I am hearing an intermittant ticking noise when the engine is hot. I don't think it is nailing. It varies along with the RPMs. The noise usually gets louder the longer I've been driving. But the noise does not always occur. This morning on the way to work I didn't hear it at all. It sounds like it is coming from the front of the engine somewhere. At first I thought it was coming from the front injectors, but it's hard to locate the noise, and I don't have a stethescope. I wonder if it has something to do with the fan clutch, or some other cooling system part that would be activated when the engine is hot? Any ideas?

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1987 Mercedes 300D ~200K (Greasecar & Biodiesel)
1993 Ford F-250 7.3 IDI diesel 165K (Biodiesel)
1996 Thomas/International Bus with DT466 engine

Hot thin oil will sometimes let a lifter tick. Change the oil, synthetic is even better for running hot, see if it fixes it.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I wanted to follow up on this post. I changed my oil, and have not heard that noise since. I was getting close to 4,000 miles on that oil, and it is pretty cheap stuff: "Golden West" brand 15w-40. I may have to go back to the Delo I was using before, or change my oil more often.

BTW, I'm not trying to start another "what is the best oil" thread here, so all you oil connoisseurs, just back away from the keyboard... this topic has been beaten to death already.

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1987 Mercedes 300D ~200K (Greasecar & Biodiesel)
1993 Ford F-250 7.3 IDI diesel 165K (Biodiesel)
1996 Thomas/International Bus with DT466 engine