When I turn my car on and have the hood opening, with that stupid plastic cover off from over the valve cover (mainly because I think it dampens the noise), I hear this weird 'tinking' like sound.

What could this be?

 

i've had the same noise and when was your last oil change and what did they put in???

i'm in a "engine rebuild" class and am currently learning to diagnose cars and one of the things we talked about was knocking (ticking) and sometimes if the oil is old or somehow got watered down it won't lubiricate the rod bearings or the cam and you'll get a knock (tick)

 

I just changed it today with 5 quarts of Royal Purple.

 

your injectors??

 

hmm... idk what else it could be i had the oil changed on mine (my dad had my uncles dealership do it behind my back for FREE lol) can you pick the noise out to a single cylinder?? start it and move your head side to side with the hood open and if you can single out where it's at then it's possible the cam isn't getting enough oil on the camshaft but i doubt it

 

Will do.

 

alright just reply when you're done

 

It seems to be coming from the left side of the valve cover.

Not sure if that helps at all though.

 

its probably the fuel injectors. They can be a loud ticking.....nothing to worry about.

 

what motor?? turbo??

 

I have the same noise. A friend said it was my one coil pack. But I'm not sure. I figured my motor wouldn't blow from it in the next few weeks until I get it inspected and they can look at the "phantom noise" as I call it.. Do a search on "phantom noise". I believe I have a clip of mine.. See if it's the same thing..

 

2.2L N/A.

 

the new turbo sounds like it has no oil in it when it idles thats just from the direct injection but it sounds like ****. Can you make a vid or sound clip?

 

Bingo. The injectors on the Cobalts are loud mothers. It almost sounds like the valves are making noise, but it is just the loud ass injectors.

 

Sweet.

I almost assumed it was the injectors, and my buddy looked at it and said the same thing.

It's been there from around the first day I got the car, as far as I can remember.