valve started ticking...

[ejp2fast]

91 festy automatic, stock B3 engine... off of a cold start, engine does not tick, but then about 5-10 min later my valve starts ticking... why is this? why isn't it doing it from the start? also, as this is a NON interference engine, will this cause damage? this started last week and i have only driven it 2-3 times... also, is there anything i can do w/ the valve cover off to make it stop? where can i get new valves? Thanks...

[dahodges]

Yes it is a non interference engine. I hate to ask a stupid question but have you checked your oil level?

David

[monkeyracing]

Sounds like maybe somethings going out of spec once the car warms up. Even with hydraulic lash adjusters this can happen.

[WmWatt]

pssible caused by one of the following....?
1. as the egnine warms up so does the oil becoming less viscous
2. as the engine warms up parts expand
3. as the engine warms up the computer takes over the spark timing

[ejp2fast]

according to the haynes manual, only the carb models can the valve clearance be adjusted... is this correct? (btw it is 0.012 inch)

[b3 madness]

Yep, EFI cars have HLAs (hydraulic lash adjusters) so no manual adjustment is needed. When my old engine developed lifter tick, I moved up to a 20w-50 weight oil and all was quiet. Since you are located in the southern US, you could probably run that viscosity year around.

It is my belief that as the upper valve train wears and tolerances open up, the thinner warmed up oil can have a tough time maintaining high enough oil pressure on the top end of the lifters leading to lifter tick. The thick oil compensates for that.

[WmWatt]

Car'b engines have adjustable valves. Look for a recent posting in this forum which gives the gap.

[b3 madness]

Re: valve started ticking...

91 festy automatic, stock B3 engine.....

Not a CARB model that is referred to in his question...