Please listen to the ticking and fluttering sounds in this video:

Is this bearing failure? Lifter tick? Rod knock? Failing tensioner? Too thin oil?

Not sure if the Jag x308 4.0 naturally-aspirated (non s/c) engines have lifters, but to me this sounds just like a lifter-tick except that the ticking noise seems to be coming from the bottom of the engine block. The volume increases slightly when shifted into drive (adding transmission-load.)

There is also a fluttering-sound from the manifold-area that is only audible with the hood open. The tick is not very loud either, can only hear it in the vehicle with windows-open and in an enclosed space like a garage.

Been using 5w30 synth-blend oil for last few years; it is a 2002 with 140k miles.

 

Not sure what the sound is, but mine makes a very similar sound. I have just been blaming the ticking on fuel injectors.

 

Normally I would go to the EGR flex pipe being cracked but, (I don't think it has an EGR seeing it's an N/A engine). Sounds just like a normal injector tick.

Btw, nice 3G Eclipse.
I have an 02' RS with a small 16G turbo on it.

 

Sounds a bit like a slight exhaust blow. Manifold gasket, or seal in the exhaust downstream (exhaust to manifold joint?)

You can test with a strip of tissue paper and some pliers to hold it. The tissue will flutter when it is close to the leak.

 

What constitutes a "normal injector tick"? Does that mean it's benign? How would I confirm that?

Fyi, the noises don't bother me at all, it's the fear that they are preceding some kind of engine failure that has me concerned.

And the Eclipse belongs to my neighbor - and no offense to owners, but I find the design of that car offensively-ugly, lol. There is a fantastic matte-white Benz coupe, maybe AMG or S-class, that usually occupies the spot a few cars over and that's really a marvelous looking vehicle.

 

Where would I be checking for the air leak, where the manifold mates to the block? To check for exhaust leak I'd need to put the car on a lift, or can it be done from the top of the engine bay?

 

My XJR makes a very similar sound, among others. The same flutter with the same speed tick at idle. Though on mine, the flutter is much quieter, and the tick is about as noticeable. Not sure if it's bad though, I figured it was just the cheap 5w-30 I put in for the time being while I'm fixing up other things.

 

That is the sound of the injectors working properly.

 

The flutter or the tick? The tick is definitely not with the spec of proper operation.

Bought a bottle of snake oil (injector cleaner fuel additive), let's see if it works...

 

The tick tick tick sounds just like all the Jag injectors opening and closing I've ever heard. (I've had 6 jags) There must be other sounds you are referring to.

Shell Rotella T6 synthetic oil (from walmart) is usually the best for quieting everything else that an oil can quiet. Worth a try.

I did not hear the fluttering sounds.

 

+1 Ticking sounds like injectors, normal.

Flutter: very hard to hear; likely exhaust leak, but maybe a loose plug. Can you hear it with a mechanic's stethoscope?