Slight ticking noise...

[Xenon]

Well I wanted to get all the salt off of my car, so at about 10:30 tonight, i went to the touchless/railless car wash at Sunoco.

When I came out of the wash to dry off the car, i hear a slight ticking noise from my engine. Now it was by no means loud. Anyone who wasn\'t looking for it would have probably overlooked it.

I figured something may be wet inside or something like that, so I drove home. Car drove perfectly normal.

When I got home, i tried to listen for the ticking noise before turning it off in the garage, and the ticking was gone.

Heres some of the conditions that was wiorth considering:

Ticking Noise:
Engine was WARM (needle was in the centre between H and C)
Car had only been on for 1 minute
Car was in park, idling
Air vents were set to the white | between face/floor and floor
A/C was off, heat dial to max heat. Fan speed was 1.

No Ticking noise (at home, in garage):
Engine was WARM (needle was in the centre between H and C)
Car had had some highway driving, about 4 kms
Car was in park, idling
Air vents were set to the white | between face/floor and floor
A/C was off, heat dial to max heat. Fan speed was 1.

I think it might be normal? maybe because the car was only on for a minute? that was the ticking noise? I donno, just looking for opinions.

[Zaku_4]

haha,
i dont think its anythign to worry about. then again, what do i know?

[Fuman]

as simple as water dripping??

if you can duplicate it go to the dealership

[Eric]

Are you using synthetic oil? I have heard it said that the slipperier synthetic drains from the upper galleries in the engine in a way that non-synthetic does not. This can cause valve noise when the engine first starts up, because the valve mechanisn is not properly lubricated. Once the engine is warm and the oil distributed the noise goes away.

I read this on some forum somewhere, I do not remember where. It is therefore just hearsay. I seem to recall that part of the post also said that this was a known issue with many Mazda engines, and that it was part of the reason that Mazda does not recommend synthetic oil.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

it\'s called warm water hitting cold metal (on the outside) that is also being heated on the inside (i.e. your exhaust) expanding and contracting due to the temp cycles brought on by the evapourating water.

there is NO oil issue here.

the same thing happens on a cool day/night when you shut down the car after driving it a good while. you\'ll hear the exhaust and other metals ticking because they\'re cooling down.

once again, there is NO oil issue here.

[majic]

Originally posted by MajesticBlueN


it\'s called warm water hitting cold metal (on the outside) that is also being heated on the inside (i.e. your exhaust) expanding and contracting due to the temp cycles brought on by the evapourating water.

there is NO oil issue here.

the same thing happens on a cool day/night when you shut down the car after driving it a good while. you\'ll hear the exhaust and other metals ticking because they\'re cooling down.

once again, there is NO oil issue here.

are you sure there\'s NO oil issue here? b/c i\'d be worried.. :sarc :p

Eric would you LAY OFF the oil issue? http://sawicki.netrulon.com/images/smileys/bash2.gif next time please
1) provide more background information and LINKS to where your info is coming
2) read up on synth oil and why it\'s BETTER (or NOT WORSE) than dino oil

[david3]

If you mean it sounded like a quiet diesel then yes I hear is sometimes and iirc so have others. :)

[Xenon]

I think it is just the water and hot metal ting happening...

and for the record, I\'m using the Genuine Mazda Motor Oil, provided by dealerships.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Originally posted by Xenon

and for the record, I\'m using the Genuine Mazda Motor Oil, provided by dealerships.

you mean Petro Canada Supreme (http://www.petrocanada.ca/eng/prodserv/lubesgreases/pdf/IM7872e0408.pdf) ;)

[AfterBurner]

Did you check for a bomb??:D

[PlatMS6]

Originally posted by AfterBurner


Did you check for a bomb??:D

buahahahhahah

[Cosmo77]

For the record...the 5w-20 Bulk oil for Mazda vehicle\'s does come from Petro Canada...but most dealerships have it shipped in 40 gal. drums and then pump it into measuring bottles for the techs. SO I wouldn\'t mis-trust this oil like other bulk oil set-ups (500 gal drums with god knows what in the bottom of them). You can also buy or request sealed 1L bottles of \'Mazda\' 5w-20.

As for the ticking noise....the exhaust shield around the exhaust man. sometimes makes a ticking noise when cooling down after driving. Also the injector\'s of the Mazda3\'s are rather audible...but nothing is wrong with them.

Ciao

[RDDR]

A \"slight ticking noise\" coming from the engine compartment, combined with a slight (or maybe larger) increase in engine coolant temperature might be related to Mazda Service Bulletin 01-003/05 (Drive Belt Tensioner Pulley Breakage/Charging Warning Light On/Overheating). This apparently only applies to VIN JM1BK**** 51 23167 and lower (produced before October 1, 2004). For your sake, if this persists, have the dealer check it out ASAP.