Conference vmsnet::car$note:carbuffs

    87 Dodge Dakota Pickup V6 3.8 liter engine, 204,500 miles.
    
    Sunday afternoon my Dakota started to make a "ticking" noise variable 
    with engine rpm.  The engine temp was warm and I just happened
    to notice it as we were sitting in a traffic line.  The noise was not
    present Saturday or earlier in the day Sunday.
    
    At first I thought the engine oil may be low and since it was that time
    again for an oil change I changed the oil and filter when I got home. 
    There was a normal amount of oil drained out.  I also added a can of
    Marvel oil treatment (like STP) which comes out like a very heavy
    syrup.
    
    After the oil change I still had the noise.  I have not taken it on a
    drive yet.  I was also in a hurry to get to my sons baseball game so I
    did not have time for a real detailed external hunt for the noise.  I
    took a moment to see if I could feel an exhaust leak around the
    manifold but did not find one.  I am hoping I will find it to be an
    exhaust leak.  
    
    I was also hoping for suggestions on what else to look for that could
    be causing this "ticking" noise.
    
    Thanks, Mark
    
    
    

    
    
    spun bearing would be my guess. Especially since it follows engine RPM.
    Could be just a noisy lifter, too. Hope for the lifter.
    
    

    No, not a spun bearing.  It could be a collapsed lifter.  Or it could
    be the fan hitting something (shroud?).
    
    Pop the hood and stick yer head in there and see if you can tell where
    the sound is coming from.
    
    Another "ticking" noise would be an exhaust leak.  Check the exhaust
    manifolds.  Spray some soapy water where they meet the head and around
    the intake manifold and see if you get bubbles (not boiling).
    
    MadMike

    Thanks for the suggestions.  I will scope it out soon.  Tonite
    I had to work on the RamCharger starting problem.  See notes
    260.145 and .146.  Since this is the main family mobile I have to
    fix it first.
    
    Thanks, Mark

    
    
    	re: mike
    
    	why not a spun bearing? I had a spun bearing in my 1980 citation
    (2.8ltr V6) years ago, and it started off ticking just a little and
    grew more and more insistant as the days passed. 
    
    

    I don't like to panic.  Blame the easy stuff 1st and cross your
    fingers.

    
    
    	re -1
    
    	ah. I'll bet an engine rebuild would make the ticking go away,
    tho'. ;*)
    
    

I am not a mopar fan (sorry skip ;^) but on GM's the mechanical fuel pumps are
cam lobe driven and when they start to go it sounds like a lifter problem.


If it ticks during IDLE, then CAREFULLY use a piece of pipe as a stethascope and
listen around the motor until you find the source. If upper head area, then it's
lifters, (lower block = bearing/rod) etc.

Keep AWAY from the belts and fan blade or you will shoot the pipe from one ear
through to the other! Not pretty. I try to use a stiff piece of garden hose as
it will bounce if it touches something ;^) 

    
    
    	Or you can pick up a cheap $20 stethoscope and try that out. Great
    for listening to bearings.
    
    
    

    
        The worlds best cheap stethoscope is the kind you get at a drug
    store. But make a small modification. Epoxy a small section of 3/16"
    of brake line tube to the center of the diaphram pickup.
    Put the end of the pipe on the suspect part of the engine and you can
    hear every little detail going on inside. Its absolutly amazing what
    you can hear. And like the last note said...its cheap.
    
    -john