Why Do You Have an Engine Ticking Noise + How to Fix It?

Hearing a ticking noise from your engine while idling or accelerating?
Tracking down the source of this sound in the maze of engine parts and fixing it can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry, we’ve got you.

We’ll break down ten common culprits behind engine ticking sounds and what you can do to silence them for good.

This Article Contains:

10 Reasons Why You Hear an Engine Ticking Noise
How to Get Rid of an Engine Ticking Noise
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Ticking Engine?
When Is an Engine Ticking Considered Normal?

10 Reasons Why You Hear an Engine Ticking Noise

Engine ticking sounds can happen for several reasons, like low oil pressure, worn-out spark plugs, or exhaust leaks.

Here’s a closer look at those reasons:

1. Low Oil Pressure or Engine Oil Level

Not having enough engine oil or oil pressure to lubricate essential components, like the timing chain and valve train parts (located in the cylinder head), can cause a loud ticking noise.

Here’s how:
A low oil level can lead to inadequate lubrication and loss of power as it creates friction between metal components. The ticking noise might intensify when you start, idle, or accelerate your car.

Similarly, using the wrong engine oil or a bad oil pump can also cause a ticking sound.

2. Dirty Oil Filter

The engine oil filter traps dirt and debris, preventing them from circulating through the engine. But if the filter is worn or damaged, it can’t perform effectively, getting the oil dirty faster.

Contaminated oil reduces lubrication, making it harder for an engine component to move smoothly, often leading to ticking sounds.

3. Misaligned Valves

A ticking noise from the valve cover could be due to issues within the valve train, the system responsible for opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves.

How does it work?
The engine intake valve opens when the exhaust valve closes. That’s how the air gets in (through the intake valve), and the exhaust gases come out of the combustion chamber (via the exhaust valve).

When these valves are not aligned properly, they struggle to open and close smoothly, resulting in a clicking sound. Regular valve adjustment can help maintain the alignment and ensure a seamless engine operation.

4. Misadjusted Lifter

Your car’s engine uses multiple valve lifters to open and close the intake and exhaust valves. However, these valve lifters may wear out or become dirty over time. When that happens, the faulty lifter creates a metal-on-metal clicking noise, often known as a ‘lifter tick.’

Most modern engines have hydraulic valve lifters — small cylindrical components between the camshaft and pushrods (in pushrod engines). They rely on oil pressure to automatically adjust valve clearance, helping reduce friction and wear in the valve train.

Low oil pressure, bent pushrods, and debris inside the lifter can cause the engine to operate unevenly, resulting in a lifter tick or knocking sounds.

5. Faulty Spark Plugs

If you own a high-mileage vehicle, a faulty spark plug may be the culprit behind the annoying engine noise.

If a spark plug fails to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder properly, it leads to a misfire, sometimes causing the engine to produce a ticking sound. Additionally, loose or cracked spark plugs may create a sharp ticking noise due to escaping combustion gases.

6. Rod Knock

A connecting rod is attached to the crankshaft through a soft metal bearing, which transfers combustion energy from the cylinder pistons to the wheels.

Typically, the connection leaves a small gap, letting oil lubricate the contact point between the crankshaft and the rod bearing. But if you have bad bearings, the gap will be large enough to make the rod move around excessively, creating an unpleasant ticking or tapping noise.

You might hear the rod knock intensify when you decelerate. Sometimes, these noises are also accompanied by low oil levels.

7. Damaged Fuel Injector

Fuel injectors open and close rapidly to spray fuel. A worn or stuck injector can make a ticking noise, especially when it fails to open and close correctly.

If an injector isn’t delivering fuel evenly, it can cause the cylinder to misfire or run lean. This uneven combustion can lead to secondary engine noises that mimic ticking and tapping noises.

Additionally, a clogged or failing fuel pump can contribute to similar sounds, especially if it’s struggling to maintain consistent fuel pressure.

NOTE: It’s normal to hear a light ticking or clicking noise from the fuel injectors at idle. This sound comes from the injectors rapidly opening and closing as they deliver fuel to the engine.

8. Exhaust Leak

An exhaust leak, especially near the engine, can make a loud ticking noise when the exhaust pulsates. This ticking sound is often caused by broken exhaust manifold bolts, which let the exhaust gas escape around the manifold instead of flowing through the exhaust system.

Exhaust gas can also leak because of a faulty gasket, an exhaust manifold crack, a failed flange, or a damaged heat shield. If high-pressure exhaust gases leak from a manifold or a gasket crack, you’ll hear an engine tick or rattling noise at low engine RPM.

The easiest way to spot an exhaust leak is to look for black soot, which usually covers the area around the leak, such as the exhaust pipe.

9. Worn Fan Belt

A loose or worn fan belt (serpentine belt) can cause a ticking sound, especially when the engine’s running fast. This happens when the belt flaps against nearby parts like the alternator or water pump pulleys. If the belt is cracked or frayed, the noise gets louder.

Other parts in the belt system, like loose bolts, brackets, or worn pulley bearings, can also make ticking and clicking sounds as they move without proper lubrication.

10. Faulty Engine Fan

An engine fan (also called a radiator fan) can cause a ticking sound if it’s damaged, loose, or misaligned.

Mechanical fans may develop ticks when fan blades are cracked or rub against the shroud or radiator, especially as they spin faster with engine RPM. In electric fans, a failing motor or loose fan blades can create a repetitive ticking noise as the fan cycles on and off.

In both cases, the sound often varies with engine temperature or RPM, which can make it easy to mistake for internal engine ticking.

Now that we know what causes engine ticking noises, let’s explore what we can do about it.

How to Get Rid of an Engine Ticking Noise

Fixing the engine ticking sound depends on what causes it.

Here are some ways you can resolve the issue:

1. Change or Top Up Your Engine Oil

Ideally, you should check your engine oil levels once every few weeks or 1,000 miles. If the oil looks dirty, it’s time for an oil change. The mechanic will also replace the oil filter to prevent contaminants from circulating through the engine.

If you’re still experiencing ticking noises, poor lubrication, or oil pressure issues, it’s a good idea to check out your oil pump and replace it if necessary.

2. Use Oil Additives to Clean Oil and Engine Parts

Oil additives are chemical compounds that improve lubrication and extend the engine oil’s life. You can also use them to clean the car engine and parts like the lifter, rocker arm, and valves.

To find out which additive suits your vehicle, check your vehicle manual or seek help from an auto repair mechanic. Regularly using oil additives can boost your car’s performance.

3. Realign Lifters

There is only one way to eliminate the lifter noise — ensure the hydraulic lifter is neither tight nor loose.

However, if a lifter is worn out or damaged, realignment won’t help; you’ll need to replace it. Realigning or replacing a faulty lifter yourself can be challenging, so it’s best to leave it to an auto professional.

4. Replace Engine Pushrods

Bent or worn-out pushrods can affect critical parts like the valves, lifters, and other related engine components. A qualified mechanic will inspect the pushrods and replace any damaged or out-of-alignment ones to restore proper valve train operation.

5. Clean or Replace Fuel Injector

If the injector is just clogged, a professional cleaning can restore proper spray patterns and function. If cleaning doesn’t help or the injector is damaged, the mechanic will replace it with a new one.

They might also inspect the fuel filter, fuel pump, and injector wiring, since these can contribute to injector problems.

6. Change Damaged Spark Plugs

A qualified mechanic will remove the faulty plug and install a new one. They’ll also inspect the ignition coil and plug wires to ensure everything’s firing properly.

7. Fix the Exhaust Leak

The mechanic will inspect for cracked manifolds, blown gaskets, loose bolts, or carbon buildup near the exhaust ports. Depending on the issue, they’ll tighten, reseal, or replace the damaged parts to stop the leak and restore proper exhaust flow.

8. Inspect the Connecting Rod Bearings

The mechanic will fix the rod knock by replacing the worn rod bearings. In more severe cases, they may need to rebuild or replace the entire engine.

9. Replace Worn Fan Belt

If your fan belt is worn, the mechanic will replace it immediately to avoid failure of key engine components like the alternator, water pump, or power steering pump.

They’ll also inspect as well as fix the belt tensioner and pulleys. Worn or noisy bearings in these parts can cause ticking sounds and premature wear on the new belt.

10. Fix the Engine Fan

If the heat shields, dust guards, metal lines, and brackets are loose, the mechanic will tighten them, reposition any bent parts, or re-secure them using new clips or bolts.

Similarly, if the mechanic notices contact marks under the hood, they’ll try to adjust the hood bump stops or realign the panel before considering a replacement.

However, if the blades are cracked, the motor is worn out, or there’s visible wobbling, replacement is necessary.

Wondering how much these fixes are going to cost you?
Let’s find out.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Ticking Engine?

The repair costs of a ticking engine usually depend on the vehicle, locality, diagnosis, and labor charges.

That said, here are some common repair cost estimates to quiet that ticking sound:

Spark plug replacement: $50 to $750
Engine fan (radiator fan) replacement: $50 to $500
Oil change: $75 to $200
Oil filter replacement: $75 to $200
Fan belt replacement: $110 to $230
Valve cover gasket replacement: $110 to $340
Heat shield replacement: $150 to $300
Pushrods replacement: $200 to $600
Fuel injector replacement: $335 to $2,000
Lifter replacement: $1,000 and $2,500
Fuel pump replacement: $1,100 to $1,300

However, before you panic — not every ticking sound means something’s broken. Sometimes, it’s just normal engine chatter.

When Is an Engine Ticking Considered Normal?

Here are some parts that produce a normal ticking noise:

Purge valve: An engine’s purge valve can produce a ticking noise when it releases fuel vapors into the engine’s intake system to burn them.

Cold starting engine: A cold engine may produce ticking sounds due to temporary gaps in the valves or cylinder walls. This usually fades as the engine warms up and parts expand.

NOTE: Sometimes, you might also experience a rattling noise, also known as a ‘piston slap,’ when you cold-start your car. Usually, the sound disappears when the engine warms up as you drive.

Eliminate Engine Ticking Noise with AutoNation Mobile Service

Engine ticking noises can occur for many reasons, like low engine oil levels, bad hydraulic lifters, or exhaust manifold leaks. However, it can be difficult to spot and fix these issues on your own.

That’s why you need the help of a mobile auto repair service like AutoNation Mobile Service. We offer upfront pricing, convenient online booking, and a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty on all repairs.

And the best part?
We come to you!