Engine Noise

SteveG

Club Member
Hi all,

I am in need of some help to identify an engine ticking noise. With all the experience in the club I thought I would ask your expert opinions.
I have tried listening around the engine especially the rocker cover with a plastic tube to the ear and nothing jumps out as the culprit.
The noise seems louder near the injectors.
I have checked the valve clearances and they are slightly on the low side by only 0.05mm so I don't think that is the cause.
I have only had the car since May and not done many miles. The noise seems to have come on gradually.
If fuel was a factor the last time I put super unleaded. Before that I did use E5.

Hoping you can help, below link to a video I took

https://youtube.com/shorts/I4G7ML_WEOw?feature=share

Thanks in advance
Steve
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
I think you need to change the settings on youtube for us to be able to see or hear it.
 

SteveG

Club Member
I think you need to change the settings on youtube for us to be able to see or hear it.
Thanks, I'm not familiar with using you tube, but I have changed setting to allow anyone with link to view. see if that works thanks
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
I can see it now.
but I can't really hear anything unusual.
A little valve noise, but nothing worrying.
(but I am a bit deaf :))
do you know what sort of cam you have? can you see any wear on the cam or rockers?
 

Huw

Club Member
Exhaust gasket blowing?

I was going to suggest this as Moggy said. I have a similar noise that only becomes evident when the car has started to warm up and I suspect the cause to be the exhaust gasket. Winter project to find out as swapping the gasket on a 280ZX is a bit of work with all the plumbing involved on the inlet.
 

SteveG

Club Member
I can see it now.
but I can't really hear anything unusual.
A little valve noise, but nothing worrying.
(but I am a bit deaf :))
do you know what sort of cam you have? can you see any wear on the cam or rockers?
No I don't know what sort. it should be standard. I had a look around and I did notice a small hole in the cam (not the oil ones) on the edge. It seems not in line with the rocker arm though.
 

SteveG

Club Member
I was going to suggest this as Moggy said. I have a similar noise that only becomes evident when the car has started to warm up and I suspect the cause to be the exhaust gasket. Winter project to find out as swapping the gasket on a 280ZX is a bit of work with all the plumbing involved on the inlet.
Interesting that 2 say exhaust gasket. I need to investigate that. Is there easy way to tell? thanks
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
No I don't know what sort. it should be standard. I had a look around and I did notice a small hole in the cam (not the oil ones) on the edge. It seems not in line with the rocker arm though.
have you got a photo of that bit of the cam?

if you've got an exhaust gasket leak, you might have some soot showing on the head there. also you'd definitely be able to pick it up with your stethoscope tube.
 

moggy240

Insurance Valuations Officer
Staff member
Club Member
I had a leak on an exhaust gasket to cylinder head and it made a clicking noise, look for any soot.
 

Farmer42

Club Member
Before taking anything apart or going nuts trying to find a leak, try tweaking the nuts/bolts on the manifold first. They may have worked a little loose over time. It only needs a fraction for it to blow.
 

SteveG

Club Member
have you got a photo of that bit of the cam?

if you've got an exhaust gasket leak, you might have some soot showing on the head there. also you'd definitely be able to pick it up with your stethoscope tube.
Here is a photo of the hole IMG-20211120-WA0003.jpg
 
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