Hello everyone and thanks for the help in advanced! Anyway, here's what happened..

I have a 2006 IX with 103k miles. I started to get valve tick over the past couple months, the noise only began to get louder and louder over time so I had decided to bled my HLA's. I had all tools ready, supplies and organized work space. I began by taking the cams out followed by CAS, etc, etc. I did everything by the book. I cleaned the lifters with diesel fuel and everything. After install, I made sure timing was correct and all sensors were plugged in as well as hoses, etc. I started her up and she turned over without a problem, but I had a lot of ticking noise coming from the head (which is expected until the lifters 'gravity bleed' themselves). I let idle for 30 seconds followed by 10 seconds at 3k rpm about 15 times. Noise has not went away. I drove about 8 miles and the noise still hasnt went away. It drives fine but it sounds as if all the rocker arms are lose. It also wants to stall on me when I uses any vacuum (moderate to hard braking when coming to a light) so i have to rev it when braking to counter act. Any ideas? I'm taking the valave cover off tomorrow and I have not driven it since. I might take it to Road Race tomorrow if I cannot solve the issue myself.

Before starting the motor i did about 6 manual rotations with the crank to insure that nothing was rubbing and that timing was correct, but i did not pay too much attention to the rocker arms. Do they seat themselves after re installing everything or must they be seated with force manually? I was under the assumption that the cams seat them after a few engine rotations. Any input helps, thanks guys.

 

The lifters have an internal seal. If that seal is broken they will always tick no matter how much you bleed them. You might have to pull them again.

 

It literally sounds like ALL lifters/rocker arms are loose. That's the best way I can describe it. It sounds like a music orchestra coming from my head.

 

I have a feeling the rocker arms are not seated on the HLA's properly. I found the check valves relatively easy when bleeding the lifters, and they hold pressure and release pressure accordingly, I really don't think that it has to do with the HLA's, either rocker arms or cams I just need some reinsurance. I'm going to a panic

 

The clacking is the sound of the lifters bottoming out against their internal springs. This occurs when there is insufficient oil inside the lifter to provide hydraulic pressure, which will eventually ruin them if left unchecked. This would also explain why the engine wants to stall - as your valve action would be significantly compromised.

When this happens to a single lifter, it usually indicates an obstruction to the oil passage, and/or a damaged lifter. What you describe however sounds like an oil pressure issue to the head, and possibly elsewhere. Do you have an oil pressure gauge? You might want to check that ... ASAP.

 

I'm taking the valve cover off in about 15 minutes. I've never had an issue with oil pressure I'll let you know what I find

 

if there is lack of oil pressure to the head how do you fix that???

 

There's nothing to suggest such an issue would be limited to the head.

Run a 4G63 low enough on oil to significantly drop pressure and the first warning one hears are the lifters clacking. If the entire lot of lifters isn't getting sufficient oil, the first concern should be that nothing else is either. If that's the case, having a look under the valve cover isn't likely to be productive, but checking engine oil pressure with a gauge will be revealing and well worth the effort. If pressure turns out to be low due to an oil pump issue or otherwise, better to find out before rods start knocking.