First off my car has cams with stock springs and lifters. I've been running them for around 20K miles now. I bled the lifters when I installed them and everything has been relatively quiet since install.

Until I noticed yesterday a slight tick only at very light throttle and coasting down to a stop somewhere in the 2,500-3,500 rpm range. It was quiet but, consistent. I should also add it has only recently gotten very cold around here but even once the engine is up to temp it still happens although it is barely noticeable.

The oil in the engine is 10W-30 and isn't exceptionally old or anything like that.

When I got home tonight I popped my valve cover off and gave everything a look over. I'm not seeing anything obvious (no totally collapsed lifters, funky wear, all rocker arms in place, loose bolts or, broken valve springs). which leads me to my question.

Is there anyway to tell if a lifter is bad without pulling the cams and taking them out? I would really like to avoid that if possible.

Thanks.

 

Morning bump for input so, I can put this b*tch back together.

 

Well, I put it back together and it is still ticking. I'm pretty sure it is not a lifter since, it doesn't do it at idle, goes away or at least gets drowned out with more throttle and, the car seems to be running fine.

The Mitsu service guys thought it could be spark knock or a belt tensioner. I know the computer advances timing in low load situations but, it has never detonated before and I would think it would throw a CEL for it. I was low on fuel so, I dumped in some 100 octane and it is still doing it.

Regarding the tensioner, I was getting ready for new belts anyway. I'm hoping that fixes it.

The only other things that come to mind are piston slap, wrist pin noise, and rod knock. Any other ideas?

 

So no one has any input on this?

 

The cold really amplifies the tick of the lifters. Mine tick ever so slighty after my cam install and they are worse when it is cold. I also went back and looked everything over and none of the lifters i could collapse by hand so i figured they are fine. Now it is just something i live with.

 

My lifters have never really been noisy. That is why I'm a little alarmed but, this is the first winter since I did the cams so who knows.

A couple of guys at work suggest I check the EGR valve and see if it is gummed up. I know nothing about the EGR system (getting ready to search). Does think this could be the problem?

 

I think it's the tensioner for the serpentine belt. I noticed every time the noise happens the tensioner would jump and the noise definitely seems loudest right in that area.