lifter noise

[bagman]

I have a 97 NSX and at idle...the engine sounds smooth and tuned except for some lifter noise. sounds a spray paint can shaking. Everyone tells me it's the lifters. When I had Acura inspect the car, they said everything was good. (I just bought it-officially today-but had it for 2 weeks). the previous owner used 5w-30..my friend told me to switch to a thicker oil and it should go away..anyone else experience this annoying factor?
it runs great like a champ, just the noise is unsettling to me.

 

[MarkB]

The question is who to believe. If it is indeed lifter noise, I would get them adjusted or replaced. Your engine is awfully expensive to replace and so all "minor" ailments should IMO be fixed.

 

[Jimbo]

The question is who to believe indeed. The NSX doesn't have valve lifters. It's a DOHC engine.

You may need to have the valves adjusted however.

-Jim

 

[acuratech]

If your hearing a ticking noise, I wouldnt be suprised if that is the normal sound of the injectors opening and closing. Take it to your dealer and have them put a stethescope to the top end of the motor to pinpoint the noise. I had a new NSX owner complain about it a while back saying he thought the " lifters" were noisy. Upon examination we found it to be the clicking of the injectors wich is normal.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

First off, to decide go-no/go that you either have a problem or not, find another NSX and have a listen. This would eliminate all the guess work and indeed verify acuratech's comments which are most likely correct. Before ANYTHING else I would do this.

BTW, the valves have a nut/screw type adjustment as in "solid lifter", even though I agree with Jimbo there is no "lifter" per/se, they have "cam followers" and they can sound like solid lifters. They ARE tappy when cold and that is quite normal.

After the comparison, you can decide if you believe yourself!!

HTH,
LarryB

 

[sjs]

What Larry said.

 

[AKUDOU]

First off, to decide go-no/go that you either have a problem or not, find another NSX and have a listen. This would eliminate all the guess work and indeed verify acuratech's comments which are most likely correct. Before ANYTHING else I would do this.



HTH,
LarryB

(Hope this helps because I already have) When I bought my 2000 NSX that was the first thing I noticed. Very annoying when cold but smoothes out after the motor is to temp. The car had 3400 mi when I purchased it now has 8000 and still sounds the same.I also had a 93 at the same time and never noticed this sound. After taking the 2000 to an Acura NSX tech I was told the noise was normal and the motor checked out ok. Larry I think the noise has something to do with the 3.2 injectors vs the 3.0. What do you think? Oh BTW Bagman for the Houston climate I recommend 10w30 Oil 5w30 is for locations with colder climates.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Well,

The injectors are indeed different, but honestly I never really paid attention.

Injector deaf.
LarryB

 

[Briank]

My 91 had a fair amount of noise from the valves when I got it last year even though it was supposed to have been dealer maintained. When I did the timing belt and water pump I also did the adjustment on the valves. I can tell you it is not a easy job to get them just right. The range of he spec. is only .001. I found several of them set way above spec. and I suspect those were the ones that were making noise. After I brought them into the proper clearance and the amount of ticking has all most gone away.

You will never get your NSX to be completely silent.

 

[Richard Sansone]

The tick noise you are hearing is the (lost motion assembly)
it is a small spring in a cup that has 2 functions.It keeps spring pressure on the high RPM mid rocker arm and cam lobe,To prevent them from ticking at low RPM,When VETEC is not active,and at high RPM 6200+with VETEC ative they help apply a little more valve spring pressure
I have a 91 NSX with 214,000 miles on it. After doing valve adjustments over the years and still hearing it tick I looked into it more while I had the motor apart replacing head gaskets
I noticed some of the (lost motion assemblies) When pushing the plunger down they would stick for a split second about an 1/8 inch from the top,I said dam thats what's making that tick.
I cleaned them with brake clean, soked them in mobil1,put the motor back together and it sounds like a whole new motor

I think alot of you are having this problem

Good Luck
Richard