Rover 3.9 Ticking noise and venting normal?

purplemk · Apr 15, 2018

Hi all
I have a 3.9 with a loud metallic ticking noise (yes I know that's nothing new and difficult to diagnose a noise without seeing the engine running) but after searching around the forum and others comments I'm still not sure, perhaps some of you who know the v8 can have a listen here and give me any ideas?
The engine over all is good, its just on 100k, has had regular oil changes, pulls well drives fine and sounds fine aside from this ticking, compression's are all ok too, the noise does not alter hot or cold engine.
Also there seems to be allot of vapor in the rocker cover when the filler cap is removed (see vid) is that normal?

Many thanks

cappers · Apr 15, 2018

It's perfectly normal for engines to produce blow-by, but excessive blow-by is one sign of a worn engine. Blocked breathers cause the pressure to build up.
The ticking could be number of things, hydraulic tappet not filling, rocker wear , slipped liner

or ...
Is it pressurising?
@Saint.V8 knows a lot about V8s.

Henry_b · Apr 15, 2018

Sounds like a sticking tappet to me?

purplemk · Apr 15, 2018

capo said:
It's perfectly normal for engines to produce blow-by, but excessive blow-by is one sign of a worn engine. Blocked breathers cause the pressure to build up.
The ticking could be number of things, hydraulic tappet not filling, rocker wear , slipped liner or ...
Is it pressurising?
@Saint.V8 knows a lot about V8s.

I don't think its piston blow-by as you can hold a hand over the oil filler and there is no pressure, its just I was surprised to see so much oil vapor - I assume it to be oil vapor not water but its hard to tell. Don't even want to think about slipped liner

cappers · Apr 15, 2018

purplemk said:
I don't think its piston blow-by as you can hold a hand over the oil filler and there is no pressure, its just I was surprised to see so much oil vapor - I assume it to be oil vapor not water but its hard to tell. Don't even want to think about slipped liner

Sorry! Not meaning to scare you. Tappet would be my first instinct.

Good luck

purplemk · Apr 15, 2018

capo said:
Sorry! Not meaning to scare you. Tappet would be my first instinct. Good luck

Thanks

cappers · Apr 15, 2018

It is normal for some steam to come out of the oil filler when hot but it will be greater if your breather valve is blocked or you do plenty of short trips.

Re the ticking, the noise does not alter hot or cold engine - bled down tappets do tick from cold for a short time but doing it hot sounds more like a stuck one.

Exhaust manifold gasket leaks can make a ticking noise too.

P.S. by tappets I mean hydraulic lifters just in case anyone queries!

norseman · Apr 16, 2018

Hopefully not the case, but just for info :
A slipped liner will 'tap' at piston speed, as opposed to any valve train noise which is at half piston speed.
Usually the engine will run quietly from a (cold) start-up, then the 'tap' will start as the lump starts to warm. Do you run LPG?

Fingers crossed it's something less dramatic

Henry_b · Apr 16, 2018

Does the noise disappear or lessen when the RPM's are increased?

purplemk · Apr 16, 2018

norseman said:
Hopefully not the case, but just for info :
A slipped liner will 'tap' at piston speed, as opposed to any valve train noise which is at half piston speed.
Usually the engine will run quietly from a (cold) start-up, then the 'tap' will start as the lump starts to warm. Do you run LPG?

Fingers crossed it's something less dramatic

Hi, to me it sounds then that it is tappet / lifter related rather than piston speed, the ticking you can hear in the video was taken at tickover about 800rpm with engine at full running temperature.
Its pretty constant from the moment you start, the noise does not change or lessen even when hot, no LPG fitted
There does appear to be quite a bit of yellow varnishing in the rocker cover / oil filler
Thanks

purplemk · Apr 16, 2018

Henry_b said:
Does the noise disappear or lessen when the RPM's are increased?

Hi, I have not revved it high but certainly from tick-over to about 2500 rpm its present and noticeable

Henry_b · Apr 16, 2018

Could be as said above a sticking tappet.

Whats the oil like?

fresh? clean?

I would imagine a slipping liner would be much more noticeable I:E much louder..

Ratae · Apr 18, 2018

What's the engines mileage?
I'd be considering a worn follower.
BUT a leaking exhaust manifold gasket sounds exactly like a worn follower so might be worth your while checking them first - check the exhaust manifold for pitting & if they're the individual gaskets it's easy to fit them upside down & the wrong way round. The right way is obvious if you look carefully!

purplemk · Apr 20, 2018

So just to update if anyone's interested, I did a pressure test on the exhaust and found a crack in the left manifold when cold, I'm not convinced that its actually the tick I can hear and still suspect a rocker or lifter but it seems like the obvious place to start.
So now I'm looking at finding a replacement manifold or maybe welding this one but its in a difficult place to get at, The part number on my'n is HRC2469, I found one for sale with part number HRC2939 It looks the same or very similar in the photo but not 100% sure??

Ratae · Apr 21, 2018

What vehicle? I'm inclined to think the number you quote is a casting number, not the part number.

purplemk · Apr 21, 2018

Ratae said:
What vehicle? I'm inclined to think the number you quote is a casting number, not the part number.

You may well be right, I assumed that number on the manifold was the part number

Discovery 1 year 98

Ratae · Apr 22, 2018

http://new.lrcat.com/#!/1231/29584/31239/2390/31538
I'm not sure as to the interchangability but if you look at the the exhaust section in the link it shows a few different downpipe-to-manifold mating flanges so you need one that matches yours.

purplemk · Apr 22, 2018

Ratae said:
http://new.lrcat.com/#!/1231/29584/31239/2390/31538
I'm not sure as to the interchangability but if you look at the the exhaust section in the link it shows a few different downpipe-to-manifold mating flanges so you need one that matches yours.

Thanks

discool · Apr 22, 2018

The tapping sound that u have explained seems that it could be a worn camshaft, I had a similar sound from start up on my 3.5 at 100k miles back in 1996, so the cam and the rest of the kit was replaced, a £1000 later the tapping was gone.

As for the manifold or manifold to Y pipe gasket for a 1998 D1 what part number are you looking for there's only one for your vehicles 1998 VIN WA for each item NOT several, it's the same as the MA VIN . Also there's no parts listed for the D1 starting with HRC listed in the D1s part catalogue.

Ratae · Apr 22, 2018

It could well be a worn cam/follower but the crack in the manifold needs to be eliminated as a source before starting to tear the engine apart.
I did a top-end rebuild on my RRC around this time last year & on restarting had what sounded like a tappet. I had noticed pitting on the n/s s/s manifold faces (tubular sports manifolds) - heads fine - & on removal there was clear soot across the gasket.
Refaced both manifolds & no further noise.

Rover 3.9 Ticking noise and venting normal?

Member

Well-Known Member

Think outside, no box required.

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Think outside, no box required.

Member

Member

Think outside, no box required.

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads