Technical Harsh ticking noise developing on 2.3L multijet

[lycopersicum]

Hello everyone,

I could be a car-hypochondriac, but I swear my engine has started sounding louder and harsher in the past month.

It's a Euro5 2.3L MJ with 180,000 km.

The noise is at 1/2 engine speed. It's most audible at idle and when giving gas at low speed (<70km/h). It's drowned in the road noise at highway speeds. It disappears completely when coasting to a stop or letting go of gas so I imagine it's injection or exhaust related.

- the oil was old but changing it did not help, and neither did the Liqui Moly hydraulic tappet additive
- one injector looks rusty (scuttlegate...)
- moderate exhaust smell in the bonnet but no obvious smoke.

Here's a video with the noise :

Does this sound normal to you?

 

[AnthonyH]

I think the exhaust is leaking. Nothing major at the moment, but best to find it anyway.

 

[Abarthmultijet]

Don't think the video transfers the sound good, but maybe the little chain in between the cams is on it's way out.

 

[lycopersicum]

Don't think the video transfers the sound good, but maybe the little chain in between the cams is on it's way out.

Interesting, what features of the sound make you think about that?

 

[Abarthmultijet]

Some experience, had a few Volkswagen 2.0FSI (non turbo) and they made a similar sound

 

[lycopersicum]

Ok, I feel a bit silly but I think I've reached a conclusion -- everything is fine, it's just that I used to always have the cabin ventilation on 3, which is louder than the injectors, and some time ago I switched it to 2, which is really not loud at all