VQ35DE Rev-up - Engine Ticking Noise

[ThreeFiddyZ]

Hi All,

 

First up any assistance or suggestions is much appreciated!

 

I have a 2007 VQ35DE Rev-up Edition Engine. The car has a full service history and is currently on 68,000 miles, bought it on 55K. Since owning the car in May I have checked the oil every 500 miles (using the second trip computer to measure) and I have monitored usage and topped up if needed. It does not seem to be using excessive oil, and I don't drive the car hard everywhere. It's daily driven and I always try to warm it up/warm it down every day. In my ownership the oil has never been ran low.

 

I recently had a full service, all fluids/filters/plugs around 2000-3000 miles ago with no issues. The oil used was 5w-30 part synth, a good friend of mine owns the garage so they are trustworthy.

 

In the last 1000 miles or so, the car has developed a strange ticking noise coming from the top of the engine, when fully warm and cold. I can upload a video if it helps.

 

Sometimes it's louder than usual, and sometimes it's quiet. Seems to get quieter after 2500rpms. Noise still present under engine load. Oil Pressure guage indicates normal pressure. Outside temperature doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

Any suggestions appreciated. I have had the bonnet up with the car idling and felt each fuel damper, only one of them seems to have a vibration (rear right of engine) and even then I couldn't be sure it was in time with the ticking noise.

 

Any help appreciated. Is it worth me changing the oil?

 

Cheers

[glrnet]

Fuel damper perhaps, it's a known issue.

 

*edit" there are two

Edited December 8, 2015 by glrnet

[ZEUS]

I'd of said fuel dampers too.

[ThreeFiddyZ]

Thanks for the suggestions, is it not possible to diagnose a faulty dampener without replacement? The first dampener shows no vibration, the second one does. Is this normal?

 

It's a bit of a weird noise to describe, definitely a tapping/clackety noise from the top of the engine near the plenum but towards the middle. Happens with clutch in or out so not drivetrain related.

[samsniss350z]

If you can upload a video that would be useful as it would give us all a better chance of diagnosis.

[ZMANALEX]

If you are getting a pulsing from the damper/pipe then usually that would be in sync. with the "noise" that you refer to.

 

Fully working pre owned fuel dampers in stock if required.

[ThreeFiddyZ]

Hi All,

 

The issue appears to have got worse since I made this topic previously.

 

I've uploaded the video below, I'd appreciate any thoughts on this. If not then please give suggestions of any known 350z specialists who'd have the best chance of diagnosing this or are familiar with the problem, I know of Horsham Developments and Abbey but they're both quite far for me.

 

Cheers

 

Edited September 27, 2016 by ThreeFiddyZ

[ZEUS]

Did you change the dampers in the end or not?

[ThreeFiddyZ]

Hi,

 

No, not replaced any Fuel Dampers as of yet. Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on the video. How difficult is it to change the dampers?

[ThreeFiddyZ]

I've got hold of some replacement Dampers so I'll get these fitted and then monitor, cheers.

[ZMANALEX]

Just a heads up, if you bought Sam's fuel dampers then you will have an issue connecting the fuel line to the R/H damper as it is sweated on.

The R/H fuel damper and the plastic fuel line comes as a one piece, so you really should be looking for a R/H damper complete with plastic fuel line as you can not take a chance of this leaking fuel which would drop onto the cat.

[ThreeFiddyZ]

Hi Zmanalex, thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately I'm reading this as I'm right in this position now, Lol!

 

I guess my only option now is to seek out another pair or one damper?

 

Do you have a RH Damper plus lines available? Do you only sell as a pair?

 

Sent from my Xperia Z2 using Tapatalk

 

 

[ZMANALEX]

Pm received and replied to:

[ThreeFiddyZ]

Dampers replaced however ticking sound persists. Dampers needed replacing anyway as car had a quiet popping noise at idle which has gone.

 

I'm starting to suspect top end rattle, any common faults? Oil has never been run low in my ownership, I have religiously checked it every 500 miles. And the ticking started at least 10000 miles after buying the car when it was on 54K.

 

How do the lifters work on the car? Could it be an oil circulation problem? Pressures appear normal. Doesn't appear to be ticking from very front of engine its directly over the plenum/cams.

 

Sent from my Xperia Z2 using Tapatalk

Edited October 5, 2016 by ThreeFiddyZ

[Olly350z]

Was at a tuning shop recently because my engine has a similar tick / rattle but not that pronounced. The guys at the shop swore completely that the engines were strong and I shouldn't worry

 

He suggested that its more than possible its injector tick. Have you any update to this?

[SeeNoWeevil]

Was at a tuning shop recently because my engine has a similar tick / rattle but not that pronounced. The guys at the shop swore completely that the engines were strong and I shouldn't worry

 

He suggested that its more than possible its injector tick. Have you any update to this?

From my somewhat lengthy Internet trawling, all ticking/tapping VQs are usually one of;

 

Fuel Dampers (I have some known good ones for sale that didn't help me)

Valve clearances or other valvetrain damage

Timing chain tensioner

VVT solenoids

Flywheel

[Maddog]

Maybe i'm just old school,

Listen through an extra long screwdriver, and narrow the search area down, you should also be able to tell if the noise is knocking metalic

[SeeNoWeevil]

Maybe i'm just old school,

Listen through an extra long screwdriver, and narrow the search area down, you should also be able to tell if the noise is knocking metalic

The garage have narrowed it down around the first cylinder on the passenger bank with a stethoscope for me but that doesn't seem to be enough to diagnose it.

[Maddog]

on my travels when looking for my first Zed i had a viewing of an 05 350z which had what sounded like old fashioned bad tappet noise,

the owner explained it was a clrclip that had popped out from the top of the hydrolic tappet which was common with 350's.and wasn't that serious, So i walked away.

anyway, don't know how true this is or not..

[ZMANALEX]

on my travels when looking for my first Zed i had a viewing of an 05 350z which had what sounded like old fashioned bad tappet noise,

the owner explained it was a clrclip that had popped out from the top of the hydrolic tappet which was common with 350's.and wasn't that serious, So i walked away.

anyway, don't know how true this is or not..

 

Walking away is good.

 

(1) There is no circlip.

(2) There is no hydraulic tappet.

[Maddog]

on my travels when looking for my first Zed i had a viewing of an 05 350z which had what sounded like old fashioned bad tappet noise,

the owner explained it was a clrclip that had popped out from the top of the hydrolic tappet which was common with 350's.and wasn't that serious, So i walked away.

anyway, don't know how true this is or not..

 

Walking away is good.

 

(1) There is no circlip.

(2) There is no hydraulic tappet.

 

 

My bad, wrong terminology, i meant to say Lifters.

 

[ZMANALEX]

This is what you have on the top of the VQ35DE valves:

 

[davey_83]

known as buckets

[Tricky-Ricky]

on my travels when looking for my first Zed i had a viewing of an 05 350z which had what sounded like old fashioned bad tappet noise,

the owner explained it was a clrclip that had popped out from the top of the hydrolic tappet which was common with 350's.and wasn't that serious, So i walked away.

anyway, don't know how true this is or not..

 

Walking away is good.

 

(1) There is no circlip.

(2) There is no hydraulic tappet.

 

 

My bad, wrong terminology, i meant to say Lifters.

 

 

 

LOL that pic is of a push rod motor lifter.

[Explodedparrot]

Any update on fixing this tapping? My rev up does the same and can't for the life of me figure it out!