Prevent Timing chain from completely going...

[Mr. Person]

I'm starting to get a tick tick from the timing chain [i think]. It only happens on cold starts and goes away by the time the engine is warm. You can't here it unless your outside and sometimes you even have to be specifically on the passenger [U.S] side of the car. If you lift the hood the engine noise will drown it out unless you stick your head right up to the engine the belt side of the engine.

Anyway to keep the timing chain from getting worse?

[Stefano]

You could 1)not drive the car or 2)change the camshaft sprockets. I'm not sure that wouldn't accelerate the chain wear, but sometimes the sprockets are badly worn even before the chain is that bad. Only an inspection can tell that, though.

[ragtopcav]

Originally Posted by Mr. Person

I'm starting to get a tick tick from the timing chain [i think]. It only happens on cold starts and goes away by the time the engine is warm.

This sounds [to me] more like a slow or lazy hydraulic lifter or hydraulic valve tappet, call it what you like it's the same thing, these can go 'tick-tick-tick-tick' for several minutes whilst cold, the important thing is that as the oil pressure builds fully within a couple of minutes it should stop.

[Stefano]

Originally Posted by ragtopcav

This sounds [to me] more like a slow or lazy hydraulic lifter or hydraulic valve tappet, call it what you like it's the same thing, these can go 'tick-tick-tick-tick' for several minutes whilst cold, the important thing is that as the oil pressure builds fully within a couple of minutes it should stop.

I should have read the first post more closely... ops: I just read the subject and thought I understood the whole thing. Yes it does sound like the hydraulic tappets/lifters, if it eventually stops you're ok. If it doesn't, try to locate the faulty lifter to replace it (about $30 each IIRC)

[Mr. Person]

Originally Posted by ragtopcav

This sounds [to me] more like a slow or lazy hydraulic lifter or hydraulic valve tappet, call it what you like it's the same thing, these can go 'tick-tick-tick-tick' for several minutes whilst cold, the important thing is that as the oil pressure builds fully within a couple of minutes it should stop.

Well there is a much faster ticking noise coming from the Valve Cover [side note: valve cover gasket is leaking, so i'm replacing it as soon as I can get my hands on one]. I figured both the lifters and the chain were tapping.

[Mr. Person]

Update:

I just got back from a 15 min drive. Didn't even hit 3k rpms [it is raining and the streets are slick]. Ticking noise from the passenger side was there after I got to my destination and a rapid ticking was coming from the area approximetly around the valve cover. The noise seemed to be coming from the portion farthest from the front of the car [toward the throttle body an d cabin]. I had my oil changed 2500 miles ago.

What can I do to eliminate both?

Thanx for the help so far. MUCH appreciated.

[cavsaab]

Does this engine have balance chains.

If it does, is there a slight vibration of the engine when idling.