Had the hood open and engine idling while checking any leaks in my cooling system.

Suddenly a loud ticking/clicking noise from about the center of the valve cover near where you add oil. This noise occured after engine reached normal operating temperature.

Having owned the car since new in 1995 I am well accustomed to the normal valve trai chatter. This sounded like an isolated valve/lifter.

I stopped the engine and checked the oil level and it was was ( Mobil 1 10-30 changed 1,500 miles ago).

I started the engine again and raised the rpm's a little and after 3-4 minutes the noise seemed to go away. Let the car sit for 15 minutes and restarted- some ticking which dissipated in 30 seconds or so.

Do you suppose this is a sticking lifter or a fuel injector going bad?

If a lifter- I wonder if I should go to Mobil 1 20-50 instead of 10-30?

nathan

1995 Volvo 850 Turbo - 71K miles

if it run good and not missing I would not worried about it...if the ticking go aways and it did...

making sure not low on oil and drive it....


noise come and go but if not there... let it be..

Nathan,

I have had the same problem with my '97 850GLT (Turbo Lite). After much investigation, I have concluded that it is one of the 20 lifters not operating correctly after the engine heats up.

After I run the car for awhile in hot weather, turn it off to visit a store, then come back and start it, usually, it will click until I get some air moving past the radiator. On my last oil change, I tried Castrol Syntec and after 1000 miles, the ticking returned. No clicking is heard during the winter months at any time.

Mine has been doing this for some three years now and it seems to cause no problems. Just embarrassing!

ood Luck.