Disco II engine ticking noise at startup

[jedi]

Hello all,

I hav a question I was hoping someone could help me with. The other day I started my 02 Disco (49K miles) and right at startup the engine had a ticking noise. It stopped after approximately 30-45 seconds. It ran fine and hasn't performed any differently but I was wondering what that could have been. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Disco Mike]

So would you say it was an exhaust leak or internal engine?
Just out of curiosity, what brand of oil filter are you using, some blled down after sitting overnight and cause the oil pump to do a dry start which can cause a ticking sound. How often do you change your oil?
Mike

[jedi]

I would say engine. I'm not sure about the oil filter, my wife's uncle is a very good mechanic and he does the oil changes for me..I do the changes every 3750 miles, I think the last was about 2500 miles ago and the Rover had been sitting for about 3 days.

[Disco Mike]

Need to find out what your uncle has been using for a filter and not use it again.
Would suggest either a K&N 3001 or a Mobil 1 oil filter to prevent this from happening again.
Mike

[OkieRover]

There was a thread a while back about this ticking on startup. I think everyone decided it was a "Disco thing" I know mine sounds like a diesel for about 15 to 45 seconds. When the engine is warm it doesn't do it.

I thought someone said to seafoam the engine and it helped.

[wimp]

Disco II is notorious for an exhaust leak a the downpipe/manifold joint. There are two such joints. they live on either side of your engine. If this is the problem, they are not quite tight enough which allows exhaust gasses to pass by the small gasket (on either or both sides). Once the truck warms up a bit, the joint expands and the leak stops.

Warning, tightening the nuts on the studs can be tricky. if you force it, you will break the studs, so be careful. Before you get it fixed, wait until the noise subsides to romp on the car. forcing gas through the leak could contribute to early gasket failure if the problem persists. they are not that hard to reach, but I would rather tighen a nut a half turn than try to replace!

diagnose like this...

1. open hood
2. locate the joint on either side
3. get in car and start engine
4. quickly get out and inspect those previously located joints
5. if convenient, stick your hand near it to feel for leak, or wiggle the pipe to see if movement makes a difference.

a tiny leak here sounds like the engine is clicking.


just a hunch

Good Luck,
Wimp

[DevilDisco]

What if it ticks all the time? I normally notice my tick when I back into my garage. I gues the sound bouces off the wall and make it more audible. It can be heard from outside more prominent on the drivers sided. It subsides if I wash the engine. Curious!!!

[Disco Mike]

If it is an internal noise, you may try to get rid of it with a good engine flush, see what happens after you get rid of some sludge and increase the oil flow. If it is still the then at some point you'll need to open her up and see how your rockers and lifters are doing.
Mike

[DevilDisco]

I don't think there is any sludge in there. I've been changing the oil ever 3k. I did a gentle engine cleaning using Auto-Rx when the vehicle had about 36k miles on it. I'm thinking of doing another just to be sure, or maybe have a local shop do a bg44 cleaning on it.
The valves do put up a fuss on cold starts, sounds like a diesel, but when warm is extremely quiet, a thicker oil might quiet it down. I'm thinking it may be the belts. It's still in good shape but after I washed the engine and the tick went away for about 2weeks.

[LRR219]

My guess is hydrolic lifters pumping up.. ticking till you get good pressure. Sound = Normal for a Disco or Land Rover pre BMW

[Disco Mike]

Originally Posted by DevilDisco

I don't think there is any sludge in there. I've been changing the oil ever 3k. I did a gentle engine cleaning using Auto-Rx when the vehicle had about 36k miles on it. I'm thinking of doing another just to be sure, or maybe have a local shop do a bg44 cleaning on it.
The valves do put up a fuss on cold starts, sounds like a diesel, but when warm is extremely quiet, a thicker oil might quiet it down. I'm thinking it may be the belts. It's still in good shape but after I washed the engine and the tick went away for about 2weeks.

Is your truck a D2, if so, the early D2's had an issue of carboning up the valve stems, from what I have heard they made a change on the valve guides to correct it. So when you say your valves raise a fuse, what exactly do you mean?
As for the 44K, why have a shop do it, buy 2 cans, one for the tank and the other to be used a=in an induction cleaning, you can do it in your drive way. I don't go along with the lifters bleeding down as a cause, cause they don't bleed down just sitting.
Let me know how it turns out.
Mike

[DevilDisco]

I have an '04 DII. I Seafoamed the engine earlier this year, and I'm using Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant. It's supposed to help keep the carbon under control. The Lifter fuss may be a bit exagerated. Yes it does happen on startup. I've been told it takes 30 min of drving for the oil to reach operating temperature. My morning commute does not always take 30min. The tap is normally gone about 10min into the commute. Does a thicker oil build pressure faster than a thinner oils say a 30weight vs. 40 weight? I see some using 50 weight. I don't think I need a 50weight, but just curious.

[Disco Mike]

Any internal noise is causing premature wear.
You said you SeaFoamed the engine earlier this year, did you add it to the gas tank, crank case or as an induction cleaning.
Are you still in warranty, I would address this with the dealer if you are, if not I would get a little more agressive and do a 6 quart ATF flush and see how much of a difference it makes. As it stands you are beating up either the lifters or rockers and any improvement by flushing the engine has to be worth while.
Mike

[DevilDisco]

I don't think it's anything in the engine. I think it's pretty clean. The oil on the dip stick is never black but an nice relatively light brown color. I use Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant in the right amount every tank. OCI's have been at 3K. I get the tap, at startup like everyone but these days it's a little less than before. I think the oil may be a little thicker. The tick is different for that tap. The tap goes away when the engine is warm the, tick, tick, tick does not seem to increase with engine noise but it becomes in audible if I am standing and rev the engine a little.
It is more prominent on the drivers side particularly from around the fender well area. I can't hear it from the passenger side. It's been like that for a while. Dealer said not to worry about it. I thought it might be the belt but I don't hear any ticking from the front fo the engine just the driver side.

[tee51397]

I had this very same problem on a Disco I with the 4.0... at ~80K miles I believe. As one poster said, it was the lifters. The dealer tried to pass it off as normal but eventually I got it fixed under the extended warranty. Good Luck with getting your disco healthy again.

-T-