Engine Ticking noise at startup?

[jodebg]

I have recently noticed a ticking noise after start up.
Similar sound to a valve lifter.

Kubota b7800 30HP.

It does not happen at every startup and goes away very quickly.

Any ideas of suggestions?

 

[Walt 2002]

Why don't you post the engine make and model.

Walt Conner

 

[skyhook]

How many hours on it?
When was the last oil change done and what grade of oil are you using?

 

[jodebg]

525 hrs.

Lst oil chandge was late Fall of 2014 @ 495 hrs.

Redline brand full synthetic oil

10w 30 as called for in the manual

Also use Redline Diesel fuel additive

 

[GManBart]

Any chance you were using non-synthetic before the most recent oil change?

I once had something similar happen...nearly new machine running non-sythetic for the first oil change or two and then switched to full synthetic. After the change I would sometimes hear a light ticking (valve lifter) for a few seconds after start up. I think the synthetic was simply draining more fully, depending on the position the lifters were at when they stopped, and that would cause the ticking on startup. I kept running the same oil in it, and it never caused a bigger issue for the 14 years I had it.

If something similar is happening to yours, it could be the difference in temps now that it has warmed up, compared with when you did the oil change and thought the Winter and Spring....now that it's warmer, the oil will flow better, and drain better.

 

[jodebg]

Prior oil change was also Redline full synthetic. At that time I used 5w-40.

The latest oil change I used 10w-30 also full synthetic.

 

[s219]

Is it a factory oil filter? If not, does it have an anti-drain back valve? That is usually a flap of silicone rubber that acts as a check valve to prevent oil from draining back into the pan when engine is off. Cheaper filters use materials that don't seal as well.

Symptom of a missing or bad anti-drain back valve is a ticking or bearing rap that goes away a few seconds after an engine starts. That means something is running dry without oil briefly. No bueno!

If that's not it, I wonder if maybe you should just go back to the heavier 40 oil.

 

[jodebg]

Kubota oil filter!

 

[davesl708]

Any signs of sludge in the oil when you change it? It could be a oil port is partially plugged and delaying the oil reaching the lifter.
Not enough hours on it to build up to much sludge but could have been contaminated by another source.

 

[GManBart]

Prior oil change was also Redline full synthetic. At that time I used 5w-40.

The latest oil change I used 10w-30 also full synthetic.

Since the new 30 weight is lighter than the 40 it replaced, it could be draining more completely out of the lifters. I would expect to see a difference between when the engine has sat overnight, versus shut down for only a short period of time. If that's what's going on, you'd expect the ticking to only be when the engine has sat for a long time.

A bad filter anti-drain back valve would be more likely to cause valve lifter noise that last longer, and likely be accompanied by a bearing rap. Also, it depends on where the filter is located...if it's low enough in the system the oil won't drain into the pan.

 

[jodebg]

No sludge.

And yes, it's after sitting for a while. Not on a restart, etc..

Any signs of sludge in the oil when you change it? It could be a oil port is partially plugged and delaying the oil reaching the lifter.
Not enough hours on it to build up to much sludge but could have been contaminated by another source.

 

[namesray]

Don't mean to jump in here, but what about cracked manifold on exhaust. My truck would have a light "ticking" sound at startup but would go away soon after running. Turned out that once the manifold heated up (and it didn't take much) the ticking would stop. The heat expansion of the metal would seal the small crack and thus silence the ticking noise.

At the time I thought it was an engine knock. This was on a new engine I put in truck with new manifolds. Took garage 2 visits to find the crack and fix it.

Just relating my experience.

 

[skyhook]

Maybe its time for a heavier weight oil like 15/40, thats what i put in all my diesels.

 

[jodebg]

Any disadvantages to using the heavier weight oil?

What brand have you had luck with and do you use an oil made for diesel engines?

Still new to tractors, and wondered if there is an advantage to running an oil that says
it is made for diesel engines?

 

[Mysfyt]

Could be a piston skirt slapping until it gets a little heat in it. Very common on GM engines and really no big deal.

 

[skyhook]

Any disadvantages to using the heavier weight oil?

What brand have you had luck with and do you use an oil made for diesel engines?

Still new to tractors, and wondered if there is an advantage to running an oil that says
it is made for diesel engines?

I use Castrol, and yes its specifically for diesels, but any brand should do, as long as it says for diesels.

 

[GManBart]

Any disadvantages to using the heavier weight oil?

What brand have you had luck with and do you use an oil made for diesel engines?

Still new to tractors, and wondered if there is an advantage to running an oil that says
it is made for diesel engines?

The only real disadvantage to using a heavier oil comes with cold temperatures at startup. Other than that, a heavier oil is generally "better" at protecting the engine parts.

Yes, you should use an oil that is specifically made for diesel engines. The Redline oil you used is good oil, but intended for gasoline engines. Gasoline and diesel engines have different contaminants that are byproducts of combustion, so the oils have different additives to handle them. For example, diesel engines generate soot that the oils have additives to keep in suspension so it doesn't plug up passages...which is why diesel oil turns black after a short while, but is still doing it's job. Gasoline engine oil that's black would be a sign the user hadn't changed it in ages.

 

[jodebg]

Thanks to all for the helpful replies.