Noisy Engine?

[nis350]

I have a 92 with 60K miles and recent valves adjustment. The engine make quite a bit of ticking/tapping noise when it first starts up, gets a bit quieter after 10 seconds, and a bit more after it reaches normal temp. However, it is still a bit noisy when it is hot. Is it designed that way for reasons?

 

[hlweyl]

Sounds normal, have you had a chance to compare it with another stock NSX?

 

[ffffanman]

You should start it at 50 deg f and see and hear it!
Shake baby shake!
Trev

 

[DutchBlackNsx]

There are a few things which make a ticking/tapping noise on an engine.
Offcourse the valves is a well known one, but also injectors can be rather noisy, a more ticking then tapping noise.
Another well known, sometimes confusing noise, can be the springs in the clutchplates, typical honda problem, push the clutch in, it should go away.
But very likely you are hearing the lost motion devices, often refered to as LMD's or LMA's (in the Honda partsmanual reffered to as 'lost motion assy').
These things push rocker arm of the Vtec lobe up, when Vtec is NOT engaged. They seem to get a little sticky overtime. Replacing them cures it, but i remember that not to long ago someone posted that a good clean will also work. The problem is though, that it requires taking your camshafts out, a very time consuming job, not easily done by yourself.
Page 6-36 of the service manual describes the testprocedure.

Mich

 

[nis350]

There are a few things which make a ticking/tapping noise on an engine.
Offcourse the valves is a well known one, but also injectors can be rather noisy, a more ticking then tapping noise.
Another well known, sometimes confusing noise, can be the springs in the clutchplates, typical honda problem, push the clutch in, it should go away.
But very likely you are hearing the lost motion devices, often refered to as LMD's or LMA's (in the Honda partsmanual reffered to as 'lost motion assy').
These things push rocker arm of the Vtec lobe up, when Vtec is NOT engaged. They seem to get a little sticky overtime. Replacing them cures it, but i remember that not to long ago someone posted that a good clean will also work. The problem is though, that it requires taking your camshafts out, a very time consuming job, not easily done by yourself.
Page 6-36 of the service manual describes the testprocedure.

Mich

thank you for your detail explanation. I know about the clutch noise. It just bothers a little when it is cold. It doesn't sound like a high performance car and someone has even mentioned to me that I need valves adjustment. Never heard about the LMA.. I guess the fact that the VTEC never kick in made it louder...

My wife's prelude (vtec) is a lot more quieter. Maybe it is a different design.

Thanks.

 

[AG]

I have a 92 with 60K miles and recent valves adjustment. The engine make quite a bit of ticking/tapping noise when it first starts up, gets a bit quieter after 10 seconds, and a bit more after it reaches normal temp. However, it is still a bit noisy when it is hot. Is it designed that way for reasons?

I am having the same problem, it just started recently.

Do you by any chance reduced that noise in your NSX?

 

[nis350]

I am having the same problem, it just started recently.

Do you by any chance reduced that noise in your NSX?

I've heard your sound clip. Mine does not sound like that. Mine just have the ticking sound. I was told that is normal for the NSX engine. Yours is more like a knocking sound, right?

 

[nsx-tech]

some noise is normal. if it is very noisy you could have several different faults. cam wear, incorrect adjustment, low oil pressure, injectors the list can go on. if the valves were warm when set the adjustment can be out. you may want to have an injeator cleaning done.

 

[AG]

I've heard your sound clip. Mine does not sound like that. Mine just have the ticking sound. I was told that is normal for the NSX engine. Yours is more like a knocking sound, right?

Yes, unfortunately my was a combinations of both louder than usual valve ticking, + knocking.

Dropped off the car at Autowave today.

The knocking noise went away temporarily when Shane was listening to my engine, what a timing , but idle is definitely a bit rough.

I am sure the knock noise is still there, at this point I am not sure yet what cause the knocking and ticking (rocker arm maybe), valve was adjusted just a year ago (poor job perhaps).

Another possible cause that Shane suggested was bad gas, I had same tank of gas without refill for a little over 1 month.

Hopefully she will be fine, once I get her back, I am definitely going to drive and enjoy it a lot more often.