When I start my car in the morning I get a light ticking sound for a few minutes, then it goes away, it only happens when the car is cold, is it just because the car is cold or could I have a problem brewing?

car idiot 101

 

What weight oil is in it?

 

Can it be heard only inside the car or outside as well?
I had a light clicking audible only inside the car after having sat for 8 hours or more. The courtesy lights would flicker the same frequency as the clicking.
It turned out to be the mechanical voltage regulator on the firewall. I replaced it with an electronic version (that looks identical to the old one) and both problems went away.

If it can be heard outside, then it may be an engine issue brewing...

 

Oil is 10w30 with 30/70 lucas ratio, Every morning when I start the car I can hear the ticking inside and outside the car, it totally sounds like its coming from the motor, it gets lighter and lighter and after a few minutes the car sounds normal. It slowly disapears after I start the car getting lighter and lighter and goes away. The car doesnt smoke at all or have any problem driving, I just wait intell the sound is gone put it in drive and go. It only nocks/ticks with the first start of the day or if I leave the car off for a few hours and start it again. If I turn it off for less then 30 or so minutes it doesnt make the sound when I start it.

Thanks

 

Sounds like oil is taking a while to get up to the lifters. Could be a blocked oil passage. Is it on one side of the engine or both? Does it sound like it is coming from the valve covers? If it is I would pull the valve covers off and take a look at how much gunk is built up. Run a quart of transmission fluid in the engine for about 100 miles and drain the oil. This should help clean out the gunk.

 

It could be an exhaust manifold or flange leak too. When they heat up a little the gap closes and it stops, sounds just like ticking.

 

When I get home I will start her up and do some further investigation, I do know that the drivers side exaust flange does leak,

 

Stuck my ear to the exaust flange and the sound gets louder, as the exaust gets warmer the sound goes away. That totally may be what the ticking sound is...