It is cold in Atlanta. Nothing like many other places, but it was around 21F this morning. Might have something to do with the sound.

Drove about five miles up the expressway. When I got off I heard sounds that could be best described as loud ticking. Like a lifter with no oil (does this car even have lifters?). Faster when RPMs increase. I could actually hear it better from the drivers seat. Less so when I popped the hood and listened with my ear to the motor. Strange.

Then the sound went away. Then it came back. Then....

I checked the oil. Proper level.

Any ideas? Cold related?

Thank you.

Jack

 

Model year is needed. Could be tensioners depending on year and if not done before but need the year before we can really make any suggestions.

 

Could also be VVT Actuators (XK8 only, not XKR). Here again we need to the Year and Model (XK8 or XKR) to be able to help.

It is easy to put this Info into your Signature or Avatar.

 

It is a 2006 XK8, Victory Edition

I'll fix my signature etc.

Thanks

Ideas?

BTW, when I drove it this afternoon (warmed up to 35 F in Atlanta), the sound was not there. I checked the battery this morning - 12.87 volts.

 

This will be difficult without an audio clip. It could be many things. The VVT actuators can make some noise like this, although there aren't that many complaints on the forum about it. I have heard it on my car once or twice only when I have started the car the then shut off immediately and restarted 15 minutes or so later. The sound is just like noisy lifters. But it went away after 10 seconds or so. I would not expect to hear the noise after running for a bit, only at first start, but others with more knowledge than I may have other thoughts. Question, was the noise heard with it in gear, or in park or no difference? When was the last oil change, what weight oil do did you use, and what brand oil filter? Some oil filters don't have an anti-drain back valve resulting in this kind of noise, however, again I believe this manifests as noise just upon startup.

 

Steve,

The noise is heard in park or in gear. In park it changes when I rev the motor.

Last oil change was at the dealer when they did the 60,000 mile service. About 2,000 miles ago. I checked the oil level. It is fine. They used Castrol 5w-30 conventional oil.

When I drove the car yesterday afternoon the loud ticking was gone. The temperature here was higher than the morning 21 F. It was about 50F.

I frequently hear a very vague ticking from the motor normally. But this was much louder. Weird thing was I could hear it better from the drivers seat than when the hood was open an my ear was near the motor. Weird.

Jack

 

the things i thought of have already been mentioned. the only other thing that it maybe that you have a sticking valve/s just a thought