ticking noise from car

When i started my car up today it has a ticking noise all the time, any ideas?

As soon as the engine starts it ticks about 5 times per second.

[Subanez]

Hmmm...could it be loose valves? When was your last service? How does it sound after the car is all warmed up?

[Brucelee]

The Boxster has hydraulic valves, should not be that. Low on oil? Goes away later when warm?

Have you been driving it lately. Boxsters will be noisy if they are left sitting and then they quiet down after a good drive.

That may be the hydraulic valves needing to get some warm oil.

Thanks for the help both of you.

I havent drove my car for about a few month.
Just when i started it up a few days back it was ticking..
It was last serviced about 9 month back, i had to take it back to them as they didnt do the oil.

anyways i have just got back from the tyre place as i had to get 2 new tyres for the rear £301.00 !!! CRAZY... anyways i will do what you say and take it for a night time drive tonight for a few hours.

Thanks again i knew i could count on sound advice!

[Ronzi]

The hydraulic tappets in a Boxster can cause noise just like on a push rod motor, and for the same reason, oil leak down. Mine did it a few months ago after sitting idle for a couple of weeks. A couple of drives and it went away and hasn't come back. Hopefully yours will do the same.
If it is the tappets, the ticking should vary with engine rpm.

cheers ronzi, i went for a long drive yesterday night and i will check it again tonight and report back

[PAH]

My Boxster S has done this since I collected it, but it doesn't seem to go away after a drive.

When accelerating gently, with the window down, you can even hear the noise, almost like a 'fluttering' noise rebounding off walls or parked cars as you pass them - it's quite bad. I took it to the dealer on Tuesday, and was told it was normal for the engine to 'tick' a little bit at idle. However, I'm still not happy, so it's going back in tomorrow for them to have a further look at it, and take if for an extended test drive. I'll let you know the outcome!

[wetsuff]

Try the old trick of driving by a long wall and put in the clutch to take the motor out of it. Could be simple brake pad drag...

If engine, could you not simply hear it standing still?!

....and then, what about the old 'top oil' (kerosene blend) that breaks down varnish in valves and lifters - Porsche use it?

I don't personally like engine noises of any nationality, but have had one in a F.I. pump in a Ford SUV for the last 83,000mi. ...still ticking at idle when hot - but working too?!

Jim

[Subanez]

PAH, its the same thing for me...at startup, it sounds like a flurry of mad ticking for the first second or two, then it resides to a normal ticking noise, but even that can be heard when driving alongside a wall or next to other cars...and when adding throttle, it almost sounds like there are timing issues...but yes, upon bringing it back into the shop, I was told a little ticking is "classic Porsche sound" stuff.

Its in the shop now (has been for a week) and I pick it up next week after getting SERIOUS work done, and I will let you know how it sounds after that. If it still ticks like a hyperactive hedge clipper, I'll let you all know.

-Kevin

[Adam]

Do you thnk it's the valves Subbie? Here is a newb question but I figure it's a shot in the dark. Do our flat 6 engine have lifters? I had 2 mazdas and they made a loud ticking noise particularly at startup and my father said it was lifter noise. Perhaps flat 6 engines don't have
lifters since no one mentioned them or since the engine lays flat?

[Ronzi]

Lifters, tappets, same thing. In the Box they are a bucket filled with oil sitting on the end of the valve stem. The cam lobe bumps on the tappet which then transfers the motion to the valve.
The function of the oil filled tappet is to be able to expand or collapse slightly to allow for wear, temperature, etc., thus not needing to be adjusted like a "solid lifter" engine such as the older 911's, VW Beetle, and some of the small block Chevys, among a lot of others.
For many years the big drawback to the hydraulic lifter was that they would "pump up" at high rpm and leave a valve hanging open to the detriment of an oncoming piston. More modern designs have addressed this problem, so you seldom see a solid lifter engine in a street car anymore.

[PeterJoyce]

That happens to my 04 as well. The ticking increses with rpm. But it dissapears after about 10 min.

[Subanez]

Exactly...some amount of ticking is normal, and "porsche-like." Its just the trick of figuring out what is "normal" and what signifies a service requirement.

[Ad Sach]

Originally posted by porsche986
...I havent drove my car for about a few month.
Just when i started it up a few days back it was ticking..

Under those circumstances ticking is normal for a few minutes.

Anything over about 5 days mine ticks but I'm not sure since she only goes over 2 days unused when I vacation out of town.

well my ticking is still there, i aint sure if its there when i come from a drive. When i start up its there not as bad as it was its about 5 times per second. I will take it for a spin tomorrow around the country if its not raining and when i come back i will get out with the engine running and see if i hear anything. I aint that bothered anymore as i see other boxster have it and maybe hundreds more.
Thanks for all the help anyways

[Brucelee]

Yes, the ticking is Boxster phenom. The more you drive, the less you hear it.