Well I started my car up today and I heard a loud ticking noise coming from the engine, it sounded like a lifter tapping. It only ticked for about ten seconds then it went away. I'm assuming it was a hydraulic lifter that was starved for oil until it got oil pressure? Keep in mind that I don't drive this car that often and the last time I drove it was to back it out of the garage and then I pulled it back in. Anybody else had this happen? I'm going to the dealer to have my alignment done next week and I will let them take a look.

 

Someone's planted a bomb.

Run.

 

I've noticed something similar like it..


After a 20 min drive.. and I decided to leave the car running for an extra min.. or two... I've noticed some ticketing.....

 

I don't know if this would help but, the LS1's have a similar problem. They call it piston slap and it usually hapens on cold start ups. Well since it goes away I would'nt be too alarmed over it.

If it starts to get worse and happen continously then, I would call my dealership.

 

Did the sound go away when you pushed the clutch in?

 

No, I just started it and let it idle for a few seconds and then it went away. By the way, my car only has 3,350 miles on it and I've had the oil changed twice.

I'm still going to let my service writer know just in case it happens again they will have a record of previous incidents.

 

My Z has 25k miles and never had a sound like that. After the breakin to now I drive it hard. Do you use synthetic oil? Maybe the oil level is not full?

 

I just had the oil changed last month and I'm not running sythentic yet.

 

I've had the oil change back in feb.....

 

If it went away quickly, it could have been lifter noise. The other thing it could be (I started a thread on this here awhile back) is an injector firing. I actually had the dealer look at my car when this was happening and they concurred.

 

Hmmm....I've never heard of a injector firing noise, I'll have to asked about it when I go to the dealer.

Kelly, I didn't know you got your FI already, that's sweet.

 

Yep, it's paid for, it's just not here yet....Counting the days!!!

 

this noise was common on the VG engines as well (300zx). i used to have lifter tapping on my 92 300zxtt that drove me nuts. i ended up adding about 6-8oz. of marvel mystery lubrication oil at oil changes & it helped lube the lifters enough to eliminate most of the sound. turned out to become pretty common with the 300zxtt guys.
i currently use the 5w-30 mobil1 synthetic on my 03 350z wich is pretty thin synthetic oil, especially here in florida. but i like how well it gets to all the moving parts faster. i believe the thinner synthetics may help eliminate the lifter ticking sound because (1)- the synthetic oils adhere to the internal parts better providing better protection on start-up and (2)- the thinner oil gets to the moving parts much faster even on cold starts......just my .02c (im sure just about everyone is using synthetics but mabey theyre using too thick of a synthetic for thier climate)

-justin