and this time I would have expected it to be deepest where the dip stick is!

Also, there is more than two plugs around the manifold. Do I disconnect all of them - what are they connected to? Thanks.

 

Darn. I did not disconnect the VIS because I had to drive and was late. Instead, I topped up the oil with W5/40 fully synthetic and it ran rough for about 5 minutes, then smooth... and the ticking has gone again.

I think I have an oil leak - how do I find it?

Edit: Actually, is it normal to be topping up the oil every few weeks?

 

Darn. I did not disconnect the VIS because I had to drive and was late. Instead, I topped up the oil with W5/40 fully synthetic and it ran rough for about 5 minutes, then smooth... and the ticking has gone again.

I think I have an oil leak - how do I find it?

Edit: Actually, is it normal to be topping up the oil every few weeks?

Definitely NOT normal to be topping up the oil regularly. Had my car for 8 years and other than when I change the oil I never have to top up.

I am guessing but take the engine under tray off and look at the filter to see if it has become loose. While there also check the sump plug and the gasket in case it is there. these are the first places to check and then start to look at other options. I bet it is one of these. Also the oil cooler that runs across the front. My wife's Toyota sprang a leak from there.

Most on here use a Pela pump to change oil... Click Me and the filter can be changed via the off side wheel arch although easier with the wheel off.

Edd

 

I have booked the car in at a local garage along with its long list of niggles (hand-brake, back-box, stiff-gear, oil leak) but there is one thing I'm really not sure about:

Can the ticking noise be related to oil levels, or is it pure coincidence that the noise went away again?