loud ticking noise under a load

[duster97]

I am hearing a very noticeable ticking noise from the motor. It sounds like a bad valve lash, but it only occurs at low rpm and in gear under a load. I can hear it especially when driving by concrete road dividers and the sound is bouncing off of them. When in neutral the tick is non existent at any rpm. Any suggestions

[Notmikeb]

Is it detonation (ping)? Sounds almost like crackling? This can happen if timing is too far advanced.

[duster97]

It's advanced to 12* btdc. I'll set it to 10 and see if it still does it

[Petros]

valve lash noise goes with engine speed, and is usually more noticeable when cold, and at low speeds. but it is always in sync with engine speed. Ajust the vales when the engine is warm, that should take care of it.

detonation or ping only happens under hard acceleration or heavy loads, like going up a long steep road. You will get no ping under light loads or at idle. and it is not in sync with engine speed but sound more random. Using premimu fuel as a test to see if it goes away is a simple test, backing off the spark timing, and doing a seafoam carbon build up treatment in the combution chamber should take care of it.

does the tick go more with the engine speed, or with the vehicle speed? a worn CV axle can click, that will only happen when the car is moving, and it will tick faster with road speed, not engine speed. And it is more noticeable at slower speeds. this almost sounds like what you have going on. If it is the cv axle, just ignore it until it gets so bad (which can be more than a year away) it is annoying, than replace the axle.

[dlb]

sounds like predetonation. retard the timing until the pinging at low RPM and under load goes away. stock timing is 5* BTDC.