2002 2.5L Engine Noise

[Gerald Graf]

The issue with my car is with a metallic tick noise emanating from the
engine specifically from 3000-4000rpms when cold or warm, otherwise
the engine is silent. It is most noticeable when letting off the
throttle while in gear. The current mileage is 145,000kms or
90,000miles. The problem started after getting my intake manifold
gasket replaced 2 weeks ago, however I cannot understand how one would
relate to the other. I don't believe that its piston slap however am
open to suggestions. I've had one mechanic tell me that the engine is
gone stating that the crankshaft was bent, pistons were gone, ...,
with hearing this I didn't believe that this individual was correct so
I had another dealership test for compression, the figures were
200,200,200,205 which basically means the engine is in very good
shape. So what could this noise be??, I'm relatively sure its not an
exhaust shield rattle, I don't believe its a tensioner issue because
the issue is still there when the engine is warm.

Otherwise I have had the wires and plugs replaced.

Anybody have any ideas, or similar experiences??

Thanks
Gerald

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

The issue with my car is with a metallic tick noise emanating from the
engine specifically from 3000-4000rpms when cold or warm, otherwise
the engine is silent. It is most noticeable when letting off the
throttle while in gear. The current mileage is 145,000kms or
90,000miles. The problem started after getting my intake manifold
gasket replaced 2 weeks ago, however I cannot understand how one would
relate to the other. I don't believe that its piston slap however am
open to suggestions. I've had one mechanic tell me that the engine is
gone stating that the crankshaft was bent, pistons were gone, ...,
with hearing this I didn't believe that this individual was correct so
I had another dealership test for compression, the figures were
200,200,200,205 which basically means the engine is in very good
shape. So what could this noise be??, I'm relatively sure its not an
exhaust shield rattle, I don't believe its a tensioner issue because
the issue is still there when the engine is warm.

Otherwise I have had the wires and plugs replaced.

Anybody have any ideas, or similar experiences??

Thanks
Gerald

Possibly an inspection of the inside of the timing covers could show
'rubbing' - that might indicate the tensioner.

Can someone use a stethoscope to 'pin down' the location better?

I dunno - just some ideas

Carl

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Possibly an inspection of the inside of the timing covers could show
'rubbing' - that might indicate the tensioner.

Can someone use a stethoscope to 'pin down' the location better?

I dunno - just some ideas

Carl

Oh yeah - maybe a brief experiment (say - before an oil change) with
some high viscosity oil might help determine if its piston slap?

I dunno


Carl

 

[bgd]

I had a tensioner that did that. Even whistled like a turbo until the oil
pump started leaking and luber 'er back up
;o)
The 5 main resonance has my thoughts at a loss. That engine could do
anything strange, anywhere, anytime....
The stethoscope idea is a great route to go.
5 pounds different on a short stroke may be something to think about, unless
it is a cylinder that gets egr pukes (#4 cyl on the old subarus.)
it just may be a slap of some kind.

 

[AS]

Is the ticking loud?
Is the ticking a valve lifter?

Considering that the intake manifold connects to the head from the top,
could it be that they misplaced a washer or something and it went inside
the cylinder? Someone intentionally did this to me a long time ago and
the symptoms were pretty similar.

Good luck!

 

[Dmitriy]

Is it a tick or a rattle? Loose heat shields make a metallic rattle
when lifting off of throttle, which is easily fixable by ripping them
off.

 

[Gerald Graf]

Actually the higher compression ratio is on cylinder 4 however I
didn't know that the EGR feeds into just one cylinder its usually into
the intake, but I'll have a look. Otherwise I should also mention that
when I start the car now in the morning I get a metallic noise for
about 3-4 seconds which I believe is the piston slap however my
brother owns another Subaru which has piston slap and it doesn't sound
by far as harsh plus his goes away in 10 minutes. I really am starting
to believe its the tensioner but I didn't expect it to go yet.

 

[Gerald Graf]

It is a ticking noise, unfortunately since ticking noises travel
easily its hard to pin point. I used to trust this mechanic cause I
would ask him for advice whenever I had an issue and he seemed to know
what he was talking about so I'd like to think he didn't do this
intentionally, however he is the same mechanic that then said the
engine was gone so I can't trust him. In the end I think I'm gonna
have the timing belt changed a little earlier than normal and that way
the tensioner can be replaced and the valve lash can be checked.