Question on 95 RT10 engine sound

[ebg338]

All,

Just a question. Have a 95 RT10 with ~20,000 miles on it. Runs perfectly, no drips, etc. Question I had is that once the engine is warm (180-190) between 1,000 and 1,500 rpm I have what sounds like a knock or tick. Not particularly loud but I can hear it. Above 1,500 rpm it's gone. At idle once warm I believe I can hear it but it's very mild. Like I mentioned car runs and idles perfectly. Just wonder if this is normal or something I should be concerned about? As far as I know it has been this way since I purchased it, about 1,000 miles ago.

Appreciate any thoughts.

 

[daveg]

Does it sound like a low end knock? A valve train tick (rocker arm / lifer)? or injector tick?

 

[jdeft1]

What is it?......... Hummm, My gen 1s all have had a bit valve train noise, but it's usually a bit of start-up 'tick' that quiets down right away. Nothing to worry about.

It's fine! It just needs road time. I think you need to drive the $hit out of that car and see how you feel about it after a few hundred miles of driving.... Don't look at the odometer as you put a couple grand on the clock. It won't hurt the car she'll love you for it.


Cheers

 

[Indy]

Vipers do have rather loud lifters...

 

[Tom Sessions]

A easy was to see if it's a internal failure is to cut the oil filter open and look for debris in the can and the pleats of the filter. If you have a bearing starting to fail then it will show metal flecks in this area. The oil filter cutting is like a over sized can opener. I got mine from Longacre racing products. I do this on all the cars and trucks I service.

 

[99 R/T 10]

It could be one bad lifter. Try to isolate which side and what area of the block it is in.

 

[FrgMstr]

Great tip on the opening of the oil filter. Have to admit it was a DUH moment for me.

As for finding sounds under the hood, those can be difficult to track down. Get a cardboard tube out of a roll of paper towels and use it as a directional aid in finding the source of the sound. Might want to use some earplugs depending on how sensitive your ears are though.

 

[klamathpro]

It's just lifter tick. When did you last change your oil and what brand and viscosity? I use 20w-50 Mobil 1 for track days and get loud lifter tick at idle, which is expected. If it sounds like a sewing machine, it's nothing to be worried about. The thicker the oil the louder the tick. If you are still using 10w-30, switch to 5w-30 or 0w-40 to quiet it down.

 

[ebg338]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I gave it a thorough listening to - thanks frgmstr for the tip on the cardboard tube. At this point I'm 100% sure it's lifter tick. Definitely not a "knock". Changed the oil last October - if memory serves I used 10w-30. I'll try the 0w-40 next time to see if that quiets it.

Just getting used to the vipercentric sounds - and I'm paranoid. Don't want anything to happen to the new baby (or should I say beast).

Thanks again.

 

[ipetrov]

Is there any additional value in sending oil samples to Blackstone Labs? Or is it useless overkill if the open filter visual test comes out good? I'm wondering if there could be instances of metal flakes too small for the naked eye to see.

A easy was to see if it's a internal failure is to cut the oil filter open and look for debris in the can and the pleats of the filter. If you have a bearing starting to fail then it will show metal flecks in this area. The oil filter cutting is like a over sized can opener. I got mine from Longacre racing products. I do this on all the cars and trucks I service.

 

[Indy]

I'll try the 0w-40 next time to see if that quiets it.

Best oil for the Viper....better additives and better engine protection. Just a bit harder to find than the 5w30, but worth it.