E320Star

In noticed my car Engine makes a tickign sound in the morning only when I first start it up. When the car warms up, the sound goes away. I do use Synthetic oil every 6 thousands mile. It is E320 2000 model with 53,000 miles. Any ideas? Thank you.

smazur

do some research on 'ticking lifters'. Could be the lifters. You'll go to school on all the info on this site about them...

E320Star

It can't be lifters sinc eit goes way afterall. BESIDES Mine has low mileage for that kind of issue.

smazur

MIne started at around 60,000 miles. The ticking goes away when the oil warms itself up and starts to flow better. Good luck.

MB_E430

More than likely a lifter in my opinion. Make sure you have good oil pressure. I'm not sure if the lifters are hydraulic or spring, but either way I'm betting on a lifter. You can check this with a Mechanic's Stethoscope to isolate the lifter http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/LIS-52500.html
or just use a long screw driver (cheapest) pressed against the head (on the car) and pressed against your ear and you can hear the same thing

E320Star

Ok. Will do that tonight and report on it tomorrow. Thanks

zuc

E320STAR,
Just curious if you determined what the source of the sound was?

yoram611

hi E320 star,

some oil filters make that problem they dont allow the oil pressure build up quick enough.

I had the problem in the past after replacing the oil filter , so I went and replaced the filter again and the problem was gone.

get only OEM oil filter.

LeftLane911

But I just wanted to give my 2bits, sounds exactly like an oil pressure problem I had with another German auto. Lifters were the sound and after the oil warmed up it went away.

Yacht Master

Yes it can, and what is happening is that, at least one of your lifters is under compression when the engine is stopped. The oil being hot is slowly pushed out of the hydraulic element (lifter) by the pressure of the valve spring, so that overnight enough oil has seeped out that you can hear the lifter until it pumps up again. Dose not mean it is bad just weak, you could try a different oil and or filter as others have stated. I have a 430 with 26000 miles and after two weeks, more than one lifter collapses it is no big deal, it has been that way since new, just hate hearing it. The synthetic oils are very thin this aggravates this problem.

jimmydagreek

Had same problem with my previous '97 E420. It started off as you guys described but eventually got really bad to where I heard it all the time. It was my lifters and I had to have them replaced (not cheap). If you're already running on synthetic then that's good. My MB Tech recommended that I use Slick50 to see if it would help break the lifter free of the ticking and although it did get quieter, it did not shut the ticking up all the way. Maybe this will help since your ticking is only on cold start???

ProV1

my 97 E420 has this problem too, very loud ticking.

when i replace the engine oil, it'll be a lot quieter for about 1500 miles, and then it comes roaring back..

i'm wondering if the ticking is just that, an annoying noise, or can it lead to some engine problems?

jimmydagreek

From what I understand it can lead to valve problems and you don't want to have to pay for a valve job, OUCH!

Mrhappy71

I have the same problem but as stated only on cold days
E320 2000 50000 miles
hope it goes away with my next oil change

jimmydagreek

Synthetic oil helps if not cures the light ticking problem...

Yacht Master

Jimmy it is the other way around, the synthetic aggravates the condition. The very thin low viscosity synthetic allows the hydraulic element to collapse in the first place, and will make noise until the oil pressure and normal pumping action of the element/lifter regains its charge of oil. Most engines that reached the 50K mile mark may benefit from a little higher weight oil instead of the 0w-40 the 10W-50 may help increase oil pressure. If your valve noise never goes away, you have damage, Stop and repair it ASAP and REPLACE PLASTIC OIL LINE TO THE CAM LOBES.

Don't you know the used car salesman's trick?
If the valve train is noisy add 1 quart of 90W gear oil and in 5 min it will be quiet.

ProV1

if 0W-40 synthetic makes the noise get worse, will 20W-50 dino oil quiet down the car a lot?

but yes i agree, replace the oil guides. using fluids to fix this problem is inappropriate..

jimmydagreek

That's funny because both my MB Tech and the local stealership told me to use Mobil 1 went I went to both of them to complain about my ticking lifters. The synthetic oil helped reduce the ticking for quite a while until I just got sick of it and had my lifters replaced...

Yacht Master

As I stated if the valve train noise persists after engine runs for 10 min or reaches operating temp you have damaged parts, and they should be repaired. Please don't misunderstand me the change of oil and change of oil weight is not a fix. If your valve train makes noise after start and then goes away your Hydraulic element is worn and can't maintain its oil charge under pressure (the open valve when you shut off your engine), this pressure from the valve springs is sufficient to collapse the hydraulic element. when the engine is then started it takes a few minutes for the oil pressure to recharge the element. An adjustment in oil viscosity will serve to help the element to seal better and hopefully not lose it's charge. In the owners manual they suggest a wide range of oils you can use under different conditions for a new engine. My suggestion is merely an adjustment to compensate for the wear you might find in a engine with 50K miles, not a cure/fix all. We have never before had more choice in engine oils as we have today pure synthetics, synthetic blends, High mileage blends, multi vis in many different brands. What do you have to lose? the cost of an oil change?

BTW. if you change out the camshaft oiling tubes it only takes 30 minutes more to change out the lifters/Hydraulic elements.

Yacht Master

All Mercedes Benz dealerships are plumbed for Mobil 1 and MB trans fluid. They buy it in huge bulk. They are trained and required to sell Mobil 1 and that is OK. Jimmy if your lifters made noise all the time they did the right thing. I am just commenting on a temporary condition after start. My 430 sits sometimes for 4 to 6 months and the lifters / hydraulic elements do leak down and collapse even in a pampered (I change oil every 5K) 26K highway only mile engine. I know that after two weeks my lifters leak down so by the time I get to 50K miles maybe they leak down in one week, 100K miles day or two.

100K miles June 2030

jimmydagreek

I understand what you're saying and it makes sense. My lifter problems started when I let the car sit for a month. They slowly started ticking just in the morning and then eventually all of the time. Had to have them replaced or I was going to shoot myself from the noise, lol...

djf1

Y.Master is very correct about the ticking noise and the oil. Have had the same issue on all 3 of my vehicles the 320, the M3 and my 911. When I put as per Porsche recommendations 0-40 on my 911 it ticked at start up. Switched back to 15-50 the lifters are quiet at start up.
The M3 had that problem since new. I used religiously the Mobil 1 in the recommended weight and still the ticking at start up. Switched to Motul and the noise is gone. On the 320 its not bad, but the car has a lot of miles anyway.
For sure the weight and the oil thickness plays a big role in this. I remain curious however on why the Motul works so well in the BMW and the same weight Mobil 1 did not.

lkchris

Dealer Technical Bulletin:

SUBJECT: MODEL 210 with M112/M113 Engines
HYDRAULIC ELEMENTS "TICKING" NOISE DURING INITIAL OVERNIGHT AND/OR COLD STARTS
In cases of hydraulic elements "ticking" noise during initial overnight and/or cold starts, replace the exhaust valve hydraulic elements with hydraulic elements part number 113 050 00 80 05. Note: Please DO NOT replace the rocker arm assembly, part no. 113 050 05 34. Replacing the rocker arm assembly to repair hydraulic elements "ticking" noise is absolutely not necessary and extremely labor intensive.