I really need some help diagnosing this ticking. It sounds like noisey valves, but its coming from the oil pan area. I know for sure its not and exhuast leak and I really dont think its a knock. When i first start the car after Its been sitting the noise is really bad for a second or two. It sounds like i just changed the oil in it and it is the first time its been started. It quiets down some after the pressure comes up. It makes the noise under throttle and off, but it seems to make it the worse when i down shift and the rpms are coming down. It also seems a little bit quieter when the motor is cold, except for at start up.

Ive had the car idling with the valve covers off and it really doesnt seem like its coming from the rockers. I was thinking maybe the lifters, but wouldnt that make the valves noisey. Ive been told by a friend that it for sure isnt a rod knock. He said it could possibly be a main bearing, Do those make noise? Any help or suggestions is appreciated.

 

Mine had a light tick, maybe more like a light tap. I thought it was a loose pulley, Nothing like a solid rod knock. But once I got the car up in air and listened ( used the old screwdriver to the ear and touch different parts of the engine ) is was clearly from the pan even though I still had good oil pressure I had spun main bearings.

Hopefully it not the same for you.

Drain the oil and cut the filter open. I had allot of babbit from the bearings in the bottom of my pan and in my filter.