Weird Engine Noise

[CommodoreMan]

Hey everyone, my car VR Buick 3800 did the weirdest thing today when I started the car this loud ticking noise came from the engine bay and gradually got quieter and disappeared it sounded like it came from underneath the engine bay but not to sure and when driving the ticking or tapping noise got quicker with the revs then slowed as the gear changed then got quick again as the revs went up but yeah when i got home the noise had gone anyone know what it may be.

[moff_man]

you may have a lazy lifter or worse a slowly diying oil pump.

i would get a oil pressure test done or at least get someone who knows to have a listen

[Brett_jjj]

Ive seen harmonic balancers cause all different sorts of noises from clicking and whirring to grating to humming sounds and more.The balancer is two metal pieces joined with a ring of rubber and this rubber perishes and cracks which causes the outer part of the balancer to move and around make weird noises.Its worth checking.Get a screwdriver and try to lever the balancer back and forth and have a good look at it with the engine running,it should run straight and true,no wobbles.

[Paiste402]

on cold days my car did it, since oil took longer to get to the rockers so they ticked for a moment then went away as the thick oil coats them. and notice it doesnt do it when warm

[CommodoreMan]

Ok car runs fine now the ticking did not return in the morning when i started her up, there is a slight ticking coming from the rocker covers that has been around for sometime just no where near as loud as the incident I had yesterday, so yeah probably a stuffed or lazy lifter, I have a new Harmonic Balancer, put on only a couple months ago so i will check that later on and I will get an oil pressure test done.

What I have noticed about the oil pressure pump, is the light that comes on the dash just before you start the car doesn't always light up so what could that mean.

Thanks for the tips much appreciated.

[Brett_jjj]

What I have noticed about the oil pressure pump, is the light that comes on the dash just before you start the car doesn't always light up so what could that mean.

Id replace the oil pressure sensor.They are around $25 from holden.I replaced mine the other day bacause it was leaking oil.If you can, use genuine holden sensors as the cheaper ones can be bodgey and can sometimes cause problems.They just screw out and the new ones come with sealant on the threads already so you just gotta screw it in.One thing to watch is to make sure you only screw it in as far as the old one was in.You dont actually screw them in until they are tight (it can crack the oil filter housing),just as long as its screwed in the same distance as the old one. Mine had two threads showing on the old one,so I left two threads showing on the new one.Ive got no oil leaks now.All good.