Another S65 engine ticking noise

///M Power-Belgium wrote

KawBoy wrote

I had this very same issue. It started when I first used Liqui Moly (10W60). By the time I've got home, the noise was there. Switched back to Castrol (the OEM stuff) and everything got back to normal. I don't have the answer though. Liqui is superb, really good stuff, but my engine didn't like it.
I am now using Valvoline VR1 20W50 and all is good.

Liqui Moly = => https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1404625

Mines been running LiquiMoly for ~80K+ miles... at 117K now and I don't have any engine issues that I know of...

grantwoodOK wrote

Been through this once before so I know what to expect. We have lawyers...

Any updates on this?

My M3 just started making this exact noise at idle after a Liqui Moly oil change. Has anyone figured this out? I have 200 miles on the new oil and just ordered the BMW shell oil to replace it. I just bought the car and it sounds like an old tractor with this tick, super embarrassing. Any help appreciated.

E46MysticM3 wrote

My M3 just started making this exact noise at idle after a Liqui Moly oil change. Has anyone figured this out? I have 200 miles on the new oil and just ordered the BMW shell oil to replace it. I just bought the car and it sounds like an old tractor with this tick, super embarrassing. Any help appreciated.

Probably this can help => https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1404625

So the moral of the story is LM is definitely F'ing the lifters or something in the engine and you just switch back to either castrol or shell and hope for the best? Am I correct in saying that? If this is true, then im disappointed to say I will not use Liquimoly ever again. I have used it in several E46 M3s and E39 M5 and never had an issue. But no way in heck im allowing this S65 to sound like its broken, it doesnt sound healthy like this. What if its main bearings?

E46MysticM3 wrote

So the moral of the story is LM is definitely F'ing the lifters or something in the engine and you just switch back to either castrol or shell and hope for the best? Am I correct in saying that? If this is true, then im disappointed to say I will not use Liquimoly ever again. I have used it in several E46 M3s and E39 M5 and never had an issue. But no way in heck im allowing this S65 to sound like its broken, it doesnt sound healthy like this. What if its main bearings?

You'll only know when you turn back to Shell.

Main bearings apparently are typically likely to rumble rather than tick or knock if worn/damaged.

Anyway, it'd be a totally different sound to hyd lifters not being able to bleed properly.
You should be ok going back to Castrol or Shell.......

Is LM 10/60 much thicker than Castrol or Shell?
Btw, e46 M3 has solid lifters (IDK about the M5).

Changed oil to Shell 10w-60 BMW and the engine definitely sounds and runs better, but the tick is still there. It ticks a LOT less tho but it is definitely there. Still giving me paranoia, not sure what to do at this point.

E46MysticM3 wrote

Changed oil to Shell 10w-60 BMW and the engine definitely sounds and runs better, but the tick is still there. It ticks a LOT less tho but it is definitely there. Still giving me paranoia, not sure what to do at this point.

it will take a bit of time for the right oil properties to go thru the lifters, up to 1-2K after the oil change to disappear - it could even take another full oil change with Shell.

anerbe wrote

it could even take another full oil change with Shell.

Sh**! That's a lot of money!

UPDATE: Drained the Liqui-Moly and put BMW Shell 10W-60. Tick went away for roughly 40 miles, then came back. This is the video of the noise below. Maybe some Liqui-Moly still left in? It is doing it a lot now though.

Hmm, I wouldn't like to say from that video, can you do a recording from under the bonnet? (hood ) Then moving to underneath the car, behind a front wheel?
Oh, and at the same time raise the revs from tick over to ~3k RPM, in short bursts, you might need a 2nd person for this .

jvictormp
I wouldn't change the oil again just yet, give it another 2k miles to see if it clears itself. [edit] For that guy you meant .
As anerbe said, it can take a while for the hydraulic followers to clear themselves.

E46MysticM3 wrote

UPDATE: Drained the Liqui-Moly and put BMW Shell 10W-60. Tick went away for roughly 40 miles, then came back. This is the video of the noise below. Maybe some Liqui-Moly still left in? It is doing it a lot now though.

E46MysticM3 Any update?

dont want to start a new thread. Seems like this sound coming from the hydraulic belt tensioner. I tried to put stethoscope as close as possible to the phone so you could hear better. So this sound seems to increase when I listen every bolt of that tensioner. Do you think it could make that kinda sound? Did anybody have this problem?

I've come to accept all the weird ass noises that come from this motor instead of obsessing over it.

I changed the rod bearings and drive it like it was made to be driven and if the motor happens to go poopooo then so be it. I got tired of stressing out over the bearing issue.

Siajoon wrote

I've come to accept all the weird ass noises that come from this motor instead of obsessing over it.

I changed the rod bearings and drive it like it was made to be driven and if the motor happens to go poopooo then so be it. I got tired of stressing out over the bearing issue.

word, these engines just naturally sound like a washing machine.

ffyntik wrote

don't want to start a new thread. Seems like this sound coming from the hydraulic belt tensioner. I tried to put stethoscope as close as possible to the phone so you could hear better. So this sound seems to increase when I listen every bolt of that tensioner. Do you think it could make that kinda sound? Did anybody have this problem?

I've never heard a pulley make a noise like that (been a tech for 26yrs). Bearing in mind I'm limited by listening to the noise via your video and not hearing it in person, that sounds more like a big end (rod) knock to me!
Can you put your stethoscope to the side of the sump? (oil pan). Does the noise get louder as you get nearer to the bottom of the engine?
Also, does it knock more loudly on revving up, than when you take your foot off the throttle? (and revs dropping). If so, then it's a big end. If it's equally loud going up and down the revs it could be a cam follower.

Assimilator1 wrote

I've never heard a pulley make a noise like that (been a tech for 26yrs). Bearing in mind I'm limited by listening to the noise via your video and not hearing it in person, that sounds more like a big end (rod) knock to me!
Can you put your stethoscope to the side of the sump? (oil pan). Does the noise get louder as you get nearer to the bottom of the engine?
Also, does it knock more loudly on revving up, than when you take your foot off the throttle? (and revs dropping). If so, then it's a big end. If it's equally loud going up and down the revs it could be a cam follower.

I’ve listened every part of the engine. That sound present only in that area. No sound on oil pan. And it doesn’t sound louder on revving nor when I take the foot off the throttle. I’d say when you inside the car you can’t here it past 2.5k rpm.
The car has that sound at least past 5k miles.

Interesting, btw I didn't say the sound might get louder on coming off the throttle, but that it might either go quiet (or quieter), which worn out rod bearings tend to do, or be equally loud on throttling on and off, likely a cam follower.
Also, in the short 11s we hear your video, the noise is rhythmic, knackered bearings in a pulley wouldn't be.
Can you record a video where you rev it up and down from idle to 3k RPM?

Assimilator1 wrote

Interesting, btw I didn't say the sound might get louder on coming off the throttle, but that it might either go quiet (or quieter), which worn out rod bearings tend to do, or be equally loud on throttling on and off, likely a cam follower.
Also, in the short 11s we hear your video, the noise is rhythmic, knackered bearings in a pulley wouldn't be.
Can you record a video where you rev it up and down from idle to 3k RPM?

I’ll record longer video this afternoon

amrazM wrote

word, these engines just naturally sound like a washing machine.

Negative . Actually like a retro sewing machine .

This noise is not main bearing or rod bearing period! The next person that diagnoses this as rod knock should be stoned and kicked off the forum! Get that out of your head and move along. 225,000 miles, (2) rod bearing changes and I've had this noise since 25,000 miles and still get it now. Usually new oil does this and hotter days bring it out. Your engine is fine and there is no risk of damage. I believe it to be lifter related or maybe something to do with the oil pickups vibrating? Whomever figures this out will be receiving a care package from me for sure. Other than it sounding like a piece of shit there is no damage occurring. Sometimes the vanos bleed procedure helps quiet it.