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Random ticking noise from right side of engine

20K views 27 replies 14 participants last post by  Kubotaorange76  
#1 ·
So for quite some time now I notice a random ticking type noise coming from the engine. I just assumed the valve lash needed adjusted. Today I decided to actually find where the noise is coming from. I only hear it when it's idling on the outside of the truck. I used my stethoscope and probed around. Took me a while to actually find where it is the loudest. I thought maybe a cracked flex plate or loose convertor bolt. It seems that I hear the noise when I put my stethoscope on the heat shield under the turbo that protects the engine mount. When I put it directly on the engine everything sounds normal. Engine sounds very healthy everywhere I checked. But this heat shield... I don't get it. The bolts are tight, the heat shield isn't touching anything. Anybody else have this noise or maybe know what could be the cause?

Off topic... I did a t-case service today. My truck is equipped with the Borg Warner 44-46. The fluid cost me $39 per litre. The parts guy was nice enough to drop the price to $35 per litre x 2 litres. That is definitely the most expensive fluid I have ever bought.

I also bought a grease needle adapter and greased my front driveshaft that has clearly never ever been done by the dealer before since there was 0 signs of any grease on the fitting.
 
#5 ·
No if it was then I should be able to hear it with my stethoscope on the turbo and I checked the exhaust housing, intake housing and actuator and all good.

Out of curiosity, is this noticeable after driving say, 40 to 50 miles then checking for noise? If it is on initial startup and cold engine it is present, then what does it sound like after running at normal operating temp for prolong period?
It doesn't seem to matter when. Can be cold, can be operating temp.

Sounds like an exhaust leak to me.
Oh ya? You can hear it? LOL. I know what exhaust leaks sound like as I've diagnosed many during my time on the tools but this is not a consistent tick/tap like it would be from each exhaust stroke from an exhaust leak. The only place I hear it is when I put my stethoscope directly on the turbo heat shield. If it wasn't such a pita I would remove the heat shield just to see if it went away which I may just just do when it annoys me enough.
 
#10 ·
Please read the entire original post and find your answer there :thumbsup:
 
#11 ·
did you try holding the plate with your finger while listening? it's held in with two very stupid(as in make a tech wanna kill a chrysler engineer stupid) giant rivets on the engine side of the motor mount...could be it's a lil loose and the natural vibration of the big 6 is being transferred into it and making it rattle
 
#12 ·
It looks like it's sandwiched between the motor mount and the block to me... And I did try grabbing it with my hand and it still sounded the same
 
#13 ·
I had a metallic sounding rattle for a little while. Came from the passenger side of the engine and drove me nuts. I noticed it when it was warmed up every once in a while, but wasn't all the time. I also have a deleted 2012. It had not made the noise for two weeks when I pulled it in to check every block odd plate bolt and exhaust clamp. Still haven't heard it and it has been maybe two months. Could be a coincidence. Could be that I bumped a bolt a little tighter without noticing.
 
#14 ·
I got the same thing I though it was the trust bearing cause there's a whole tread on that ticking to I did that it went away for a while but now it's back. It's really bad when sitting in traffic mine dose it whenever it wants to sometimes u can't hear sometimes I can hear it loud and clear. Idk if this is only happening on manual trucks either?
http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1470954


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#16 ·
My 11' does this when weather seems to warm up, I assume it's the valves tapping as I heard this from others. Goes away once I warm it up after driving and then doesn't come back to the truck cools off. However the last few days it hasn't done this at all.


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#17 ·
Is it a random tick? Or constant? I'm no expert on the cummins engine, but I do know that my last 3 Duramax trucks all experienced "typewriter tick. Depending on what oil I used, would change the tick. I'm new to my cummins and new to this forum so I'm not sure if it's something cummins engines have, but just a thought.


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#20 ·
I ruled out valve lash when I touched my stethoscope to the valve cover and heard nothing. Like I said the whole engine sounds healthy but when I put my stethoscope on that heat shield under the turbo I hear it. Very weird. I adjusted the heat shield by bending it slightly and I haven't heard it yet so far that I know of but I'm gonna keep on listening for it.
 
#22 ·
I run Valvoline Blue so it's not the same thing I'm experiencing.
 
#28 ·
does that just mean re-indexing the gear on the shaft?

mine comes and goes with no apparent rhyme or reason, hot cold outside temp, load, engine hot cold etc