Lifter tick after autocross

[Mr Paul]

Hi guys, yesterday I did my second autocross in my ZHP. After run number 1 I brought the car back to the grid, let it idle for ~30 seconds and shut it down. When I restarted it ~10 minutes later I had some lifter tick that went away after 20 seconds of idling. After run # 2 & 3 I let it idle for 30 seconds in the grid and when I restarted the tick was even louder. After run #4 I could easily hear the tick after I finished the 4th run, and my 30 seconds of idling didn't make it go away.

After I completed my work assignment I fired it up and it ticked for a couple of seconds and then went away and hasn't come back since.

Couple of things to note:

I did an autocross 2 weeks ago and I got zero lifter tick. The course was wet and slick so g-forces through the corners were much less.

The oil level is right where it should be on the dipstick and has less than 1000 miles on it. I am using the BMW oil and BMW filter I bought through Tischer.

My car is an '03 sedan with 85,000 miles.

Opinions on how to solve the tick? It is definitely disconcerting hearing that noise coming from the motor.

Paul

[zj96sc]

Interesting. What weight oil? You say BMW so I'm assuming 5W-30?

Times like this make me wish we had an oil pressure gauge. What kind of RPM did you see in the autox? Are you sure it was lifter tick and not rod knock? How long have you owned your car?

[az3579]

Hi guys, yesterday I did my second autocross in my ZHP. After run number 1 I brought the car back to the grid, let it idle for ~30 seconds and shut it down. When I restarted it ~10 minutes later I had some lifter tick that went away after 20 seconds of idling. After run # 2 & 3 I let it idle for 30 seconds in the grid and when I restarted the tick was even louder. After run #4 I could easily hear the tick after I finished the 4th run, and my 30 seconds of idling didn't make it go away.

After I completed my work assignment I fired it up and it ticked for a couple of seconds and then went away and hasn't come back since.

Couple of things to note:

I did an autocross 2 weeks ago and I got zero lifter tick. The course was wet and slick so g-forces through the corners were much less.

The oil level is right where it should be on the dipstick and has less than 1000 miles on it. I am using the BMW oil and BMW filter I bought through Tischer.

My car is an '03 sedan with 85,000 miles.

Opinions on how to solve the tick? It is definitely disconcerting hearing that noise coming from the motor.

Paul

Lifter tick is normal. Some autocrossers like to put in extra oil to mitigate it, but it's going to happen.

When it ticks, run the rpms up to get some oil circulating.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[Mr Paul]

Interesting. What weight oil? You say BMW so I'm assuming 5W-30?

Times like this make me wish we had an oil pressure gauge. What kind of RPM did you see in the autox? Are you sure it was lifter tick and not rod knock? How long have you owned your car?

Yep, 5W-30.

I wish for not only an oil pressure gauge but an oil temp gauge too. RPM never really got above 5500 I would think. I only looked at the tach once and that's about where it was at, it was on one of the faster sections of the course too. It definitely sounded like lifter tick to me. I've had the car for 6 months, this is the first time I've ever heard anything out of the ordinary with it, and I am always listening for weird sounds that might indicate a problem

[az3579]

This is caused by the oil sloshing around in the oil pan. When you're cornering hard, the oil goes to one side of the pan, and as a result, certain parts get a little starved for oil. I heard an oil pan baffle would help with this, but I've also heard that the tick still exists for some people even with it installed.

I just chalk it up to it being a BMW, and I've accepted the fact that my car, like any other BMW I've seen at an auto-x, will do it.

[Ryans323i]

Lifter tick is normal. Some autocrossers like to put in extra oil to mitigate it, but it's going to happen.

When it ticks, run the rpms up to get some oil circulating.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

BP is correct here.

I experienced a tick the few times I autox'd. I also get it after very spirited drives. Did some research and it's normal. A little oil (about 1/8-1/4 of a quart) takes care of it for me.

[Mike V]

Every E36 M3 I've autocrossed has done this after each run, starting at run #2. I only autocrossed my zhp once and it didn't have any lifter tick, probably because I couldn't get any grip with the stupid open diff.

[Gheybe]

I got this pretty loud the night before last. Then last night my car died on the way to a shoot. My alternator is out, but now I know why the lifter was ticking.

Thanks.

[Mike V]

I got this pretty loud the night before last. Then last night my car died on the way to a shoot. My alternator is out, but now I know why the lifter was ticking.

Thanks.

I've been so busy with work and school lately that I have been an irresponsible car owner. I pulled up to the gate on base and realized my engine was ticking. Of course I immediately think it's a vanos issue. I checked the oil before going on a road trip this past Saturday and it was barely showing on the dipstick! Yikes, I bet that's why it was ticking. I felt so bad. I wish these cars had a level sensor like the E30s do for when slackers like me get complacent.

[telijah]

I've been so busy with work and school lately that I have been an irresponsible car owner. I pulled up to the gate on base and realized my engine was ticking. Of course I immediately think it's a vanos issue. I checked the oil before going on a road trip this past Saturday and it was barely showing on the dipstick! Yikes, I bet that's why it was ticking. I felt so bad. I wish these cars had a level sensor like the E30s do for when slackers like me get complacent.

Shouldn't your oil light have come on? I know if I am even a quart low it comes on...