Forgive me if it's normal but I am currently looking to buy an XK and viewed an XKR 5.0 today which ticked all the boxes but the engine did seem to be a little 'ticky' for want of a better phrase.

To me, it sounded almost tappet like but I'm not sure if it's normal or not.

Car has a full main dealer service history and 95000 miles.

I've attached a sound file so you can hear it. This was taken with my phone very close to the engine and the noise seemed to be more towards the rear.

Does it sound normal or should I walk away?

 

audio recordings are notoriously difficult to diagnose with. everybody's phone makes everybody's car sound about the same.

might just be getting low on oil. the NA 5.0L sounds like a busy typewriter normally, and once the oil level is pushing the limits of proper operation it sounds like a slightly angrier busy typewriter. i'm pretty sure an idle SC engine is going to sound about the same as the NA because, despite all their differences, i would guess they probably meter fuel and air the exact same at idle.

 

HP fuel pumps, valves, purge valve, etc are all loud and make ticking noises. Pulleys and tensioners can get noisy with age, water pump can make noise, tensioners and SC coupler can also make noise.

If you’re referring to the higher pitched noise sounds like a pulley. The other noises I hear are all the normal ones I referenced above.

 

It's difficult to be precise but it sounds OK to me.

Richard

 

I’ll add that even factory techs Well say that the new five and 3 L engines are among the noisiest in the automotive industry.

 

Ok, thanks for the reassurance chaps.

Looks like I may revisit the car for a further look.

Exciting times!

 

I really think the answer is forty two though. You may want to rethink things.

 

Sounds normal to me...

 

Forty two or four point two ?

If forty two then I'll get Slartibartfast to ask the dolphins their opinion

 

I just bought an XKR, and also noticed a ticking noise when first examining the car. The dealership guy said it was the fuel injectors. Given this is a direct-injection engine, and based on the level of knowledge he otherwise displayed, I decided to trust him. At any rate, the ticking noise was quieter than the normal valvetrain noise in my old 5.7 Hemi.

 

Direct injection engines are indeed noisy.