Tapping chirping noise under load

[adamstennett]

They said they pulled the four plugs on the passenger side since the noise seemed to be coming from that side. I wasn't there when they did the compression test but I wouldn't expect 120 in each cylinder on that side if it was a head gasket. (although I was surprised by 120 in each cylinder to begin with)

[Shade Tree]

Does it make the sound when you first start it? (Dead cold engine) Or only after it warms up? Does it get more pronounced and louder as the engine gets hotter? (at operating temp) .
I read the entire post again and got the sense that the first mechanic you took it to (original post) did not want to work on your truck. Could be a lot of different reasons for that, but it wouldn't be productive for me to speculate. Proper troubleshooting and diagnosis procedures are how good shops stay in business with loyal customers.

[adamstennett]

I got the feeling the first mechanic doesn't usually do head gaskets or didn't want to do it on this truck. Thanks for the reply! It seems to be the same noise at start up as after it warms up. I sometimes get just a hint of maybe one chirp at ignition (this has only started recently) At idle it does not chirp but if you go under the hood it does sound like a faint puffing noise from the passenger side of the engine at idle. If you rev the engine over about 3000 rpms you will get a chirping/tapping noise at first rev. If you are driving you will get a chirping tapping over about 1100 rpms. The noise stops if you back off the gas. From inside the car it sounds a little like morse code with a bit of a squeek. Faster, constant tapping and louder at higher rpms. Intermittent at lower rpms (the noise skips) The 2nd mechanic said he smoke tested it and it came out fine but I am going to crawl under it now and look at the underside of the the exhaust manifold and try tightening the bolts. It is from near that area or the nearby head gasket near cylinders 6 & 8 that I could feel a puffing when engine is really revved. I did notice that both exhaust manifolds have three gaskets on them which makes me suspect there was a problem here in the past. Just want to make sure I'm not missing something simple before deciding it's the head gaskets. Am I just not wanting to admit the inevitable?

[adamstennett]

Double checked the exhaust manifold bolts and they are all tight. Shot some photos from underneath the exhaust manifold with my phone and a flashlight and it doesn't look cracked or anything. Found a loose bolt on top of the engine (not even finger tight) on the upper inlet manifold. Got excited for a second but unfortunately that wasn't making the noise. Wiped clean the area near cylinder 6 and 8 head gasket and revved engine several times to create the tapping/chirping noise and then used my phone and flashlight to photograph the area from below looking for any sign of new oil leaked and totally clean. it almost sounds like a leaky hose in that area but have been over every inch.

[adamstennett]

Could the crankshaft sensor make a tapping/chirping noise? it is right below cylinders 6 and 8 and in the general area of the noise.

Since one of the upper inlet/intake manifold bolts was very loose and the others needed tightening too it could also be a bad gasket up there.

[adamstennett]

Photo of triple stacked exhaust manifold gaskets. Seemed like it could be a problem but I soaped up the gaps where it is bowed in between with better bubble gas leak locator and no bubbles.

[adamstennett]

Took it to a 3rd mechanic and it is a head gasket. He did say he has been working on Land Rovers since 1976 and he has never seen one acting quite like this but that it is a head gasket. Should have a much quieter, cleaner and less leaky engine in a few days.

[optiontrader00]

Hey,

easiest way to diagnose a head gasket leak in a rover is for the mechanic to do a chemical pressure test off the coolant reservoir. The chemical detects the presence of exhaust gases that are leaking through the head gasket. Chemical changes color if they are present. If you can't find a competent rover mechanic, I've got one in north jersey.

[adamstennett]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I did the combustion/block test with the blue fluid off the coolant reservoir and it didn't change color. Tested it twice and stayed blue both times. That was part of the reason I was thinking it might not be a head gasket.