Tapping?!

[ddt4436]

I have a 1990 mustang gt with intake, pullies, headers. When I rev the engine or driving there is a faint tapping coming from under the vavle covers Im not sure which one? The tapping will disappear when I rev the car up but comes back at low rpms or on start up. The car runs srtong and don't smoke. Is this a bad lifter?

 

[stangbang302]

mine used to do that but that was because timing was advanced to much, what octane gas do you use? its always best to use highest octane if your timing is 10 and above.

 

[tannerc91gt]

Also consider an exhaust leak. Check your exhaust man. Gaskets

 

[ddt4436]

The timing is good but it's more like a mechanical tapping even at idle sometimes. I think I have a lifter not oiling up?

 

[jka]

I think you have an exhaust leak at one of your headers. I use to have the same tapping noise and i just knew it was coming from the valve covers but i when i check my header bolts they were very loose and one of my gaskets was burned out. So check that out first.

 

[ddt4436]

Yeah I know about the infamous header exhaust leaks.lol But I asure you that it sounds like a lifter or loose rocker arm. Has anyone had issues with a lifter that isn't oiling?

 

[FoxGT87]

i had a sound just recently, sounded like a tapping when the car was accelerating, got worse, got worse. found out it was a burned out gasket on my passenger side header.

 

[tannerc91gt]

i had a sound just recently, sounded like a tapping when the car was accelerating, got worse, got worse. found out it was a burned out gasket on my passenger side header.

I think you have an exhaust leak at one of your headers. I use to have the same tapping noise and i just knew it was coming from the valve covers but i when i check my header bolts they were very loose and one of my gaskets was burned out. So check that out first.

Also consider an exhaust leak. Check your exhaust man. Gaskets

for $13 in gaskets, you could find out if its a gasket leak....

 

[bentley429isBAC]

Sounds like a lifter or rocker's. Stock rockers or rollers?

 

[mystic 96]

try the old fashion way...get a long screw driver and put it to each cover and listen for the noise....hopefully its on the right side...if so then take off the cover and rotate the motor to get the valves closed on each clyinder on check for play.......you never know,,,could b just a bad rocker ..bent pushrod,,or maybe just loose nut...

 

[ddt4436]

Yeah I definitely will do that today. Yeah I agree I believe it's a rocker or lifter but I will most likely replace them all. The rockers are stock.

 

[5.0W/5.0]

Yeah I definitely will do that today. Yeah I agree I believe it's a rocker or lifter but I will most likely replace them all. The rockers are stock.

Like said before, start with the gaskets, then move on to the valvetrain. Most likely, it will be the cheapest part that fails first.

 

[ddt4436]

Thanks guys. The gaskets are new and all the bolts are tight. Replaced the lifters and problem is fixed. A bad lifter was the villian. The tinging is gone! )