Constant engine ticking, should I be worried?

[jeffho]

I've got a high mileage (85K) '99 996 C2 that has recently developed a pretty noticeable engine tick that actually seems to get a little louder when the engine gets warm, and it doesn't go away. The ticking is constant at idle, but speeds up with acceleration. The car runs fine and pulls great. My trusted independent mechanic says no worries, it's just lifter noise which isn't a problem. Someone at another board suggested it was the EGR valve and not a problem. Just want to get your opinions, am I in for a new engine soon? thnx in advance.

[1999Porsche911]

Just unplug the connector to the EGR and if the ticking goes away.....................bingo!

[jeffho13]

thanks again for the response 1999porsche911. where would I find the connector?

[1999Porsche911]

thanks again for the response 1999porsche911. where would I find the connector?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There is only one electrical connection to the valve. Just press the wire clip and pull out. You can do this with the engine running. You will probably get a CEL when you disconnect it but the clicking will stop. The CEL should go off after you reconnect the cable and driven the car a few times. Or reset it with a scan tool or disconnect the battery for a few minutes. You will need to reenter your radio code if you disconnect the battery. The car will also idle high and run a little rough after the battery is disconnected while the computer calibrates itself.

The clicking of this valve is normal and sound just like valve lifters.

[cab713]

Just started the 1999 996 C2 Coupe 16k miles and there was a loud ticking noise coming from the drivers side just past the muffler. When revved the ticking would get faster. I have never heard this sound before, and it's not something that anyone would consider "normal." Turned the car off and jumped on Renntech to see if I could find something similar. This is the closest post, but didn't know what the EGR was or how to locate it.

Went back out to the car and let the engine idle for a minute and noticed the ticking was getting softer. Revved the engine and it ticked faster at the original "loud" volume.

Decided to run it around the block and the ticking is now gone. Any ideas as to what that could have been? Should I be worried. Did the car not like it's first day of sub 50 degree weather?

[Loren]

Likely just a hydraulic lifter. If the car is not driven for a few days the oil all drains down into the sump so when you start the car the lifters will make some noise - this is normal. Just give the car a little warm up time when it has not been driven for a few days - usually a minute or two is enough.

[cab713]

Thanks Loren. Odd that it happened today. Drove the car Friday. Pulled it out of the garage and back in yesterday. I've had it sit for 3-5 days and never heard something like this.

I'll chalk it up to ghosts in the machine and hope it doesn't do it again.

Thanks for the quick reply.

[Loren]

My does it all the time - I usually drive my car 2 or 3 times a week.

As long as the noise goes away when warm then you are likely okay.

[tjc5911]

My "ticking" was at idle and disappeared the moment the rpm's increased. I would only hear it after the car warmed up (I guess the oil was thinning out). Several mechanics believed it was a noisey lifter. A very competent mechanic suggested running a slightly thicker oil and an oil that has less "froth" to it in place of the recommended 0w-40, which I tried. The oil pressure is now slightly higer than before (at idle) and I no longer hear the ticking noise :)

Edited October 23, 2006 by tjc5911

[Loren]

A very competent mechanic suggested running a slightly thicker oil and an oil that has less "froth" to it in place of the recommended 0w-40, which I tried.

0W-40 is the only weight "approved by Porsche" for use in these cars. What weight were you running?

[tjc5911]

A very competent mechanic suggested running a slightly thicker oil and an oil that has less "froth" to it in place of the recommended 0w-40, which I tried.

0W-40 is the only weight "approved by Porsche" for use in these cars. What weight were you running?

Yup, I know 0w-40 is the only weight approved, however, my car is noisey with 0w-40. With 15w-50, the car runs much quieter and the oil pressure is better. At idle with 0w-40, the oil pressure drops to around .5 and "ticks".

Now that the outside temperature is not 100 degrees everyday, I'll switch back to 0w-40 and see what happens.

btw, many of the mechanics I talked with mentioned that these cars will be noisey (lifters) if the oil type is not correct which is why I mentioned my problem for the original post. Something else to check.

Edited October 23, 2006 by tjc5911

[Izzy]

I do the same thing here in Charlotte, run Castrol syntech 15-50 during the Summer, 0-40 Mobil in the winter. The Porsche dealer techs I talked to told me they would recommend that solution and would not put 0-40 on their own cars for summer. Go figure!

[bnewport]

Was it injectors? or cams. Mine ticks also when it's cold and I have a new engine in my 99, 2k miles old now.

Edited October 26, 2006 by bnewport

[Niclas P]

Thanks Loren. Odd that it happened today. Drove the car Friday. Pulled it out of the garage and back in yesterday. I've had it sit for 3-5 days and never heard something like this.

I'll chalk it up to ghosts in the machine and hope it doesn't do it again.

Thanks for the quick reply.

The same seams to happend to me this morning. Took the car out on Sunday for washing and drove it in again after finishing, not driving it warm. Started the car this morning (Wednesday) and it sounded like the tapping from the lifters, but it did not disappear as it usually does after a few seconds. Ran it for about 20-25 seconds and then shut down. Started it again a minute later, and had the same noice. Did not try after that. All oil levels and pressures are OK, and no lights on the dash.

Will try tonight to see if the noice disappears after running it a little warm.

[KevinMac]

Newby here, my owners manual for the 2000 996 says 15W-50 oil is okay for average low of 50 degrees and above! I see everyone suggests 0w-40. So what is it?

[Loren]

Porsche changed their "approved" oils list a few years ago.

0W-40 and 5W-40 are now the only "approved" oil weights.

But then I know folks that have been using 15W-50 since day one.

[KevinMac]

Thanks Loren

[pedenjohn]

My "ticking" was at idle and disappeared the moment the rpm's increased. I would only hear it after the car warmed up (I guess the oil was thinning out). Several mechanics believed it was a noisey lifter. A very competent mechanic suggested running a slightly thicker oil and an oil that has less "froth" to it in place of the recommended 0w-40, which I tried. The oil pressure is now slightly higer than before (at idle) and I no longer hear the ticking noise :)

hello there,

ive search the entire forum and this seems to be the only post which relates to the problem im having.

basicly, ive a 98 3.4 996, it has 114,000 miles on it, 10k of which ive put on it myself. ever since i bought it the engine has ticked, but only when warm and the presure drops to around 1bar. by increasing the revs ever so slightly it disapeares entirely. to me it sounds like a valve lifter, but its not as i have replaced all the lifters on the right hand bank from where it is coming. ive also tried various oils, it practicly disapeard when using 15w-50, but the oil presure was very high and so i changed it back to 0w-40.

has anyone any suggestions to point me in the right direction? i dont think it would be a piston bearing as surely it would have gave up many miles ago, and get louder with engine revs. something to do with the timing gear/chain perhaps?

[1999Porsche911]

My "ticking" was at idle and disappeared the moment the rpm's increased. I would only hear it after the car warmed up (I guess the oil was thinning out). Several mechanics believed it was a noisey lifter. A very competent mechanic suggested running a slightly thicker oil and an oil that has less "froth" to it in place of the recommended 0w-40, which I tried. The oil pressure is now slightly higer than before (at idle) and I no longer hear the ticking noise :)

hello there,

ive search the entire forum and this seems to be the only post which relates to the problem im having.

basicly, ive a 98 3.4 996, it has 114,000 miles on it, 10k of which ive put on it myself. ever since i bought it the engine has ticked, but only when warm and the presure drops to around 1bar. by increasing the revs ever so slightly it disapeares entirely. to me it sounds like a valve lifter, but its not as i have replaced all the lifters on the right hand bank from where it is coming. ive also tried various oils, it practicly disapeard when using 15w-50, but the oil presure was very high and so i changed it back to 0w-40.

has anyone any suggestions to point me in the right direction? i dont think it would be a piston bearing as surely it would have gave up many miles ago, and get louder with engine revs. something to do with the timing gear/chain perhaps?

Change back to 15W50.

[flipper]

Hmmm, My boxster is doing the same thing, no noise when cold, then it itermittently ticks when its warm at idle. Do the boxster motor and the 996 motor have the same type of valves?

Oh, 99 2.5 with 92000 and 0-40 mobile 1

Edited December 28, 2008 by flipper

[RFM]

Since the ticking occurs only with warm engine, the character in front of the W ( 0W or 15W ) means only the viscosity in cold condition, i would try 5W - 50 instead of 15W - 50 for quicker lubrication on cold start up.

[steveespo]

Pendenjohn

If your warm oil pressure is only 1 bar (15psi) then your bearings are worn or you have an internal oil gallery leak. When the car is moving under load what does the OP gauge read? If it doesn't rise to 3-4 bar then the sending unit may be bad, if it does it would seem your engine is worn. I would use the 15W50 as the heavier weight oil will provide a little more 'cushion' between the bearings and bearing surfaces. If you notice any heavy knocking sounds (not ticking) it's time for a rebuild or Porsche remaufactured swap.

Good Luck

Steve

[pedenjohn]

thanks for the quick response.

yes, i certainly dont doubt that at 114,000mls the engine could certainly be worn, but as i say it has been doing it for some time now and its definitely a tick rather than a knock. the climate here in the uk is that little bit colder so im wondering if the 15w-50 would be ok to use, certainly any specialist ive spoke to localy has stongly advised against its use. 5w50 sounds like a better option but who would make it?

would my car have a variocam? since the variocam only comes in around 1300rpm, im wondering could the chain be slack when it warms and expands or have worn chain followers. hence when the revs rise, the variocam cuts in, the slack is taken up and the noise stops? does this sound likely or even possible?

[pedenjohn]

bit of an update on this problem. ive discovered that the ticking stops when the oil filler cap is removed, yes realy :huh: any of you technical guys able to point me in the direction of any oil breathers for the engine which i could check?

[1999Porsche911]

bit of an update on this problem. ive discovered that the ticking stops when the oil filler cap is removed, yes realy :huh: any of you technical guys able to point me in the direction of any oil breathers for the engine which i could check?

When yoou remove the oil cap, the idle increases "ever so slightly" which as you explained earlier, eliminates the noise.