How can I tell the difference between a ticking exhaust leak and a ticking valve/lifter/rocker? What kind of things could make a valve/lifter/rocker start ticking. I don't think my cat delete would have been enough to burn a valve.

 

help please

 

C'mon guys, I'm losing faith here!

 

try using a piece of garden hose and put one end to your ear and one end on the valve cover. that should tell you if its coming from a rocker or lifter.

 

Rubber hose or a long screwdriver, one end on the valve cover, other end on your ear. Be carefull not to damage anything. Also be cautious when leaning over an engine. Anything loose can get hung on the serpentine belt. An exhaust leak is common from the AIR tubes on the exhaust manifold. Whenever they are removed, the gasket must be replaced. It's also common when the cats are messed with. An exhaust tick will increase in volume and frequency with an increase in RPM and engine load, at least mine did.

 

If the tick is rusty and has a whitish spot it is the deer aka lone star tick. If its brownish it is a dog aka brown tick.

Sorry couldn't resist.

 

Kick me while I'm down

 

If it is a bad lifter, what are the effects of leaving it in? Poor performance? Is it progressive? What is the worst thing that could happen?

 

A cat delete shouldn't burn a valve. Running very lean or running no manifold just open exhaust ports will. So will running too much boost or too much N2O, but that is a lean condition also.

You can use a stethescope or like everyone else said a pice of hose.

If it is the valve train, worst case scenario you engine dies. I had a friend that lost an engine because of a valve trian problem. Are you sure the noise isn't the notorious piston slap that some LS1's are plagued with?

If you're unsure, take it to a muffler shop. They'll usually put it up on the racks and check for a leak for free.

 

I checked with the hose, and its a damned injector!