My engine sounds bad but runs fine. It kind of sounds like a diesel engine at the moment. Here is a short video I took where you can listen to the sound and see what you all think what might be the cause.
Any help is much appreciated.

 

Sounds like some very noisy lifters or injectors, is it rpm dependant?

 

get to the choppa!

 

 

Hahahahaha yes guys it doe's sound a lot like a helicopter!

It is RPM dependent, it is low on oil pressure and the RPM is low enough to conk out at the traffic lights now and then. I was putting E10 ethanol fuel in the car and then changed back to 95 premium and there is a huge difference in power and sound but it still makes the noise in low gears and in park.

 

Well if you was running crap gas for a while you prolly messed up the motor with detonation.

 

so how do I fix it?

 

Do a compression test.. Were you beating on it prior to this happening?..

 

You need to do a compression test and a leak down.

 

Carried out compression test - all cylinders even (160-170psi) apart for no.5 at 100 psi

 

Looks like you've found the problem. None of them should be below the minimum of 142psi. Pour 1 teaspoon of engine oil into that plug hole and retest. If the reading jumps, the piston rings are worn. If not, think valve problems. Do the test with the engine warm also.

 

Thank's for that extra tip. I heard also that the fuel damper/regulator could be the cause of the noise. Will continue looking into it.

 

UPDATE: I after putting in 95 Premium fuel the engine does sound a little better than before but still had an initial loud rough ignition startup. But alteast it doesnt sound so much like a helicopter taking off lol

 

Still sounds like my diesel.

 

Hey there my engine has been doing the same thing, it used to only happen on cold start up and last a few seconds now it rattles all the time.

i finally took it to nissan with my own idea of what it could be and yes as i thought its the timing chain.

now Nissan is quoting $4800 to change the chains, guides and tensioner.
first time they have ever seen it in a 350z haha
Or im waiting on a price for dropping a second hand engine in it.
Hopfully this is not the case for you but if it is and you still run the car and skip a tooth your engine will be destroyed

 

did you happen to get it fixed?

 

What side of the engine is doing this?

Mine LITERALLY started doing this this morning randomly at idle. Mine is coming from the left or driver side in the front of the engine.

I'm taking mine to the mechanic tomorrow. At first I thought it was a rod or bearing, but I had the car tuned to make 440hp today. It ran and did pulls just fine. I started to think the water pump self destructed. But now like above I'm starting to think it's the timing chain and IIRC Nissan decided to use a plastic chain guide that is prone to breaking off and clacking when this happens.


So for now I'm going to assume my driver side chain tensioner is blown. You guys should get your timing guides and tensioner look at.

 

The sound is coming from the front driver side.
if you want to just try replacing the tensioner apparantly its pretty easy to do by removing the small black cover in the front of the engine

unfortunately i think my chain is stretched but Nissan won't just replace the tensioner... they want to inspect the lot which means pulling off the entire timing cover

ive got a video of what mine sounds like i just dont know how to uploead it

 

The sound is coming from the front driver side.
if you want to just try replacing the tensioner apparantly its pretty easy to do by removing the small black cover in the front of the engine

unfortunately i think my chain is stretched but Nissan won't just replace the tensioner... they want to inspect the lot which means pulling off the entire timing cover

ive got a video of what mine sounds like i just dont know how to uploead it

 

You tube