Constant engine ticking

J

jkruer01

Hello,

I just purchased a 98 Subaru Forester with 105,000 miles on it about 2
months ago. Lately I have started to notice a constant ticking sound
coming from the engine. At first it only happened at idle, but now it
happens at all engine speeds.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
jkruer01 said:
Hello,

I just purchased a 98 Subaru Forester with 105,000 miles on it about 2
months ago. Lately I have started to notice a constant ticking sound
coming from the engine. At first it only happened at idle, but now it
happens at all engine speeds.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Check your engine oil level. When mine got really low, I'd hear a
ticking. At first, I heard it when the car starts but disappears as it
warms up, but as the oil level got lower then the ticking kept sounding.
When I'd fill up on the oil, the ticking went away. Eventually I had
some gasket replaced (been too long to remember) and the oil level
didn't drop anymore by the time for the next oil change so now I don't
hear the ticking anymore (but I'm more conscious of my oil level and
check it about once a month). If the engine oil level is okay then it
could be an oil pump that isn't providing enough of a flow rate.

However, I have a completely different car than yours (a 92 Legacy) so
your ticking may be from something completely different, especially if
the oil level is okay. Maybe it's a sticky valve lifter: it expands too
slowly so the valve slaps against it until the oil warms up and the
lifter moves more freely (or the ticking rate gets so high in frequency
that you simply don't hear it anymore).
 
98s don't have hydraulic lifters. I had this after the short block was
replaced under warrantee for piston slap. When the dealer replaced the
heads (I believe) the cam bolts for the intake cam were over torqued and
broke. This caused a tick similar to lifters.
I would 1. check the oil, 2. check to see if the engine has been
replaced, if not, have them check for piston slap, if that's OK, 3. pull
the valve cover and check the valve clearance, it may need shimmed.
good luck
 
*Could* be loose spark plugs that were installed to less than factory torque
of 15 ft/lbs. If not torqued correctly the plug can actually turn itself
loose in the plug wire boot and eventually it will pop out.

I know this from experience. Once tightend correctly, no mopre tick. Of
course I had a slight smell of gas at idle, do you?
 
x-no-archive: yes
Hello,

I just purchased a 98 Subaru Forester with 105,000 miles on it about 2
months ago. Lately I have started to notice a constant ticking sound
coming from the engine. At first it only happened at idle, but now it
happens at all engine speeds.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

The other folks have posted excellent suggestions.

One other thought. At 105K miles, you are do for a "major service"
including timing belt replacement. Do you know if this has been done yet?

I have heard a strange ticking sound from a Forester engine with a
defective timing belt tensioner. Is the noise coming from the front of
the engine?

A arcing spark plug wire will also produce a "ticking" sound. However,
this *should* have set off your CEL.
 

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