Rep Power: 0

I have a 2007 Civic SI with 145k miles. (K20Z3) I noticed this ticking noise after the first time I adjusted the valves on it. So of course I figured it was the valves, but now they've been adjusted like 4 times by me and been taken to a shop to do the vavles and timing chain. Yet the noise is still there! Im not sure if this is normal or natural. I never ever noticed it when I first got the car and I'm usually very sensitive to engine noises so I don't know! Maybe I broke something somehow when first doing the valves or what? Only think I can think of is either the valves or I know I replaced the PCV valve around the same time could it be that? I know people say the K20s are loud and have loud injectors and I have used injector cleaners so maybe that made the injectors louder? I feel like I would've noticed this noise before or something, but its possible I suppose. So is this noise normal or natural? I feel uncomfortable with how loud it is, although I'm quite certain its nothing catastrophic. The car is stock other then a K&N Cold air intakeFYI. I only hear the noise below 2k rpm and its mainly noticeable from outside the car or when the windows are down. She drive great otherwise! So let me know what you guys think.

 
Rep Power: 228

If the noise goes away when hot it's an exhaust leak.

 
Rep Power: 0

I actually mainly hear it when the car is warm. It seems to not be there as much when the cars cold

 
Rep Power: 125

Have you checked your exhaust manifold? If the bolts back off a bit and there痴 an open gap, it値l make a tapping noise.

Please note that I知 currently at school with no wifi so I haven稚 seen the videos yet.

 
Rep Power: 0

haven稚 really checked any exhaust stuff, so I will. I know I looked under the car once with it running didn稚 see anything obviously weird with the exhaust system. But who knows! I値l check it out

 
Rep Power: 125

Certainly wouldn稚 hurt to check.

Just to clear up any possible confusion, the manifold that I知 referring to is the one that bolts straight up to the engine, so you won稚 see it under the car. It痴 also referred to as the headers. You won稚 notice it with the naked eye (unless it痴 cracked), so you値l either need to try to bolt it back down or remove and inspect it.

 
Rep Power: 0

yea I totally get it! I didnt see any missing bolts or loose bolts and no cracks or anything like that no air or carbon marks showing anything obvious. I値l have to check if there痴 any loose stuff or anything weird like you mentioned tho. It doesn稚 sound like exhaust to me but definitely possible.

 
Rep Power: 125

Just listened to the video, and to me it sounds exactly like valve lash.

I値l trust that the valve adjustment was done correctly. Low oil would cause that too, but I doubt that would be it. This screams exhaust leak to me, but I知 probably wrong. It痴 possible that the header bolts snapped. I知 not sure how common an issue that is on these civics, but I had it happen on my Supra and it tapped like hell.

 
Rep Power: 0

yea I hope the valves were done correctly as well, but maybe not! I値l check the headers for sure it痴 definitely a weird noise.