Question for the car/engine guru's

[Shibby]

When I start my car there is a clicking noise for a few minutes until it warms up. A mechanic explained to me that it is something like the rods that hold the oil pressure are allowing the pressure to release too much when it's shut off. So when I start it after it's cold it takes a few minutes for it too get the oil back in there. He said that it should be fine as long as the ticking goes away once it's warm. I forgot to ask him though if it puts more stress on the engine if it warms up while driving instead of at an idle.

[Stonecold54]

I would believe him since he didn't offer to "fix" anything, lol.

[Timma]

It's always better to let your car sit to warm up. This way you're allowing the oil and such to warm up so when you start to put the stress on the engine at higher rpm's you're not going to ruin the pistons. Plus then you're driving to work in a toasty car. :D

[NewbieChris]

Without knowing what kind of vehicle/engine that is a very vague question. Clicking in an engine can mean so many things depending on the type of engine itself.

As for letting it warm up. Yes, it is always a good idea to let the engine get warm. It puts less stress on the engine when driving when it is a peak temperature. Like you mechanic said, oil can be held improperly and thus the engine is not lubricated well.

[ROCKILLER]

He's talking about your lifters, there are several kinds and yours are hydraulic, meaning they have oil in them, they are part of the system that opens the valves and when they arent completely full of oil they arent expanded annd there is a little slop in the valve train and you get the ticking. Of course he could be wrong and there could be something else that tcks until it warms up and expands but it sounds to me like he is right. I've always been of the mind that unless your car is old enough that it runs really bad when its cold, I dont think you need to warm up your car more than a minute or so. Take it easy on it of course but idling is the hardest thing for an engine to do and its the worst thing for it so there are a lot of people that say not to warm your car up excessively.

[Shibby]

Thanks for all the responses. I have an '01 chevy tracker 4 cyl. It has around 140k miles on it.

[NewbieChris]

He's talking about your lifters, there are several kinds and yours are hydraulic, meaning they have oil in them, they are part of the system that opens the valves and when they arent completely full of oil they arent expanded annd there is a little slop in the valve train and you get the ticking.

I was always taught that hydraulic lifters should never make the clicking noise.

[ROCKILLER]

With the precision of valve movement necessary to get the motor to run right the clicking is definitely not good but its one of those things where you have to look at the cost vs. benefit. You could pull the worn motor apart and start changing parts and hope it stops or you can just make sure its not getting worse and live with it. I'm not trying to argue with you because I totally agree, its just the problem could be anything, just like you said.

Speaking of that, he might have meant that he thinks one of the rods is slightly loose on the crank. Either way, ites probably time to start saving for a motor rebuild or a new car. That way when this one does go you'll be at least a little prepared.

[Shibby]

He said if that is it, it would be about 1k to fix it. Since the summer is coming and it doesn't click for nearly as long I will have to wait and see. I need to get myself a junker to get to an from work at the end of this month. Then my wife will start working in August and we will look at getting her something newer and make the Tracker my junker.

[Timma]

I don't know how your money situation is, but i've seen in past posts that you're working on your credit. Did you guys ever think of leasing something like a Chevy Cobalt for like $100/month? I see they have deals now and you'd have free maintenance for the life of the lease. No more $1,000 each visit to the mechanic. Just something I thought i'd throw out there.

[Shibby]

I don't know how your money situation is, but i've seen in past posts that you're working on your credit. Did you guys ever think of leasing something like a Chevy Cobalt for like $100/month? I see they have deals now and you'd have free maintenance for the life of the lease. No more $1,000 each visit to the mechanic. Just something I thought i'd throw out there.

I didn't know about that. The main goal is too not get into any real debt or commitment until we know what kind of job she gets, if they will pay for her masters and if it's still in the area.

[NewbieChris]

With the precision of valve movement necessary to get the motor to run right the clicking is definitely not good but its one of those things where you have to look at the cost vs. benefit. You could pull the worn motor apart and start changing parts and hope it stops or you can just make sure its not getting worse and live with it. I'm not trying to argue with you because I totally agree, its just the problem could be anything, just like you said.

Speaking of that, he might have meant that he thinks one of the rods is slightly loose on the crank. Either way, ites probably time to start saving for a motor rebuild or a new car. That way when this one does go you'll be at least a little prepared.

I just wasn't sure if what I was told is true.

[NewbieChris]

I really wouldn't worry about getting a new vehicle, especially if the car is working fine. For what your looking at when the engine stops running is when you should worry. As for right now, it doesn't sound like that is going to happen if you aren't hard on your vehicle.

[Shibby]

I'm never hard on it. I have babied it since I got it because I need it too really last. I have probably done some unnecessary maintenance along with the regular maintenance just to make sure everything is ok.