Does your car produce a “tappety” noise every time you start it?
Does the ticking last for several seconds or even minutes while you drive?
These annoying and repetitive sounds are relatively common and are most often the result of malfunctioning tappets, also known as lifter tick.
Noisy tappets are something you can fix at home, even if you are not the most mechanically inclined person in the world.
Today, we are going to walk through the potential causes for lifter noise and what you can do to get rid of that infuriating sound.
A single oil change or the use of oil additives can help you enjoy smooth and quiet driving again.
Hydraulic valve lifters, also known as hydraulic tappets or lifters, are inside every engine.
They are designed to keep the engine valves intact during the process of thermal expansion. The lifters accomplish this by maintaining zero valve clearance.
In a perfect world, the lifters keep your engine quiet. When there is a fault in the machinery, however, drivers are left with a worrisome lifter tick.
The Main Causes Of Engine Lifter Tick Noise
Here are a few of the most common reasons why lifter ticks happen, so you can diagnosis the source of the problem:
1. Wear and Tear on the Lifter
Sometimes, Father Time will get the best of your engine parts.
A worn-out lifter can have several consequences, such as the internal plunger failing to maintain the oil pressure, or a distinctive tapping sound.
If you don’t replace the lifter soon, it can affect the reliability of other parts, like the rocker arm, pushrod, and valve tip.
If you suspect your lifter is past its prime, there are usually corresponding indications.
An engine misfire is commonly associated with a bad lifter, and low oil pressure can result in a ticking sound.
2. Damaged Push Rod
The pushrod is one of the few engine parts that are designed without curves as it connects the underside of a rocker arm with the lobes of the camshaft.
The purpose of the pushrod is to open the intake and exhaust valve, though it can be bent if the car is pushed too hard.
The bending can accelerate both lifter and camshaft degradation, resulting in an engine ticking sound.
3. Build Up of Dirt
This scenario is multifaceted when it comes to the source of the problem. For instance, if the oil in your engine is too thick or thin, it can damage your lifter.
Similarly, a lifter tick may appear when there is dirt build-up along the valve train or inside the lifter itself due to improper vehicle care.
Maintaining the proper oil viscosity is essential when it comes to minimizing the accumulation of dirt and grime, as well as wear and tear on an engine.
A heavy viscosity oil, such as 30W or 10W-40, can provide ideal oil pressure in warm weather, while light viscosity oils, like 10W, flow consistently in colder environments – more on this later.
Most manufacturers recommend an intermediate motor oil like 5W-30, which offers steady flow through the seasons.
4. Low Oil Levels
Low oil levels cause the same problems as excess dirt. When there is not enough oil for lubrication, the performance of the lifters will suffer.
In a sense, the lifters need oil to maintain their lifting power; otherwise, they fail.
Fortunately, this problem is one of the easiest to diagnose.
When low oil levels are the cause of lifter noise, a flashing low oil light usually accompanies it on the dashboard.
The icon may also turn on if the oil levels are obstructed.
Also Read: How to Soundproof A Car & Reduce Road Noise.
Is Lifter Noise Damaging?
The short answer is ‘yes.’
The longer answer: it depends.
The type of sound the lifter makes, and its duration, can indicate its severity.
If there is only a lifter noise for a few seconds after turning on the engine, that is less serious than a loud tapping that goes on continuously or remains loud while driving.
The problem will not likely be serious, though it may reveal the need for replacement parts or cleaning.
The more severe consequences of a lifter tick are how it impacts the overall performance of the vehicle.
If the valve doesn’t open as much as it should, the motor doesn’t receive as much fuel and air as it needs. A faulty lifter may also prevent the engine from getting rid of a full charge on the exhaust.
Also Read: 14 Of The Best Car Sound Deadening Materials.
How To Stop Lifter Tick
When a lifter tick persists or gets louder, it is imperative to nip the problem in the bud.
There is no sense paying for extensive motor damage or a total engine collapse when the problem is easily fixable before it reaches this point.
Here are four ways to resolve lifter noise:
1. Oil Change
Many of the problems associated with noisy lifters are attributable to poor engine maintenance. When the oil is not drained once or twice a year, that’s a problem.
The same applies to using the incorrect oil.
Of course, to change the oil, you have to remove what is currently in the motor.
Follow these steps:
- Start by placing a bucket or shallow pan beneath the drainage plug.
- Carefully remove the plug with a universal end wrench, making sure to keep your arm away from the stream of the oil.
- Once the stream of oil has stopped, securely tighten the drainage plug in place. Then remove the oil filter and place it over the pan to drain it.
- Use rags to clean the screen as much as possible before putting in the new one.
- Now, here is the crucial part: adding new oil. The product you select can make a dramatic difference in the overall performance of the lifters and engine. If you do not know what type of oil your vehicle requires, check your car’s owner’s manual first. One of the central factors to picking engine oil is the viscosity, which is a fancy way of saying how easily the fluid flows. Simply put, motor oil gets thinner in heat and thicker in cold weather. The higher the second number on the label (5W-30 versus 5W-40) will indicate how resistant the oil is to thinning. Typically, a higher number will provide better lubrication and sealing. Having oil that is too thick, though, can overwork the crankshaft and make the engine difficult to start. That is why lower viscosity oil, such as 5W, is recommended during the winter. The other primary factor to consider with motor oils is the type. Motor oils come in two flavors: synthetic and conventional. Premium convention oil, such as 5W-20, 5W-30, and 10W-30, will cover most light-duty vehicles. The Oil below is usually a good option for most vehicles – but do your research before buying!
Rislone Nano Prime Synthetic Engine & Oil Additive - 16.9 oz
- This unique Rislone additive uses a fully-formulated GF-5/son-rated synthetic motor oil carrier that is backwards-compatible with all vehicles
- Once you select the motor oil that works best for your vehicle, empty the bottle until it reaches one quarter less than the recommended amount.
- Finally, check the oil level and let the engine run for 30 seconds before taking the car out on the road.
2. Use Oil Additives
Another method is to use oil additives for noisy lifter silencing. Their addition to the motor can break down debris and sludge without the need for a complete oil change.
An additive can stop ticking after it has mixed into the oil after a couple of miles, and it doesn’t even change the density of the fluid.
Best of all, oil additives are inexpensive. This quality makes them an extremely useful tool against noisy lifters.
Several different ingredients go into additives, so here is what to look out for on the labels.
- Viscosity-index improvers will protect the oil against the heat. The improvers will thicken the oil and preserve the lubricating ability. This effect not only extends the life of the oil but also the range of temperatures in which the lubricant can be used.
- Detergents and dispersants work to fight debris in the oil. Detergents remove substantial deposits that may otherwise form, such as corrosion or rust. Dispersants break apart solid particles of sludge and varnish and effectively prevent them from reforming.
- Anti-wear agents are useful when the lubricating film in the engine starts to degrade. The anti-wear agents come in to protect metallic surfaces. Similarly, friction modifiers can limit wear and tear on metal parts thanks to better lubrication.
After finding your additive of choice, here is a handy guide on how to use them to clean your engine.
3. Make Lifter Adjustments
If the oil is not the source of the problem, then the next likely culprit for the noise is something that has shifted within the lifter.
The lifter is meant to go down as far into the bore as it can go, so when the rocker arm comes up, the valve is fully closed. This moment is the best time to adjust.
All you have to do is tighten the valve adjustment screen until there is zero lash. At this threshold, there should be zero clearance, and you should start to feel a little drag.
You should then be able to determine whether the lifter is properly adjusted or not, with the touch of a hand.
A couple of notes before we continue. Make sure to check the owner’s manual to verify the adjustments are in accordance with the factory settings, instead of making the lifters more susceptible to ticks.
For a visual demonstration of lifter adjustments, check out this YouTube tutorial from Your Engine Guy:
4. Fix Damaged Pushrods
We mentioned that faulty pushrods are another cause of lifter ticks, so fixing these components would eliminate the problem.
If the rod is broken or even bent, replace it. Not to deter DIYers, but this tedious process is best done by the professionals.
If you are committed to doing it yourself, here is what you need: a ratchet wrench, a socket wrench, a new pushrod, and a new valve cover gasket.
Once you determine which pushrod is faulty, remove the rocker arm nut that is over the rod. IF there is a rocker shaft, use the ratchet wrench to remove that, too.
Next, take out the damaged rod by pulling it through the cylinder head.
It also doesn’t hurt to double-check the other pushrods to ensure they are not bent or deformed. Analyze the valve springs as well as rocker shaft, arm, and springs for wear and tear, too.
To put in the new pushrod, slide the new one through the cylinder head so that each rod is flush in the valve lifter.
Once completed, reconnect the rocker shaft or rocker arm. Finally, replace the valve cover and valve cover gasket, and do one last inspection to see that each is working correctly.
Also Read: Dynamat Alternative Options For Affordable Vehicle Soundproofing.
Final Thoughts
Phew, we made it. That is the list of everything that might possibly go wrong with your lifter and how to fix it. If you are intent on fixing the problem yourself, an essential first step is a proper diagnosis of the tapping origin.
Taking the time to target the source of the noise will let you swiftly and accurately figure out a solution.
It is generally possible to fix a ticking lifter with an oil change or oil additives.
Giving the engine the necessary lubrication and viscosity will go a long way towards high performance, a longer lifespan, and less noise.
If neither of those options works, consider making lifter adjustments or replacing the broken pushrods, so you can get back on the road.
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Have changed the oil and have put some engine flush but am still getting the noise especially at start up in the morning. What should I do next the engine is 3sz over head can.
Hi Reuben,
you may have a bent lifter rod which could require straightening or replacing altogether, if you’re not comfortable doing that yourself a mechanic should be able to sort that for you without it costing too much.
Good luck with it!
I have to drive 400km and my lifter are making that tap tap sound on my Amarok ,will I make it on this trip given kilos that i my drive
It is quite likely that the noise will persist for the duration of your journey so we strongly advise getting it sorted before you leave!
Hey. I have tappet noise but it comes and goes while driving, what do you think would be the most likely cause. Thanks.