Once you observe and take notice of a ticking noise that originates from your engine when idle, you become alarmed. The first thing that comes to your mind is what could be the cause, whether the ticking noise in the engine is bad for your engine and if the ticking sound in the engine will interfere with your vehicle’s general functioning and performance.
Ticking noise in the engine is normal hence you may worry less and can be caused by several reasons. The ticking noise in the engine can be heard when the engine is idle and in instances such as when the engine is running at acceleration and after an oil change.
The information in this article will guide you on the causes of the ticking noise in the engine when idle so that upon checking your engine for repair, you understand why a ticking sound is coming from it, which will help ease your worry. The following are the reasons for the ticking noise in the engine when idle.
Reasons for Ticking Noise in Engine
1. Low Engine Oil Level
The annoying ticking sounds in the engine when idle could be caused by the low amount of oil in the engine required to serve the various parts of the engine. The engine parts may be suffering from poor lubrication due to low oil engine levels and, in response, give out a ticking sound in the engine when idle.
How do you know that the oil levels are low upon checking your engine? The engine has the maximum level oil mark and the minimum level oil mark. When the oil level falls below the minimum oil mark, the ticking sounds in your engine when the low oil levels cause idle.
This means that the oil will not circulate to all the engine’s moving parts due to low oil pressure, causing the parts to experience inadequate lubrication, hence the aggressive rubbing of the engine metal parts. The engine then gives out the ticking sound when the engine is idle, indicating the problem mentioned here.
How to fix it
The solution to fix this problem is to feed and fill your engine oil tank with oil to the maximum oil level always to ensure average circulation of oil to regulate the engine components and ensure normal functioning of the engine components eliminating the possibility of the annoying ticking sounds from the engine.
Also, regular oil engine tank inspection is necessary as the low oil levels problem in your engine might be caused by oil leakages that you might not be aware of.
2. Valves Misadjustment
An unadjusted valve train in the engine is among the significant causes of the ticking sounds in the engine when idle. With the general consistent functioning of the engine, the engine valves open and close once every time your engine spins twice at a fast mode and over a short distance.
The engine consists of intake and exhaust valves responsible for letting air in and out of the engine’s combustion chambers. The opening and closure of the valves are controlled by the rocker’s arm, which is in turn controlled by the camshaft pushrod. The pushrod must be the exact precise distance from the valve as the valve moves very fast within a short distance.
Shims and other adjustments are responsible for controlling the distance. When exposed to wear and tear, it affects the distance between the pushrod and the valves, causing the ticking sound in the engine when idle as these components move around.
How to fix it
The solution to this cause of the ticking sound in the engine is to make replacements to the valve train components, which for example, is by adjusting the rocker arms, among other changes that help eliminate the ticking sound in the engine when idle.
3. Damaged or Unadjusted Spark Plug
A visual inspection of your engine will help you identify whether the ticking sound in the engine when idle originates from a broken or a loose spark plug. If your engine is operating on a cracked or faulty spark plug, then the engine tends to produce ticking sounds when idle.
The engine spark plug is responsible for sealing off the combustion cylinders. If the spark plug is loose or faulty, it causes an uneven burn of the fuel in the engine cylinders, causing problems to the engine and might suffer high vibrations of your car when idle or operating at a reduced speed.
If not attended to on an immediate effect, the damaged or loose plug may create more problems for your engine as it might have misfired.
4. Wear And Tear Of Engine Components
The internal components of the car engine are exposed to wear and tear due to consistent running and spinning of the engine, whether the vehicle is in motion or not. The engine components, such as the valve train, tend to produce the ticking engine sounds when they have been overworked and aged.
The engine components are exposed to wear off as they are always in service as they move hundreds of thousands of times. As the engine components work, they age, tear off, wear out and become loose, affecting the efficient and effective functioning of the engine, which responds by producing a ticking sound.
5. Broken Reciprocating Components
A car engine is comprised of the rotating components and reciprocating components that are vital parts of an engine. Reciprocating components are essential parts of an engine such that if they are damaged, faulty, broken, or worn out will cause a ticking engine sound, and mainly the reciprocating components are responsible for the ticking engine sounds in comparison to the rotating components.
Reciprocating components of an engine include parts such as valves, rocker arms, pistons, pushrods, and other engine parts. Some of the reciprocating components will be narrowed down below in detail and how they generate and cause the ticking engine sounds.
6. Damaged Pistons
The pistons are known as the parts of the engines that operate and move a lot and are therefore prone to fast wear and tear. Such a problem with the piston, inclusive of damaged pistons, will cause the ticking sound engine.
It is advised that if you take note that the faultiness of your engine piston is the cause of the ticking engine sound, seek mechanical assistance as the piston performs the essential function of generating power by the engine failure which will cause more expensive severe damage to your engine.
7. Bending of Pushrods
Engine pushrods are other major reciprocating engine components that are exposed to bending at the onset of accelerated speed by your vehicle. Pushing your car to a high speed, more than it can handle will have your pushrods bent as the depression cast on the pushrods created by the speed becomes complicated for the pushrods to handle, causing damage to the pushrods.
Operating on damaged engine pushrods will create further severe problems for your car engine, which is why you are advised to seek mechanical repair if you observe that your pistons are broken, faulty, or worn out.
8. Problem With The Lifters
If your engine lifter produces the ticking noise in the engine, it must be suffering from a lifter tick. Older car models are prone to the lifter tick phenomenon due to the worn-out condition of the hydraulic lifters as well as other engine lifters.
For new car models, the possible reason and common cause to experience lifter ticks are oil problems, where the engine oil deposits and disposes oil dirt and other impurities in the hydraulic lifters, which as a result causes ticking sounds.
Any car model, either old or new, is capable of acquiring the lifter tick phenomena, and as a result, the lifter’s normal functioning is affected. Not only is the lifter tick caused by deposition of oil in or around the lifters but also by using oil that is extra thin or extra thick.
9. Rod Knocking
Fixing a rod knock is relatively expensive as it involves the tearing down of the entire engine and having the whole motor replaced due to where the bearings are located. Fixing the rod knock is even more expensive as it risks future damage making replacing the whole motor more preferable as much as it might be expensive.
The bearings that hold the rods wear out, causing the rods to knock around, producing a ticking round as the engine operates.
Possible Solutions For The Ticking Sound In Engines When Idle
With the above problems mentioned above, it is up to you to figure out what is causing the ticking engine sounds and diagnose the best possible solution to your problem.
Oil Level
In the case of the low oil levels where the oil engine tank might be damaged, it is essential to replace the engine oil tank if it is damaged. If the engine oil tank is completely functional and in good condition, then you need to top up the engine oil to eliminate the ticking engine sounds.
Valves
Where the possible cause of the ticking engine sounds might be a damaged or loose valve train, you will be advised to change and replace the faulty valves and, in case of a loose valve train, tighten the loose valves.
Reciprocating Engine Components
Suppose broken reciprocating components cause the ticking engine sound. In that case, you are advised to have them replaced as expensive as it may be, as failure to do so will attract severe further damage to the engine, incurring a much more expensive. It is wiser to replace them rather than fix the damaged reciprocating components.
Spark Plugs
If the spark plugs are either loose or damaged and cause a ticking engine sound, you are advised to seek mechanical assistance. In the case of damaged or broken spark plugs, have them replaced with new ones and ensure that the spark plug installed is compatible with the engine. If the spark plugs are loose, have them tightened.
If the ticking engine sound is caused by the aging and wearing off of the engine parts, then you can have them replaced.
Lifters
If the lifter tick problem has affected your engine lifters, then you are advised to change the oil and do it regularly from time to time, and this will counteract the ticking engine sound. If the engine lifters are acting out as a result of damage or wearing out, then you are advised to get a mechanic to replace them for you.
With the above causes mentioned as the reasons responsible for the engine ticking sound, then it is only right to ask, “Is it safe to drive a car with a ticking sound?”
Well, the ticking engine sounds may not always signify any problem and are completely normal in some circumstances; however, with the above circumstances mentioned as the causes of an engine ticking sound, it is essential not to ignore the ticking sound.
Expert Tip: In as much as the above causes of an engine ticking sound do not pose that much danger, it is necessary to seek mechanical assistance as soon as possible. Failure to which will cause severe further damage to your engine which might interfere with the general performance and movement of your vehicle.
Since we have discussed the causes of the engine ticking sound and proposed and offered solutions to the causes, let’s briefly mention and discuss when the engine ticking sound is regarded as standard.
What Is Considered Normal On The Onset Of A Ticking Sound In Engine When Idle?
Any type of sound that is produced from the engine compartment will tend to create worry and raise your concern. Usually, the vehicle engine is designed not to produce any time of ticking engine sounds.
Well, not all the noise generated from the engine is dangerous. It should not cause worry nor be alarming as some of the noises are entirely normal. The engine operations tend to produce noises as it runs and operates and does not necessarily mean problems for your vehicle’s engine.
This creates the urge for you to know when you need not panic when you notice engine noise which will be discussed in this article. The below circumstances and causes of the engine operating noises do not need to raise your concern nor require your attention:
Vehicle Model
The ticking engine noise might just be expected for the vehicle model you own. Some of the car models are prone to engine ticking noises as that is just how they were designed.
The Engine Purge Valve
When operating, the purge valve tends to produce a ticking engine noise. The purge valve is responsible for releasing all the gases in the car’s charcoal canister into the intake of the engine.
It is in this procedure that the gases are combusted in the engine’s intake. This whole process and procedure make the purge valve create ticking, entirely harmless engine noises.
Engine Injectors
It is usual for the fuel injectors to produce the ticking engine noises as the injectors are electronically actuated. The electrical actuation of the injectors makes them produce a ticking noise as they run and operate.
In some cases, the ticking engine noises produced may be a result of worn-out or damaged engine fuel injectors that should be replaced as soon as the possible failure to which the noises can turn out to be louder.
Engine PCV Valve
The PCV valve tends to make a ticking noise in the engine, mainly after it has operated in the engine for a while and has significantly aged.
This slows down its function, and advisable to replace the PCV valve with a new one that is compatible with the engine; despite the unalarming and harmless ticking engine sound, ignoring to replace the valve will make the ticking engine sound irritating, louder, and aggravated.
Expert Tip: With all the above information, it is safe to state that it is essential to monitor your engine from time to time and regularly maintain it. Poor or no maintenance of the engine reduces its lifespan and exposes the engine to a lot of unnecessary problems. The performance of the car engine equals the productivity of the car.
Conclusion
With the above facts and information, it is now easy to understand when not to be reluctant of the ticking noise in the engine when idle. It can be concluded that the excellent maintenance of the engine and regular mechanical check-up on the engine and its interior components is necessary as they will reduce the harmful attacks on the engine that causes the ticking engine noise.
Good maintenance is done through ways such as regular oil changes, lubrication of engine parts and components, disposing of worn out or faulty engine comports, and installing new ones that are compliant with the engine, among other means of maintenance.
With that note, feel free to give your comment on the significance of the information in this article to you and how it has helped you understand your car better and how it functions and operates.