Williamsburg Auto Repair

A ticking noise that speeds up as engine RPM rises usually means the sound is tied to something moving with the engine. At idle, the tick may be slow and easy to count. Press the accelerator, and it becomes faster because the part making the noise is moving more often. Some ticking noises are harmless, while others point to wear, low oil pressure, an exhaust leak, or a valvetrain problem. The key is figuring out where the sound comes from, when it is loudest, and whether it changes as the engine warms up. Low Engine Oil Can Make the Valvetrain Noisy Engine oil must reach the camshafts, lifters, followers, rocker arms, and other moving parts at the top of the engine. If the oil level is low, those components may not receive the lubrication and hydraulic pressure they need. That can create a light metallic ticking that increases directly with RPM. At our shop, checking the oil level is one of the first steps because it is simple and important. If the oil is low, we a ... read more