Ticking engine after adding oil (Edit - video added) FIXED

[g3org3y]

Bit of an unusual one.

Car seems to have a bit of a valve cover gasket leak as below:


(I moved the wire out of the clip btw)

Went away and didn't use the car for a week. On first use, idle seemed a touch unstable. Started off at 1000rpm but after 30 seconds settles to about 875rpm.

Monitoring the oil this week, it stayed consistent but on the low side of things. The digital read out stated OK, but it was probably one up from the minimum. Took this as an opportunity to add 500ml which would take it upper end (but not up to max) which I did this morning.

On starting the car, it seemed rather smokey around the area where the suspected leak is but stopped quickly. Ever since I've added the oil, the car has been extremely ticky to the extent I've concerned. I've only driven it up and down the street so far. The engine actually feels smooth and pulls.

I'm pretty sure I've not overfilled it. Min to max is 1L.

(Could it be the additional oil has increased the pressure to the extent it has exacerbated the valve cover leak?)

I know these engines suffer with noisy lifters but this is the first time the car has done the noise and it is only since I've added the 500ml of oil. I'm a bit concerned re driving it tbh.

Starting it up again now, it appears the ticking is coming from the back of the engine.

https://streamable.com/kck3t

https://streamable.com/zp8t5

Any suggestions?

 

[road warrior]

Ticking suggests oil is not getting round somewhere, and a leak suggests thin oil. What did you put in it?

 

[g3org3y]

Ticking suggests oil is not getting round somewhere, and a leak suggests thin oil. What did you put in it?

5W30. It seems odd that it has started since I've added more oil.

 

[Chris_D]

Cant help you with the ticking (sticky lifters?) but 5w30 isn’t a factor in a leaking oil gasket. They commonly fail and need replacing at some point.
Check also your oil filter housing gasket for signs of a leak on the passenger side of the engine casing, behind and below the oil filter.

 

[Lance]

Cant help you with the ticking (sticky lifters?) but 5w30 isn’t a factor in a leaking oil gasket. They commonly fail and need replacing at some point.
Check also your oil filter housing gasket for signs of a leak on the passenger side of the engine casing, behind and below the oil filter.

As Chris said

 

[road warrior]

i imagine he is more bothered about the ticking, i know i would be. is it due for an oil change ? i am always wary of oil flushes as they can do more harm than good, i would be hoping its clogged up and something is being starved of oil as opposed to buggered. so what I have done in the past, is do an oil change with something adequate, and then another oil change a month later, the idea being each time you do a change it brings out a little more crud, and then if the oil is all looking loverly and it still is ticking its take the lid off time.

 

[Marlon]

Have you stretched its legs since the oil change? My ticking would get louder after a week of short commutes, then a blast up to the Lakes at the weekend and it went silent again :driving:

 

[g3org3y]

i imagine he is more bothered about the ticking

Yes, it's brand new and only since I topped up the oil with an extra 500ml. It doesn't make sense to me.

When starting from cold, it still has that slightly uneven idle (which clears after 30 seconds).

Have you stretched its legs since the oil change? My ticking would get louder after a week of short commutes, then a blast up to the Lakes at the weekend and it went silent again :driving:

Honestly, I've been a bit too worried to do so. I've had quite a few BMW straight sixes in my time and it just doesn't sound right IYKWIM.

Booked mechanic for next week. I've got another car I can use in the meantime.

 

[road warrior]

Marlon has a point.. A run would be a good idea to move things around a bit. Your car may have done short journeys and be choked up.

 

[road warrior]

Let's get priorities here. Ignore the leak and the top up, take it for a run say 30 miles and get it good and hot. And a have listen then.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Mine always ticks if I haven't used it for a while - I suppose all the oil drains out of the top of the engine. I think the car being sat for a week is more likely the issue rather than adding some oil.

But to be fair mine doesn't seem as noisy as your clip, although I haven't listened with the bonnet open!

I'd try taking it for a decent, but fairly gentle, run before taking it in.

 

[Ed Doe]

Be extremely careful with the electronic oil gauge on the 3.0si cars - they are notoriously inaccurate. I had a long chat with my local indy re this - he said the best advice was to avoid topping it up until it asked for oil (beeps when you turn it off and says '+1L' on the screen in the gauges.

I could be wrong also but isn't 5-30 a bit thin? I thought the engine wanted 5-40? I could be wrong, I can't remember the recommended oil from back when I had my 3.0si!

 

[ph001]

You used the right oil and I can’t imagine adding 500ml causing any issues. It totally sounds like hydraulic lifter noise to me. Take it out and give it a good spanking.

The hunting idle at start up can usually be sorted with a Valvetronic adaptation reset with INPA.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=113662

 

[skelters]

When was the oil last changed?

I've been putting Millers Nanodrive in mine for the last 4 1/2 years and apart from ticking for the first mile there's never any ticking after that.

 

[road warrior]

Be extremely careful with the electronic oil gauge on the 3.0si cars - they are notoriously inaccurate. I had a long chat with my local indy re this - he said the best advice was to avoid topping it up until it asked for oil (beeps when you turn it off and says '+1L' on the screen in the gauges.

I could be wrong also but isn't 5-30 a bit thin? I thought the engine wanted 5-40? I could be wrong, I can't remember the recommended oil from back when I had my 3.0si! - 5-30 is right

 

[mr wilks]

That is hva related for sure & most likely there before you added oil , unlikely to change much imo & unlikely to cause any major fail .
Have a oil change done , you will probably find the noise changes whether cold or warm but stick with 5w 30 ( my choice for the Si would be Millers Trident https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MILLERS-TRIDENT-LONGLIFE-5w30-Fully-Synthetic-Performance-Engine-Oil-6L/202321413946?hash=item2f1b4bc73a&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&enc=AQAEAAADEKvsXIZtBqdkfsZsMtzFbFsbX3WcW5fmB%2Fx7ZbaZTyexaP3NfmomLLL71NfemLLbPDxKBmvYhTLyWmOHN32nv1SpKurpK6VTjkIbPofiM6OVMWdVgMBJZG3%2BwjaE%2Fx5WE%2FSfdThW9ZwPr0SyogxyrurMZsotdv7ziZu%2BTaR7uJ%2FQPJq17b8%2FWaacGPM2Uy3eXg2y660YkbLWr0rk2pCgE2VddWJ3H8L7FZXnV72fWWRpwkn03bCk7%2BrZhBnKZ6dGtTrkpZBX1uIJK9AuWpjKrNs1m4R0Jz2R%2B0dxDvkPz%2FZndq2BsV1hBtBS71T0JkCMeyWuoLHa%2FD0i67laz4hBPX15Ry1BZkGPVXv9L%2FNl%2F1oeYbqL1zXurjCYIeR7aeW13D9wYxh5t0fDgphUHrsY59SfSPANNDPB8r3%2FZkZdDHak2ye%2BCV1daIhdcfYcbRnFKSUOP8Ekw%2FPv7yXfnPEss7cZvnsRDL%2Fx2g5Q6GU7yeMwli9COT42CWbSgkYX6LIewgpDBUj2kKIvqGKXJ5PZBNK6tLvYtCMStYrfDLtWtiR9IRmb%2F%2BlyhZ46UOjCT9dJpH1mAg%2BlPSYN6h2nZ3urS6Sd6GGkSLi%2FX2UVWJA0j93V7d29GVlsELT%2Baj7IxarOm%2FRCCUJYfwUSAJ31d4PtIWDHHywW3nGfJKsCuDDpJlZzV4xR9VCFa4hSV6DzSoWRmKlqXBZpLvcPkbkCSo8E5vEphU7c5oSbB11ZxOjlxltVhcnAc59TWkCnjLBMVGxtuujM3FSK1VJacgY6FrSIlTdA%2BMTTCajJTtIEPzkdxyFnuXopMt7GyzqrBwp9EoBbURKf%2BR9z67OA7vzWfSJjFTgEUh4hzFBCk46ljdchYiI84hPA%2FS3wnym%2BtF1B9TzE4lzh8meDvi1yhu6w2cVzAOrPenHAAqoFnvimUF2GOtJhRIHgMMV8652tBg0jtOA6ihywEhPvZcx2k671zBaUn9RVbQHDSxe%2FO2P8UdTpCeM5vwinTH0suBbwDbLc8vf2dUQ24SMHlZzJsS9ME4CWL84%3D&checksum=2023214139468793f5cf077c49ebb506b0991b04e6e7 )

Then just drive it & enjoy it :driving:

 

[road warrior]

The more I think about this the more I feel this is just lack of use and the want of an oil change. As I said, take if for a good run and get the oil hot and move the oil round those dry lifters. Have a look at the colour of the oil, if it isn't clear, do an oil change. I don't hold with long oil changes, and I use the point when it needs a top up as time to change the oil rather than a top up, usually around 5k for me but I don't count frankly. Top up time is oil change time for me. And as I am now north of 100k with no noises of any kind I would say it's working.

 

[g3org3y]

Thanks for all the replies chaps.

Well, the problem seemed to solve itself. I was worried that perhaps the oil sensor may have given an inaccurate reading and so perhaps I'd overfilled it. With that in mind, thought it might be prudent just to change the oil/filter and then I'd know 100% how much oil is in there.

Started it this morning and it was still making the ticking noise. Backed the car in the garage and switched off. Went to jack the car up but turns out the jack simply isn't low enough for the jacking point! :x

Thought about things for 10 mins over a cup of tea and made a decision to postpone the oil change until I buy a new (low) jack.

Started the car to move it out the garage and the ticking was gone. All back to normal. Took it for a decent run and it felt fine, smooth all through the rev range, no ticking at all. :driving:

https://streamable.com/gn2ef

Oil is now reading just one off the top which makes sense to me.

Still need to get that oil leak sorted though...