Started up my Olds today, and about 5 minutes into the warm up, a loud "tapping" noise appeared. Not a deep knocking like a rod knock down low, but a tapping that sounds like whacking a small wrench on the valve cover repeatedly. What the heck. Its a 350, and it has 10k on a rebuild, but the rebuild was done back in 2000.
Anyone have any thoughts on what to check first?

 

valve train . look there first. I had a broken rocker arm that was pretty loud.

 

X2. How is your oil pressure, any sudden change?

 

Pull the valve covers & check the rocker arms. If nothing found I would suspect a lifter. let us know.

 

It could be anything to include, valve train, exhaust, engine accessories, water pump/ clutch fan, flexplate...

 

Ok wellll...... This morning I got out the stethoscope and tools to pull the valve covers (oil pressure is good, BTW), and fired up the engine.
To my surprise, the sound is gone. I let it warm up real long, and drove it around the neighborhood, but no noise! This figures.......
So, Im guessing something was stuck? I don't really feel like the problem is solved. I sort have that "ticking timebomb" feeling....
Should I still be worried Fellas? I did put the stethoscope to the valve covers anyway, and truthfully, there seems to be a little noise from ALL the rockers, but I don't know if this is a normal thing, or if I should be doing some sort of adjustment.
Again, and I thank you in advance, continued advise is much appreciated

 

Could very well be a stuck lifter or was a stuck lifter. If mine I would change the oil and filter and hope it never returns.

Had a 63 Old's that would stick a lifter every 3000 miles, change the oil and the noise would go away, did this till I sold the car.... Tedd

 

 

Ok Tedd, 1 oil change coming up! One is due anyway. Thanks

 

Yeah buddy. Classic symptom of a stuck lifter. Here one day, gone the next! I usually remedy that with an oil change with a little bit of Marvel Mystery oil!

 

Oh yes, Marvel Mystery Oil, every old timer I work for has a can of that stuff... must really work !

 

I would suggest adding a bottle of MMO now and drive it for 100 miles and then change the oil.

 

We had a 98 Chevy van that started ticking very loudly. I was putting a roof on my son's house 2 stories up and I could hear the van from a block away as my wife drove it in! Very loud. I had heard stories of lifters sticking and then going away but I didn't believe it. I started it later that day and the noise was gone- never to return. Traded it in 5 years and 80,000 miles later. So you may never hear it again- Good Luck!

 

Thanks for that story Roger. Makes me feel at ease. The advice to add somee Marvel Mystery Oil and drive 100 miles has been taken, and do a oil change next weekend or two I put about 20 miles on it today, & I didn't hear one thing, so I have a feeling my story is the same as yours! I'll keep you guys posted when I do the oil change in a few weeks..... thanks!