Ticking sound after sustained driving

[thredayevt]

I just bought a used 2003 Xterra. I noticed that it makes a ticking sound that changes frequency with RPMs (as in it gets faster as RPMs increase). Here's the weird: it only does it when the engine is warm and has been in gear for 10 minutes or so. If I'm in stop-and-go traffic...no ticking. If I drive on 95 for 10 miles, it starts to tick very loudly. If I go back to stop-and-go driving, the ticking will slowly diminish after about 5 minutes.

Here's what I've ruled out:
--It's not a cracked exhaust manifold or anything related to the exhaust system.
--I took it to the dealer, and they compression tested the engine said that there weren't any pistons hitting the cylinders, etc. Basically, they said the car looks to be in great shape.


I'm wondering if anybody else has experienced ticking symptoms like this. I've opened the hood while it's doing it, and the sound definately comes from the engine. If this is abnormal, do you have any thoughts on what might be the cause??

Thanks,

--Jeff

[FixUrNissan]

Originally Posted by thredayevt

I just bought a used 2003 Xterra. I noticed that it makes a ticking sound that changes frequency with RPMs (as in it gets faster as RPMs increase). Here's the weird: it only does it when the engine is warm and has been in gear for 10 minutes or so. If I'm in stop-and-go traffic...no ticking. If I drive on 95 for 10 miles, it starts to tick very loudly. If I go back to stop-and-go driving, the ticking will slowly diminish after about 5 minutes.

Here's what I've ruled out:
--It's not a cracked exhaust manifold or anything related to the exhaust system.
--I took it to the dealer, and they compression tested the engine said that there weren't any pistons hitting the cylinders, etc. Basically, they said the car looks to be in great shape.


I'm wondering if anybody else has experienced ticking symptoms like this. I've opened the hood while it's doing it, and the sound definately comes from the engine. If this is abnormal, do you have any thoughts on what might be the cause??

Thanks,

--Jeff

Sounds to me like you have a lifter issue. After a vech is warmed up if you have a load ticking noise , other than injectors ticking. It could be the lifters

[thredayevt]

If that's the case, wouldn't the ticking sound occur continuously once the engine was warm, not only when its been in gear at high RPMs for several minutes? It's the irregularity of the sound that's confusing.

If it is a lifter issue, is that serious? Is it something that needs to be fixed immediately, or can the car be driven? Is it warrantee-able?

Thanks again!

[Schludwiller]

It's probably not your problem, but the fuel injectors make a ticking sound much like a cracked exhaust manifold.

[FixUrNissan]

The Lifter most of the time will not make noise until the oil is heated up and loss , then the lifter starts to tap. The hardest part of the job , is just getting the plenum off. Damage if not done?.. not right away but could cause running condition then part failure or excessive wear on the cam lobs if not taken care of. But it would take a while for that to happen

Before changing lifters be sure it's not injectors or a cracked exhaust manifold. The right side usually goes first.

GL..