Engine Ticking at idle

[TerryD29]

I get an ticking noise from the engine when it is first started (cold). When the engine is warm it's gone, it's like it's low on oil. 99 Caravan, 3.0L.

[yogi_123rd]

That noise is common in the 3.0L. I wouldn't worry over this. it's a quirk of the engine.

I believe the noise comes from the valve lash adjusters. They control how much slack is in the valve rocker. In engines of the old days, that slack was adjusted with a feeler gauge and lock down nut. Today's engines use a lash adjuster (non adjustable) which is like a rubber hydrolic shock absorber. The ticking noise occurs in worn adjusters because they fail to retain oil and fail to
act as a shock absorber for the valve rocker.
When newly pumped oil reaches up to them, the ticking stops.

[TerryD29]

Thank You very much for your qiuck reply.