Lately, I've noticed a ticking sound after I start up in the morning. It typically abates completely after a block or two.

I thought it could be an injector, but that wouldn't go away.............correct???

Therefore, I've concluded that it's a lifter which is oil deprived until it receives lubrication from the crankcase. Does that make sense?

I just had the oil and filter changed; the ticking persists.

Is this an unusual event? Should I be concerned?

Thanks in advance.

Don

 

They all seem to do this somewhat Don....My roadster is more noticeable than the coupe...

 

My "new" coupe sounds like a diesel compared to my other two Xfs.
Maybe the 166K+ miles has something to do with it???

Still runs like the dickens though!

 

Mine ticks at first too. Been doing that for almost 7 years.

Fact is our engines are noisy.... Because they are a Mercedes. If you want quiet and smooth get a Lexus. If you want noisy and clunky but last a million miles then get a Mercedes. Not trying to be rude... Just want you to know with confidence everything is ok. Some here had this problem to the extreme and had it fixed. But I don't think you have a problem.

 

Years ago I had a Mercedes 190 that did the same thing. Seems to be common on their engines.

 

People on MBWorld say that the type of oil filter (paper v. fleece) makes a difference, especially on V8s with similar designs - did you get the oil filter replaced with a fleece one? If not, it's something to try for less than $15. Although I'm not positive it'll help your noise it's always good to have a non-paper filter. They're better because they can't tear and are extremely unlikely to collapse under pressure.

I wouldn't worry too much about it though, really. These engines aren't nearly as quiet as what a lot of people are used to. I swear my '97 4runner has a quieter valvetrain even with with 250,000 miles on it, even though I always use the recommended 0W40 oil and a fleece filter on the Crossfire (and the Crossfire has less than a quarter the mileage).

 

Is it possible that you cleaned the wax out of your ears lately?

No matter, as you and the car age you will notice less noise, the car will not be quieter though, you'll just be deafer.

 

I read once that the injectors will tick at low engine speed under some conditions due to them having to close under a greater pressure because at low speed they are not open as long. At faster speeds the tick would go away. A lifter ticking would just get to be faster ticking at higher speeds. Again, I'm not a mechanic that's just what I read somewhere. After my 5000 mile trip this summer to Calif. by way of CAA my car ticked alot at low speeds and idle but went away if it was reved up. It did that for a couple of weeks and now it doesn't do it so much.