Me again, new Civic guy... Another question....

Lately after my car has warmed up, I've noticed a "tick tick tick" from under the hood when idling. It does not do this when I first start it up, only after it's reached operating temperature, or close to it, and only at idle. If I rev it from idle, say to around 2-3K rpm, the tick goes away, the engine comes back to idle, and after a second or two, the tick gradually comes back. The car seems to run fine otherwise, and no check engine lights are on. I went to a dealer yesterday and he said since it's low mileage (30000km) it's likely the injectors I'm hearing, and not a valve clearance problem.

One more thing, it's been bloody cold here lately, like -20C or so, and I've only really noticed this ticking since it's gotten cold, although I do remember it beforehand, but not as loud.

Is this normal for a Civic? Anyone have any ideas?

 

i'd guess oil even while warm isn't reaching everything...

i get the tick if i haven't changed my oil recently, or it's excessively cold

 

^ Ditto. It sounds like the valves but they do that with cold or thick oil. Its nothing to worry about.

 

It's just concerning, that's all. Probably being a paranoid new car owner, but still.... The thing that I don't understand, if it's cold oil, is why it absolutely does not do it when it's first started. If it was the cold engine/oil not reaching things, I'd expect it to be worse when I first startup, not when it's fully warm.

 

It also has to do with the viscosityof the oil. Are you running synthetic or dino? Also, what grade? My valves make noise too becasue of the oil im running right now

 

To be honest, not entirely sure, whatever the dealer put in it when I bought it 3 weeks ago. I'm assuming 5w-20? I think that's the recommended oil for it off the top of my head...?

 

It's ok to run 10w-30 also, if you live somewhere where its cold all the time, but 5w-30 is probably going to get you better gas mileage, not really alot, but maybe 2 more mpg, not for sure.

Anyway, mine knocks a little too here lately, I always let my civic warm up about 60 seconds or so, then i barely tap the gas, just to get the rpm up around 2k or so, then let it fall back down, it throws some oil around in there and usualy it goes away a few minutes later.

I think everyone has that.

 

A common misconception is that the "W" stands for weight.


WINTER

 

could be your tapits also had a ford escort that made that sound thats all it was

 

Took it back to the dealer and he had a listen to it idling, and made an appointment for me on Monday morning to have it looked at. We'll see what they say. Hopefully it'll be under warranty... I'll keep everyone in the loop.