Help!Ticking engine bay! - BMW Forum

murray195 · 12-03-2007, 12:19 PM

Before you guys rag on me, I've searched the forums as well as google haha. I was a jap import guy not too long ago so this is... well... german to me I guess you'd say ha.

I have a 1989 525i and have noticed a ticking noise in the engine compartment. It doesnt really sound like something internal, more electrical. It sounds like the tick your battery post can make when you reconnect the positive but more constant and rapid.
I thought maybe it was the exaust manifold (maybe a crack or something) but it's pretty hard to tell. It actually would make sense if it was the timing but the car runs great and thats computer controlled anyways... anybody experienced this before? its not a very subtle noise when the hood is open.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Pswirley · 12-03-2007, 01:46 PM

Valve tick, fairly common in our cars. Try a 20/50 full synthetic. Others have said that if you add an extra quart of oil when you do this it helps or Risoline in with the oil also helps.

murray195 · 12-03-2007, 01:54 PM

Thank you for the advice, I'll give that a shot! Is this something I should be concerned about? Or is it just the car's personality haha

Pswirley · 12-03-2007, 01:58 PM

I just live with it.

murray195 · 12-03-2007, 02:03 PM

haha, fair enough. I did some research on that risoline and it sounds like a good fix... or band-aid anyways. Thanks again!

d3ity · 12-03-2007, 11:39 PM

The real problem is this. Your valve cover gasket is leaking. If you pull out one of the spark plugs, I'm betting you will see oil fouling on the plug and if the leak is considerable, the plug connector boots may be oil damaged or you may see oil sitting on the outside of the plug itself.

If you replace the valve cover gasket and change your spark plugs it will go away... make sure to use silicone on the gasket as well if you want the fix to last. I've replaced the gasket on my car twice in the past year... and i'm sure it will come back again eventually... But it's just a valve tap... if it's annoying enough... theres your fix.

murray195 · 12-04-2007, 12:44 AM

Thank you for the explanation and solution. I was pretty concerned at first that I may be getting into electrical, and as a previous honda/nissan/toyota guy it would be an experience and a half!

Thanks,

Kayle

AlpineSixAndSeven · 12-04-2007, 02:45 AM

lol toyota's electrical compared to bmw's is like a lamp compared to a super computer.....

d3ity · 12-04-2007, 07:21 AM

yeah the second something electrical starts fscking up on a bmw... it's time to get a diffrent bmw.

saltshaker185 · 12-04-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3ity

The real problem is this. Your valve cover gasket is leaking. If you pull out one of the spark plugs, I'm betting you will see oil fouling on the plug and if the leak is considerable, the plug connector boots may be oil damaged or you may see oil sitting on the outside of the plug itself.

If you replace the valve cover gasket and change your spark plugs it will go away... make sure to use silicone on the gasket as well if you want the fix to last. I've replaced the gasket on my car twice in the past year... and i'm sure it will come back again eventually... But it's just a valve tap... if it's annoying enough... theres your fix.

for some reason i dont think this is the problem to be honest with you... if youve changed the gasket 2wice in the last year then why do you believe it is?? sure the oil in the spark plug area is a leaky valve cover gasket but from what i know i think there is an oil valve in the head itself that fails over time and doesnt keep oil in the head as well as it did from the factory...

your best bet is exactly what pswirley said...

Pswirley · 12-04-2007, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltshaker185

for some reason i dont think this is the problem to be honest with you... if youve changed the gasket 2wice in the last year then why do you believe it is?? sure the oil in the spark plug area is a leaky valve cover gasket but from what i know i think there is an oil valve in the head itself that fails over time and doesnt keep oil in the head as well as it did from the factory...

your best bet is exactly what pswirley said...

Gave teh feedback, its supposed to be lawlz.

sp0rky · 12-08-2007, 12:39 AM

His car has the m20, not the m50, so a leaky valve cover gasket rarely fouls the plugs unless its real bad.

Also, I'm not sure if its a great idea to put synthetic oil in that car unless it has already been switched over. Leaks all over the place aren't so fun. And I wouldn't add an extra qt. over whats recommended. The car will just quickly burn it off. An oil additive such as lucas oil stabilizer MIGHT help a little bit.

The real problem is the ol' m20 engine just needs a little valve adjustment. Do one every oil change and you'll be good.

Pswirley · 12-08-2007, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sp0rky

His car has the m20, not the m50, so a leaky valve cover gasket rarely fouls the plugs unless its real bad.

Also, I'm not sure if its a great idea to put synthetic oil in that car unless it has already been switched over. Leaks all over the place aren't so fun. And I wouldn't add an extra qt. over whats recommended. The car will just quickly burn it off. An oil additive such as lucas oil stabilizer MIGHT help a little bit.

The real problem is the ol' m20 engine just needs a little valve adjustment. Do one every oil change and you'll be good.

Point taken..

I guess I wasnt paying attention to the 85 525i part.

saltshaker185 · 12-08-2007, 12:51 PM

heh woops???

ps. personally id rather go synthetic... i mean if theres a leak somewhere thats only being plugged by old oil the hell id rather it leak, me fix it and know my engine is solid rather then cover it up with more dino juice... :\ just my 2 cents....

sp0rky · 12-08-2007, 02:25 PM

lol usually its not just a leak somewhere, its multiple leaks.. everywhere.

I agree with you a bit, but I'm not sure if everybody has the $$ necessary to fix a whole bunch of large leaks at once.