Loud clicking noise from engine

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

My car has developed a worrying clicking sound from the engine. The clicking gets faster as you accelerate and slows down when you brake.

The car was fine on my way home from work tonight. I then removed one of the pieces of foam from the sound gen and went for a spin. About 10 miles in the clicking started. Could I have done something to cause this or is it likely coincidence?

Short video here: https://youtu.be/IvfMghRpgxo

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[DPG]

What engine have you got?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, the car is an 04 2.2

 

[mr wilks]

What engine have you got?

This one i think Dan

 

[mr wilks]

Sorry, the car is an 04 2.2

More info will help prompt a possible cause & solution
Miles covered ?
Last oil service ?
What grade oil ?

 

[GuidoK]

Sounds like there is maybe a leak from the cylinder.
Maybe a loose sparkplug or a blown exhaust gasket.
Something like that I think

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, the car is an 04 2.2

More info will help prompt a possible cause & solution
Miles covered ?
Last oil service ?
What grade oil ?

Just turned 60,000 miles. It was fully serviced just about 8 weeks ago but I'm afraid I'm unsure of what oil was used as the service was done just as I bought it.

I've not been hoofing it at all so it's been carefully (mostly) driven for that period

 

[stupot67]

Hi all,

My car has developed a worrying clicking sound from the engine. The clicking gets faster as you accelerate and slows down when you brake.

The car was fine on my way home from work tonight. I then removed one of the pieces of foam from the sound gen and went for a spin. About 10 miles in the clicking started. Could I have done something to cause this or is it likely coincidence?

Short video here: https://youtu.be/IvfMghRpgxo

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks!

Sounds like a sticky hydraulic valve lifter, and if so is completely coincidental to you playing with the sound generator.

Do the simple things first, check the oil level first, the take the car for an extended run (30-50 miles) while trying to keep the revs up (3-5K) and see if you can unstick/bleed the air from the lifter.

Obviously if it seems to be getting worse, don't risk it and get it home ASAP.

Stu.

 

[markeg]

You could try HVL additive to the oil, see if that helps.
link

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I'll take it out for a short drive and see if it makes any difference.

One thing after another tonight... ignition trouble as well it would seem. My key is refusing to turn a lot of the time. When I try to start it up the key just won't budge. Steering isn't locked

 

[mr wilks]

Sounds like a sticky hydraulic valve lifter, and if so is completely coincidental to you playing with the sound generator.

Do the simple things first, check the oil level first, the take the car for an extended run (30-50 miles) while trying to keep the revs up (3-5K) and see if you can unstick/bleed the air from the lifter.


Stu.

My thoughts too , hence asking RE the oil spec + change .
If the car is doing short journeys & the oil is not thinning its a possibility
If it was my car & i wasn't 100% sure what oil was in it ( or if it had even been changed ) then start with the basics
A decent quality 5w 30 & a few decent runs at temp could be a solution or better still take it to a trusted BMW indy who knows what he's into

 

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

My car has developed a worrying clicking sound from the engine. The clicking gets faster as you accelerate and slows down when you brake.

The car was fine on my way home from work tonight. I then removed one of the pieces of foam from the sound gen and went for a spin. About 10 miles in the clicking started. Could I have done something to cause this or is it likely coincidence?

Short video here: https://youtu.be/IvfMghRpgxo

Any help greatly appreciated, thanks!

Sounds like a sticky hydraulic valve lifter, and if so is completely coincidental to you playing with the sound generator.

Do the simple things first, check the oil level first, the take the car for an extended run (30-50 miles) while trying to keep the revs up (3-5K) and see if you can unstick/bleed the air from the lifter.

Obviously if it seems to be getting worse, don't risk it and get it home ASAP.

Stu.

I'm just back from a quick drive. After about 5 or 6 miles of mixed driving with the revs high it seems to have almost gone. There's a very feint tick still but it's nowhere near as pronounced as it was before.

Forgive my ignorance, I'm not great with this kind of stuff (yet!) but the only other thing I changed was that the grommet which connected the sound gen to the firewall was not seated correctly. It's now in right. It I was wondering if his could have caused a drop in pressure somewhere?

Thanks again all

 

[stupot67]

Hi,
The grommet/seal between the sound generator and the bulkhead is purely a weather seal to keep water out of the cockpit, it will have no effect on the noise you've experienced.

The fact that taking it for a decent run and it has reduced the noise would point to it probably being a lifter.

Stu.

 

[Anonymous]

The fact that taking it for a decent run and it has reduced the noise would point to it probably being a lifter.

Stu.

Great, thanks very much for the advice.

I'll top up the oil and add some lifter additive and see how it goes.

Last question: is it likely that damage will have been caused by this point or will some care and effort reverse the symptoms?

Cheers

 

[stupot67]

Hi,
A noisy lifter is very very unlikely to cause any damage even if present for long periods of time, it's just annoying more than anything else.

Stu.

 

[mr wilks]

The fact that taking it for a decent run and it has reduced the noise would point to it probably being a lifter.

Stu.

Great, thanks very much for the advice.

I'll top up the oil and add some lifter additive and see how it goes.

Last question: is it likely that damage will have been caused by this point or will some care and effort reverse the symptoms?

Cheers

Don't top up unless its needed , could just be that the fresh oil from the service 8weeks ago & minimal miles covered since ( at decent running temp ) means you need to "clear" things out a little with a few decent spirited runs out

 

[Anonymous]

The fact that taking it for a decent run and it has reduced the noise would point to it probably being a lifter.

Stu.

Great, thanks very much for the advice.

I'll top up the oil and add some lifter additive and see how it goes.

Last question: is it likely that damage will have been caused by this point or will some care and effort reverse the symptoms?

Cheers

Don't top up unless its needed , could just be that the fresh oil from the service 8weeks ago & minimal miles covered since ( at decent running temp ) means you need to "clear" things out a little with a few decent spirited runs out

The oil level is ridiculously low, which took me by surprise, so that's likely not helping matters . Is it true that the M54 engines are pretty thirsty on oil? I wouldn't expect it to be that low though after only a couple of months. I've maybe done 2000 miles since I got the car. How much should I be putting in?

I've read about various "motor flush" type additives that seem to get used a lot. Is there anything in particular anyone would recommend?

 

[sw4nny]

Yes they can be thirsty,
What is the level showing on the dipstick?
We can then advise on how much to put in
Also did you warm the car up by taking it out for a spin before you checked the level?

 

[markeg]

I've read about various "motor flush" type additives that seem to get used a lot. Is there anything in particular anyone would recommend?

For me, it's just regular oil changes - mine has one every year, regardless of mileage, and always with the recommended brand/rating. Only used Slick50 as an additive on all cars (even though it's regarded as a placebo effect) and HVL on another engine to get rid of the ticking noise. Never used a flush.

 

[mr wilks]

Decent oil , correct level & engine warmed right are the 3 basics , stray off that path & problems are going to happen
From what you have posted OP i would top up with some quality oil & once warmed up take the car for a few spirited drives which include Mway at a steady 75 & non Mway through the rev range :driving: