My sister's 2005 Cobalt 2.2 makes a loud clicking noise at startup (idle), and the noise gets faster as she drives down the street (changes with RPM). The noise goes away after the car warms up.

Only things I have done so far is change the oil twice, and pulled the valve cover off to do an inspection and pour some seafoam down the oil flow channels. The cam lobes and rollers on the rockers look fine / no excessive wear as far as I can tell.

Any suggestions?

btw, the car doesn't seem to have lost any power or anything..

Thanks, Brandon

 

you poured seafoam in your oil? Did you change the oil right after?

 

To me, that sounds just like cold valvetrain.

 

No, Seafoam is meant to be able to be left in with the oil. I figure I'll leave it in for a few hundred miles & let it do it's job then change the oil again.

From Seafoam's website: "To clean oil rings and lifters, add 1˝ oz. Sea Foam to each quart of oil. Sea Foam will slowly re-liquefy the old oil varnish residue that builds up on lifters and rings and prevents them from functioning normally. This process can be done as part of a pre service cleaning by adding the Sea Foam to the oil at least 30 miles before the next oil change interval. OR it can be done as a preventative maintenance process without changing the oil. You can leave Sea Foam in the oil indefinitely as long as the oil is clean. The addition of a high-detergent oil like Sea Foam may cause the oil to become dirty faster than normal as buildup oil residue and contamination are cleaned. Check the oil at regular intervals and when it gets dirty, change it."

http://www.seafoamsales.com/how-to-u...treatment.html

 

Leave it in there for about 100 miles only. I wouldn't recommend leaving it in there longer.

 

I get what you're saying but, A: the clicking is so loud the neighbors can hear it... and B: The problem is new...just started within the past 3 months...

 

hmm looks like im seafoaming it !

 

Jesus, if it's that loud...hmmm. Maybe it's a small exhaust leak starting?

I've never specifically poured Seafoam in any engine by removing valvecovers...maybe the valvetrain sucked up too much and it's really noisy now...

 

No doesn't sound like an exhaust leak at all.

Valvetrain sucked up too much what?? The problem existed wayyy before I put in seafoam.

 

Oh, I must've read that wrong.

Does it sound like it's coming from the valvetrain? Or elsewhere?

 

Yea def. sounds like valvetrain / top of the engine..

 

Hmmm - it's odd that it would be as audible as you say it is...

 

Anyone else? any suggestions...? Should I switch it over to 10w-30? 10w-40?

 

I bet its the injectors that are pulsing.

 

No, having 3 Cobalts in the family I know what that sounds like... This is so loud I can hear it clicking as my sister drives down the street.

 

Any other suggestions?

Process to check the oil pressure anyone?

 

Maybe because they didnt properly let it get to operating temperature before moving/driving/beating on it? humm

 

could be a lifter tick? rare on these engines but plausible. depending on the speed and sound could be a rod knock too. try adding a little bit more oil than what you usually do.. maybe about 1/4 of a quart and see if the noise smooths out or goes away. You can also try a thicker oil too, but wouldn't recommend running it in the colder months.

 

Things expand and contrast with heat, so if its fine after it warms up I wouldnt worry.

 

Shouldn't be this loud:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oPuO06f4a8

Yea could be.. thats what I was thinking. But I'm trying to figure out since it goes away once the engine warms up if its because A: the oil pump is having a hard time getting oil to the top of the engine or B: If there is a lifter out of whack with too much of a gap causing the noise... in which case a thicker oil may suffice. But if its option A a lighter oil may work better since it would get to the top of the engine easier/quicker (e.g. 0w-30)..

 

That sounds like your exhaust manifold man. The bolts could be loose causing a leak. Either way I would take it into the dealer to get it checked out because its only gunna get worse over time.

 

ive noticed my car doing this too soon as it starts theres a clicking not as loud as hearing it go down the road but noticeable around 1 min after driving or idleing its gone im pretty sure its most noticeable when ur hittin the gas i always thought it was just my intake because its coming from that direction but now im wondering....

 

I know that sound. I had that right before a lash adjuster "Lifter" broke on me at the track.

 

this sounds exactly what mine sounded like when the small plastic piece broke on my timing chain guide. Ended up costing me 4k for another rebuild because it was slapping off the block, only did it at start up for couple mins then once i started driving it went away.

I know its kinda off the wall but.... just sayin.