TICKING SOUND WHEN ENGINE IS COLD ON 2000 DODGE CARAVAN.

[chad]

i HAVE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 10000 MILES ON IT,WHEN ITS COLD IT HAS LOUD
TICKING SOUND,SOUND LIKE ITS LIFTS SOMEBODY TOLD ME ITS THE INJECTORS!!ITS A
3.0 ENGINE SHOULD I GET IT SERVICED ARE THE VALVES AJUSTABLE????THANKS

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

i HAVE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 10000 MILES ON IT,WHEN ITS COLD IT HAS LOUD
TICKING SOUND,SOUND LIKE ITS LIFTS SOMEBODY TOLD ME ITS THE INJECTORS!!ITS A
3.0 ENGINE SHOULD I GET IT SERVICED ARE THE VALVES AJUSTABLE????THANKS

I dunno how this got in this newsgroup, but it does sound like the
hydraulic lifters could be slow to pump up. SOMETIMES, using a 'mechanic
in a can'-type fix in the oil can help. best thing is to have a mechanic
examine the car. And double check your oil level and use of proper
viscosity oil.

I dunno

Carl

 

[Michael Pardee]

i HAVE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 10000 MILES ON IT,WHEN ITS COLD IT HAS LOUD
TICKING SOUND,SOUND LIKE ITS LIFTS SOMEBODY TOLD ME ITS THE INJECTORS!!ITS
A
3.0 ENGINE SHOULD I GET IT SERVICED ARE THE VALVES AJUSTABLE????THANKS

If the tick gets louder with more throttle, it is almost certainly an
exhaust leak probably caused by broken exhaust manifold stud (inspect the
nuts on the exhaust manifold to see if one is missing). If the ticking stays
the same intensity and just goes away, try an engine flush. That should only
occur if the oil changes were neglected at some point. I am curious - a 2000
MY vehicle with 10K miles?

IIRC this was posted earlier but without the SHOUTING.

Mike

 

[Carol]

I had a 91 Stealth that ticked when it was cold...it was the lifters.
It was suggested on Team 3S to change your oil, run it for a few days,
and then change it again. It helped on my Stealth, but it didn't
completely go away. If you only have 10k, are you still under
warranty? If it is, I would take it to the dealer.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

If the tick gets louder with more throttle, it is almost certainly an
exhaust leak probably caused by broken exhaust manifold stud (inspect the
nuts on the exhaust manifold to see if one is missing). If the ticking stays
the same intensity and just goes away, try an engine flush. That should only
occur if the oil changes were neglected at some point. I am curious - a 2000
MY vehicle with 10K miles?

IIRC this was posted earlier but without the SHOUTING.

Mike

Makes me think this car gets only short trips. That COULD lead to
sludging problems I guess. That is also considered 'extreme' use by many
auto manufacturers. The emissions system never stays warmed up long so
the car has a greater % of time in a 'rich' condition, water/fuel blowby
condenses in the oil and never gets completely driven out by heat,etc. I
would try an the engine flush as you say, switch to a synthetic oil,
maybe 'hotter' spark plugs, definitly pay attention to the CALENDER
maintanence schedule instead of the mileage schedule.

Carl

 

[chad via CarKB.com]

i HAVE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 10000 MILES ON IT,WHEN ITS COLD IT HAS LOUD
TICKING SOUND,SOUND LIKE ITS LIFTS SOMEBODY TOLD ME ITS THE INJECTORS!!ITS A
3.0 ENGINE SHOULD I GET IT SERVICED ARE THE VALVES AJUSTABLE????THANKs

opps misprint it has 100000miles on it......!!!no warrranty

 

[Michael Pardee]

Makes me think this car gets only short trips. That COULD lead to sludging
problems I guess. That is also considered 'extreme' use by many auto
manufacturers. The emissions system never stays warmed up long so the car
has a greater % of time in a 'rich' condition, water/fuel blowby condenses
in the oil and never gets completely driven out by heat,etc. I would try
an the engine flush as you say, switch to a synthetic oil, maybe 'hotter'
spark plugs, definitly pay attention to the CALENDER maintanence schedule
instead of the mileage schedule.

Carl

I did some Googling and found that not only does the 3.0 have hydraulic
lifters, they are particularly prone to this sort of thing. (That explains
Carol's experience, too!) The flush and synthetic sounds like the way to go.

Mike

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

opps misprint it has 100000miles on it......!!!no warrranty

The advice still applies (except for the hotter plugs!) but now we are
taliking about the possibilty the lifters may never pump up. Give it a
shot, this is one area where it's well worth the try.

Um - did this occur very suddenly? You mave low oil pressure or some
other issue going on.

Carl