Engine ticking noise

Jessegroves · Postby **Jessegroves** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 1:03 pm

So the other day I started the MX-5 up only to hear a prominent ticking noise coming from the engine.

I then popped the hood and it proceeded and then stopped after a few seconds. I only captured about the last 2 seconds of the ticking noise before it stopped, is this anything to worry about?

https://vimeo.com/140260167

Cheers, Jesse

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

zossy1 · Postby **zossy1** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 1:16 pm

Hydraulic lifters. Do a search for more info - very common issue.

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 2:00 pm

When was the last oil change?

Mine used to tick when it was due.

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 2:23 pm

what Craig said....especially for the early NA6's

aladdin96 · Postby **aladdin96** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 2:48 pm

Yeh change the oil. When i first bought my na6 it had a ticking noise. Change the oil. I put 15-40. It worked for me in eliminating the tick.

Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:38 pm

Its not just for MX5s but a whole range of cars that have this problem especially as they age. On many old cars where you had manual adjustment you pulled the rocker cover off and adjusted the tappets i.e. resetting the clearance. There are lots of threads on this topic and all sorts of fixes which do not necessarily work. I might be inclined to leave it alone if it disappears soon after start up but others may want to go further.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:55 pm

I used Nulon Oil Flush with each oil change on my NA6. Any similar product would do. Helped clean the gunk out and stop the ticking for longer than just an oil change.

speed · Postby **speed** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:41 pm

Can happen with low oil too.
If it ticks after the oil change, then yes, add in some nulon worn engine treatment ;)

Should add that if only present on start up I wouldn't worry

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 7:41 pm

Yeah I wrote that wrong, I meant that I used oil flush before each oil change.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 11:41 am

There's also Nulon Lifter Free which a number on here have had good results with.

Wivvix · Postby **Wivvix** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 2:28 am

This is a very common issue with NA lifters and is related to oil weight (viscosity).

When the lifters get noisy, it means the oil weight is incorrect or you are low on oil.
I find best results with 10w30 and subsequently have not had cause to try engine additives.