Hi All,
I've had this engine noise now for quite a while, but I would like to know what it is. It sounds like a stick banging on a hollow wooden tube. I've tried to find it using my mechanics stethoscope, but no luck. It's not coming from the valve covers or water pump. Attached is an mp4 video with sound. I move the phone from the back of the engine on the drivers side to the front, around the front to the back of the passenger's side. It seems to get louder near the back of the passenger's side of the engine, but I'm not sure if that isn't me just moving the phone closer. It seems to go away at high rpm.
Thanks in advance, sincerely
-Jerry
2005 6 spd manual NA roadster limited

PS. to play the avi file I attached, I had to install a codex from the windows store into my media player, windows 10.

 

I get a similar sound, most often after a hard run, and like you most pronounced near the rear passenger side. I assume it is the valve lash adjuster that sits between the valve stem and the rocker arm. It is not all that abnormal, but should be corrected if it is really bad. My car has 158,xxx miles.

 

Hi Zip,
Thanks for the reply. My car has about 70,000 miles on it, but I do drive it hard sometimes. Tomorrow I'll be more thorough with the stethoscope, especially around the passenger side now that I have a hint that it probably is in the valve train.
-Jerry