Infamous Metal ticking sound
#17
Driver School Candidate
its just nice to hear all the engines doing this. so we all know in the end that we talking about the same thing.
thanks guys for all the replies so far. im glad we should not loose an sleep over it cause thats really what was starting to happen.
Yes!! Glad to see a post about this, i was just noticing this problem in the corner of my engine closest to the drivers seat. Was going to post a thread and get some input seems like this is not a rare issue. intermittent ticking about 3 ticks a second at idle, picks and chooses when to tick. Lasts for about 4 seconds and waits for another 20 to start up again. Some days more than others. Good thread!
#18
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
So first off, no, this is not normal, but yes, a lot of them (including mine) make this random ticking sound at idle. Mine does it only on cold cycle. Another member here took his to Lexus, they did what I did - replaced the drive belt and tensioner, and the sound went away. For only awhile, and for both of us. He took his back to Lexus, and they inspected and cleaned the fuel system claiming there was some kind of build up and removing it would solve the noise problem. He said it worked. I didn't get to hear the "after" so I can only say he is happy with the fix.
Since this, I have started using randomly different gasoline sources. I had been going one place pretty exclusively for a long time. I started going to QT, Shell, and Racetrac to randomize the fuel additive packages, and noticed an immediate noise reduction. I did this because I know the additive packages are often antagonisitc, and the deposits made by one brand will be removed by the detergents in another brand (and vice versa). The other thought I had was running BG44K through the fuel system as I have seen this stuff do some pretty amazing cleanup work on other engine's fuel systems, but I haven't done it yet.
The other thing I know - Yamaha builds engines with random ticks, and they will not do anything about a noise on a motorcycle engine. I had a 1984 FJ1100 that made a ticking noise from day one. I had the valves adjusted three times under warranty, and it still ticked. I rebuilt the engine, bored it out to 1200cc with factory pistons, put in new wrist pins, rings, and bearings, checked and balanced the rods, lightened the crank by 6 pounds, raised the compression from actual 9.2:1 (should have been 9.5 from the factory), to 11.25:1, put about 40 hours into porting the head and matching the manifolds, plus some other stuff unrelated to the possible noise. The ticking got worse. Much worse. But the engine made stupid power, the bike ran low 11's (11.04 best at 126 mph with me at 210 lbs riding at Sac Raceway), and it never broke. Ever. I rebuilt a 1988 FJ1200 while working at a shop building race engines, and it made the exact same random ticking sound under the same conditions (the engines are the same except for bore).
So, I have come to believe Yamaha builds engines with random ticking noises under certain conditions, and I've seen it too many times in the field to believe otherwise.
In the end, try changing your brand of fuel, or try a fuel system cleaner like BG44K, and I bet the noise will disappear in the ticking of the direct injectors.
Since this, I have started using randomly different gasoline sources. I had been going one place pretty exclusively for a long time. I started going to QT, Shell, and Racetrac to randomize the fuel additive packages, and noticed an immediate noise reduction. I did this because I know the additive packages are often antagonisitc, and the deposits made by one brand will be removed by the detergents in another brand (and vice versa). The other thought I had was running BG44K through the fuel system as I have seen this stuff do some pretty amazing cleanup work on other engine's fuel systems, but I haven't done it yet.
The other thing I know - Yamaha builds engines with random ticks, and they will not do anything about a noise on a motorcycle engine. I had a 1984 FJ1100 that made a ticking noise from day one. I had the valves adjusted three times under warranty, and it still ticked. I rebuilt the engine, bored it out to 1200cc with factory pistons, put in new wrist pins, rings, and bearings, checked and balanced the rods, lightened the crank by 6 pounds, raised the compression from actual 9.2:1 (should have been 9.5 from the factory), to 11.25:1, put about 40 hours into porting the head and matching the manifolds, plus some other stuff unrelated to the possible noise. The ticking got worse. Much worse. But the engine made stupid power, the bike ran low 11's (11.04 best at 126 mph with me at 210 lbs riding at Sac Raceway), and it never broke. Ever. I rebuilt a 1988 FJ1200 while working at a shop building race engines, and it made the exact same random ticking sound under the same conditions (the engines are the same except for bore).
So, I have come to believe Yamaha builds engines with random ticking noises under certain conditions, and I've seen it too many times in the field to believe otherwise.
In the end, try changing your brand of fuel, or try a fuel system cleaner like BG44K, and I bet the noise will disappear in the ticking of the direct injectors.
#21
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: FL
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I also had the ticking noise. Mine seemed to come from the driver's side and after the engine was good and hot. I took it to my dealer last year and they adjusted the driver's side valves to the low end of the spec. They had to talk to the Lexus engineers to find out what to do. Since the adjustment I haven't noticed the same random ticking as before. Recently I had the passenger side valves adjusted for more of a loose valve/rocker arm noise. The passenger side was also shimmed to the low side of the spec and my engine seems quieter now.
Not sure if any of this was a "real" problem or just a little extra noise though.
Not sure if any of this was a "real" problem or just a little extra noise though.
#22
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
Valve noise should never be random. I would be worried if adjusting the valves fixed a random noise.
#23
Lexus Fanatic
Both my V8 Lexus motors do this ( LS460 and ISF)and every ISF I looked at when shopping for Fs did this. . In fact I would like someone to post a video of an F that doesn't make this noise. lol, Its absolutely normal in my experience and according to the techs I have mentioned it to its the injectors or is in my cars. Even based on your Yamaha experience its still nothing to worry about. It is the nature of the beast so to speak. It is what it is
#24
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
Both my V8 Lexus motors do this ( LS460 and ISF)and every ISF I looked at when shopping for Fs did this. . In fact I would like someone to post a video of an F that doesn't make this noise. lol, Its absolutely normal in my experience and according to the techs I have mentioned it to its the injectors or is in my cars. Even based on your Yamaha experience its still nothing to worry about. It is the nature of the beast so to speak. It is what it is
#25
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
I got a can of BG44K and put it in the tank with the last fill up almost a week ago. The random ticking noise at idle on cold cycle has disappeared. I suspect it is something in the HPFP valves making this noise when they get a little dirty. BG44k is not cheap at nearly $20 a can, but I know it works better than any other injector cleaner I have used.
If the noise comes back, I'll update this thread.
If the noise comes back, I'll update this thread.
#26
Driver School Candidate
I got a can of BG44K and put it in the tank with the last fill up almost a week ago. The random ticking noise at idle on cold cycle has disappeared. I suspect it is something in the HPFP valves making this noise when they get a little dirty. BG44k is not cheap at nearly $20 a can, but I know it works better than any other injector cleaner I have used.
If the noise comes back, I'll update this thread.
If the noise comes back, I'll update this thread.
Originally Posted by runyonwc
I also had the ticking noise. Mine seemed to come from the driver's side and after the engine was good and hot. I took it to my dealer last year and they adjusted the driver's side valves to the low end of the spec. They had to talk to the Lexus engineers to find out what to do. Since the adjustment I haven't noticed the same random ticking as before. Recently I had the passenger side valves adjusted for more of a loose valve/rocker arm noise. The passenger side was also shimmed to the low side of the spec and my engine seems quieter now.
Not sure if any of this was a "real" problem or just a little extra noise though.
Not sure if any of this was a "real" problem or just a little extra noise though.
#28
Instructor
iTrader: (1)
I got a can of BG44K and put it in the tank with the last fill up almost a week ago. The random ticking noise at idle on cold cycle has disappeared. I suspect it is something in the HPFP valves making this noise when they get a little dirty. BG44k is not cheap at nearly $20 a can, but I know it works better than any other injector cleaner I have used.
If the noise comes back, I'll update this thread.
If the noise comes back, I'll update this thread.
I'll check out that BG44K you mentioned, and take some before and after vids.
#29
All I can hear is my stupid exhaust, nothing else LOL.( at a drive thru)
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Orange County, CA
Email: info@merakiautoworks.com
Text/Call: 213 394 2886
Website: www.MerakiAutoworks.com
#30
Driver School Candidate
Good morning,
just a quick post to follow up. put in a can of BG44K and about half a tank later. no changes in that ticking sound yet. still the same conditions, cold start is fine and as then engine gets to operating temps it audible again.
seems to not be related to fueling for me. i had a mechanic recommend something called Prolong engine treatment. he says add that to the current oil (which is new) and if the sound goes away it confirms a noisy lifter. this is after he listened and said its a lifter ticking. he explained it like this, when the engine is cold the oil is thicker and the sound is not there, when its hotter its thinner and the ticking sound comes in.
does that sound correct and will adding that treatment to my oil cause issues with something else. i would like to try it and see if the ticking stops
just a quick post to follow up. put in a can of BG44K and about half a tank later. no changes in that ticking sound yet. still the same conditions, cold start is fine and as then engine gets to operating temps it audible again.
seems to not be related to fueling for me. i had a mechanic recommend something called Prolong engine treatment. he says add that to the current oil (which is new) and if the sound goes away it confirms a noisy lifter. this is after he listened and said its a lifter ticking. he explained it like this, when the engine is cold the oil is thicker and the sound is not there, when its hotter its thinner and the ticking sound comes in.
does that sound correct and will adding that treatment to my oil cause issues with something else. i would like to try it and see if the ticking stops