Rep Power: 0

Whats up guys. I have a 96 spec GSR swap only has exhaust and CAI and its been making a loud ticking noise coming from the head its more noticable when im driving not so much at idle . Thought the valves needed adjusted went through and checked and they were all within spec did i compression check and that checked out too. So I'm now thinking rocker arm but I dont want to just throw parts at it so is there a way you can diagnose a bad rocker arm? Any help is greatly appreciated

 
Rep Power: 518

Rev it to the rpm it makes the most rattle noise and hold it there. 2000 ish?

Pull plug wires (or injector wire) one at a time to kill each individual cylinder.

If the noise changes a lot on one cylinder but not the rest, it isnt a valve problem. It's bottom end, usually a rod bearing wiped out.

If the bottom half of the bearing insert is gone or rolled to the top side, the piston can contact the cylinder head and make the knock twice as loud and cancelling the cylinder barely changes the noise.




Did this start after running low on oil?

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the advice. No i check/ fill my oil every week. Im hoping its not in the bottom end

 
Rep Power: 518

Guess I should not be so definite on bottom end, as piston noises and others can occur under very similar conditions. If cancelling individual cylinders makes a significant difference in the noise on one cylinder (or more, but usually not all of them), you have effectively narrowed it to that noisy cylinder, either the reciprocating assembly or the rotating assembly.

Cold engine, or hot engine make a difference?

Loading (accel slight or hard, steady, or decel) makes a difference?

How loud is the noise?

Is this a recent development? Sudden? Slowly creeping up over many thousands of miles?

Burning Top Tier Gas? Carbon buildup on top of the pistons can make noises.

Got video? (note, recordings of noises are usually nothing like being there in person)

 
Rep Power: 0

Its slightly louder when the engine is cold. Mainly at idle can kinda hear when accel but also sounds like valve ticking. Did a head gasket about a month ago and noticed carbon buildup on the valves not so much on the pistons. I took a paper towl and some carb cleaner and rubbed some of the carbon off the valves before i put it all back together. Also worth noting it didnt make this noise before i took the head off to do a gasket.

 
Rep Power: 518

Exhaust manifold leakage?
Timing belt a little looser than it should be?
Piston slap cold? (pistons can be noisy when cold, until they heat up and expand to fit their cylinders)


Can you narrow down a specific location using a stethoscope?

 
Rep Power: 0

It seems to me like it's coming from the head somewhere. Cylinder 1 was where it's the loudest. And it doesnt get too much quieter when its warmed up