Engine ticking...will it be okay?

Question

I bought a 99 Olds Alero 3.4 2 weeks ago.1st thing I did was check the oil,was okay.A week later I noticed a ticking noise that went away after the car warmed up.Each day the ticking would last a bit longer- until today I noticed the ticking was consistantly VERY loud and when I rev the engine or accelerate the car sounded like a lawn mower.I finally wised up and cheked the oil(remember previously full) and it was barely touching the dip stick.I rushed to fill it up and the ticking finally faded away after about 20 miles.Now the ticking is gone but its running just a TAD rougher, like the timing is a little off but the car is okay.I also noticed there is gunk in the overflow, probably from dex cool.The temp gauge is elevating slightly-little less than 3/4- the fan kicks on and it cools right down.Anyway, I dont see any oil leaks and I know its time for a flush.Any ideas on whats going on? Yes...I know I should have checked the oil but the oil sensor or oil change sensor never triggered

No smoke, only the usual when i start it up.And white smoke is condensation...not oil.

Answer 1

The ticking noises is definitely caused by the lack of oil getting to the cylinder heads and lubing the rocker arms and valves.with the oil pressure light indicator not coming on.Could be due to a burned out bulb(does it come on with key on and engine off?)or oil pressure sending unit failure.Having no leaks, shows that the oil pump may be at fault, but where did the oil go? The vehicle is fairly old and may be using ( buring) the oil.Does the vehicle have any signs of blue smoke? How about after idling for a while, or during acceleration? You may have scarred the cylinder walls and the rod bearings, thus the rough idle.You may want to have a wet and dry compression test done and to see if the oil pump is putting out the correct oil pressure.

Answer 2

Buying a car in the winter is touch and go for a problem like this. NOW that warmer weather is on it's way you may have over heating problems.
IF someone had these problems and wanted to sell the car- Changing the thermostate would be a good start. Thermostates are different temps. This means that when a engine reaches a temp it opens up allowing the cool water from the radiator to go into the motor cooling the motor. IF a high temp thermos. is in, the engine would run hot and show up on the temp gauge. SOO changing it to a low temp thermos. would allow water to flow through at a faster rate and cool the engine quicker, BUT this wont help in the hot summer. It'll just allow hot water to constantlly flow through the radiator and engine eventually over heating your motor.
(don't take any long trips until you resolve this!)
Go to your local parts store and buy a engine type restore additive. Pour it into your motor it'll help seal scratches or small cracks that will exspand during higher temps. You will be looseing compression or motor power when this happens. THEN after a few hundred miles or before the weather gets TOO hot drain your oil put a lighter weight oil in WITH another additive you pour directlly with the oil, only this time the additive will say right on the container that it will help cool your engine causeing it to run several degrees cooler. Use this in the summer.
Caution....These additives are costlly! some will cost up to fifty bucks. BUt they are worth it IF you plan on making any long trips in hot weather. A tow charge will cost alot more THEN add repairs it just doesnt make sense to go unprotected, Good luck. Keep a eye on your antifreeze.
IF your oil has a light look to it- it may have water in the oil. At that time it's to late. You have a blown head gasket- cracked head or valves- or even a cracked block/ People will do anything to dump a problem they cant afford to fix.

Answer 3

the problem to me sounds like bad valve seats ..it is a big deal but there is a way to control this problem..you are not loosing the oil like you said there are no leaks the reason for this is because you are buring the oil.so what i have done in the past to temporarily cure this problem is to use castrol high millage oil..try it on your next oil change and you will notice a big difference also just before you go into the garage to do an oil change park outside the garage and put ONE LITTRE of Diesel fuel in you engine oil..most people don't realize this but when you purchase TSP engine flush it is basically diesel fuel with some of the paricles removed and it cost like 6 or 8 dollars for a 500ml bottle..so take my word for this get some diesel and pout into the engine just before going in the garage to get your oil replaced and it will totally clean out all the sludge and crap you have on the inside of the engine..make sure you engine is well warmed up also...don't put the diesel fuel in then drive to the garage..just get to the garage go in and make sure you are next to serviced and then run your engine for about five minutes with the diesel fuel in the engine and replace your oil with castrol high millage ..you will think you have a brand new engine...please take my advice i would never put lies on yahoo answers..i'm only here to help.those who can't afford major engine over hauls..

Answer 4

I would change the oil and give it a full tune up, and drain and flush the cooling system. Running it low on oil will cause it to heat up and tick.Get the right antifreeze for your car (I think its dex-cool)mixing dex-cool and the old school coolant will jell up and cause one hell of a mess in the cooling system(dont even add old stuff to dex-cool or vice versa)Give it every thing in a tune up(plugs,wires filters,pcv valve )and it should run like it should

Answer 5

You doing one of two things ... leaking oil or burning it. Leaking is better than burning. If you have white smoke coming from your tail pipe you are burning oil. When you oil gets low that is what is causing the ticking. I would get this checked out to see how youa re loosing oil because you could end up throwing a rod (AKA killing your engine)

Answer 6

Just because your check oil light has not come on yet does not mean you should not check your oil. My personal theory is if this light has come on it is already too late. It sounds like you have either a bad lifter or even worse a blown head gasket.

Answer 7

A lifter tick doesnt JUST mean lack of oil. Sometimes they tick if they get full of gunk. you can take the time and clean them off if you want to fix it.

Answer 8

well this happened to me a while ago i dont knoe if it is but try it, check to see if all ur spark plugs are tight and not loose,one of myne was loose and my car use to tick all the time