My 3.0 Ticks like a clock
 

As the title suggests, my 3.0 is hella noisy. Im new to the porsche world and I don't know what is normal noise and what is a problem. So with that in mind, here is what Im hearing:

At idle, I hear lots of regular ticking from both sides of the engine. I've done the valves twice now because I thought I may have done then too loose the first time. The ticks are about as fast as you can say "tick tick tick". Its noticably loud.

The second issue, the one Im more concerned about, happens when I put the pedal down. Under hard acceleration I get a promenant and noisy ticking from the engine, sounds like rattle almost. Its loud enough that I can hear it over the exhaust.

Any ideas on this stuff? Please let it be good news.

Novices usually adjust valves too loose. When adjusting valves, you should also count head stud nuts. There should be 24. A broken head stud makes a spitting or rapping noise under load. Count your nuts. If they're all there you might put a torque wrench on them and see if any are loose. Factory spec is something like 24 lb/ft. So, set your wrench to 20 or 22 and see if any move.

Also, you can turn the engine so that a valve is opened about 10mm and see if you can make the stem of the valve wiggle side-to-side. If the guides are worn, it will wiggle, and make noise while the engine is running. If so, it's time to plan a top end rebuild at least.

Your second issue sounds like it could be failed chain tensioners. I've never heard it personally, but that sure sounds like what you are describing. Do you have the Carrera tensioner upgrades? If not, you should think about getting them SOON! If indeed it is failed tensioners, and your timing chain skipps a tooth or two, you are into much more serious problems, such as pistons crashing into valves. I could be wrong about that though. Others will have opinions also I'm sure.

Thats interesting because I don't have the tensioner upgrade yet. Does anyone else think that it could be the tensioners? I'll check the heads this weekend.
- fingers crossed -

Well, I figured there would be more replies to this since there are a lot of folks here who have had their tensioners fail. From what I have heard, when they fail it sounds like you are pulling a chain out of an empty metal trash can while dragging it along the rim. Does that make sense? Sorry I can't be of more help, so at the very least it's a bump!

Porsches really are quite noisy. I would take it to a shop and let them listen to it.


I installed the tensioners myself on my 70T really pretty easy. I just saw an estimate from a local shop for tensioners installed and it was $1500.
You can usually find them for less than $400.00. Wayne has em.
$1100 can buy a lot of goodies, well maybe not very many Porsche goodies, but in the other world it will.
I would be willing to give you some tips if you like.
I bought the giant crows foot and socket but didn't use them.
It's easy to pull the chains out of the way and remove the tensioners.
When I pulled off the chain covers the previous owner had installed the stop blocks on the mechanical tensioners. They were beat to hell.
They did what they were designed to do but they looked like they might fail at any time.
Mike

I'd rather have it ticking like a clock than ticking like a bomb.

My SC was ticking (probably more like a clock) and it was a spark plug lead was close to another lead and a big spark was leaping 10mm across. It was quite loud.

For what it's worth, I had/have a similar issue with my motor (2.7). My local Porsche wrench suggested I do a compression check on the motor. What I ended up finding was that 1 cylinder had no compression but all the headstuds are fine and not pulling from the case.
I just dropped it off with my wrench so I cannot yet report what the actual issue.

-Dave

Getting louder under heavy load sounds like an arching ignition, loose spark plugs or an exhaust leak.

If the noise you describe is rattlng or maybe a knocking noise the I suspect incorrect timing or too low an octane gasoline. A failed or failing tensioner sounds more like taking a large chain and dragging it over the edge of a metal trash can.

Unfortunately it sounds like I may need to do a tensioner upgrade. The sound when i pedal down is pretty ugly, may be what you guys are describing. I guess Im not totally bummed, its something thats going to need to be done eventually anyhow. Im gonna pull the covers this weekend and take a look.