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Engine tick. Goes away when warm

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Old Nov 6, 2014 | 07:21 PM
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Engine tick. Goes away when warm

I have a "tick" somewhere around the #1 cylinder. The colder it is the louder is is. Once the EOT gets up around 100deg, you can hardly hear it from the cab. The other morning the EOT was about 28 and it sounded about like a loose injector, it was pretty loud. Unfortunately I was so worried about trying to figure out where it was coming from I forgot to record it.

It has had this tick since I got the truck back in April or May, but since the injectors were worn enough that it wouldn't start under 70EOT, it wasn't that loud, and I thought it was an injector since it went away as the truck warmed up. Also my EGT's are about 100deg higher on that side until it gets up to operating temp, then it's only about 50deg difference.

I was going to pop the VC's this week to see what I could see, but I havn't had time. Any Ideas? Only thing i can think is a bad lifter. A bent rod would be a constant tick I would think. I have a couple videos I'll get uploaded as soon as they are done.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2014 | 07:27 PM
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Old Nov 6, 2014 | 07:27 PM
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I would think a bad lifter or rod would be more of a slap or knocking sound. It could also be a small exhaust leak at the head. Gasket expands as it warms up and closes it off.
A loose or worn injector could also do a "tick" sound as well so you may be on the right track. Also, when you have the valve cover off, run the motor a bit to see if oil is being pushed through the ports and flow as they should. Cold oil takes longer to get moving so that as well could be it. And don't forget to check your oil level.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2014 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by BillyBob69
I would think a bad lifter or rod would be more of a slap or knocking sound. It could also be a small exhaust leak at the head. Gasket expands as it warms up and closes it off.
A loose or worn injector could also do a "tick" sound as well so you may be on the right track. Also, when you have the valve cover off, run the motor a bit to see if oil is being pushed through the ports and flow as they should. Cold oil takes longer to get moving so that as well could be it. And don't forget to check your oil level.
Forgot to mention, I just put new injectors in about 3 weeks ago or so. I am gonna pull the VC's to make sure an injector hasn't come loose, but I don't think that's it because it was doing this before the new injectors, and I had checked the torque on the old injectors when I was in there doing a compression test.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2014 | 01:44 PM
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It almost sounds like a loose rocker.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2014 | 02:00 PM
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Oh... I so hear that "tink". That noise is like a cheese grater on my spine (after my cross-country adventure with loose injectors). I'd be surprised if it's not a loose injector, but usually it doesn't go away when warm, you get a ton of smoke at cold start-up, and you get bucking at light acceleration with a loose injector. Something else could cause the same tink, but I don't know what it is.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2014 | 10:13 AM
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Weird. Definitely sounds like something lose under the VC. If everything checks out, I'd swap #1/#2 injectors and see if the knock follows.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2014 | 10:15 AM
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Also, hows your blow-by?

If you have a compression tester, might not hurt to check while you have the VCs off.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2014 | 10:45 AM
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From: Chariton, IA
Originally Posted by ToMang07
Also, hows your blow-by?

If you have a compression tester, might not hurt to check while you have the VCs off.
I did the oil cap test and had no pressure. I took a video after the injector install and had very little "smoke" under the VC's, compared to others that have posted on here and everyone said they were OK. I'll see if I can find the video.

I did compression test before I replaced the Injectors and they were all right around 375 with a cold engine. EOT was probably 80deg.

It will probably be a couple weeks before I can get the VC's off. I don't like working in the drive when its this cold, and I have some things to get done around the house. But I'll report back when I do. Thank you guys for the help.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2014 | 10:49 AM
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Old Nov 14, 2014 | 11:53 AM
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I'm far from an expert, but i hear more of a "knock" than a "tick" in those first two videos.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2014 | 01:22 PM
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Any time I pull a stick, new O-rings and copper washer go on. Overkill? Maybe. Do I want to drive on with a strange sound, wondering if I should have done O-rings while I was in there? !#$% no!
 
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Old Nov 14, 2014 | 07:11 PM
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Can't get the audio to work, prolly just my cranky laptop. I see two trucks in your sig, but the problem child is the AT with PIS 160/30s, right?

The #1 injector solenoid is light color, and the #8 looks dark like the other 7. I realize color does not necessarily mean anything, but it looks like you put the long lead #8 injector in the #1 hole.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2014 | 11:22 PM
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Yeah I never looked at them before installing and the lighter one just happened to be the last one I did. I called PIS and couldn't get a hold of anyone, it was a Friday afternoon, so I emailed jody at DP and he said it shouldn't matter since they were single shot injectors.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2014 | 07:05 AM
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When I got my remans, they had a rainbow of solenoid packs. This says one thing to me: I had a mish-mash of trucks contribute to my engine, each with their own history, owners, and maintenance practices over time. It was not a warm and fuzzy feeling for me.
 
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