Valve Adjustment
 

So I'm wondering, I've been doing some research on the valve tapping issue that for the most part, we all have been experiencing. I have switched to redline synthetic 5w-30 and initially the noise was dramatically reduced, but has now returned. So my question is pointed at the major gear heads, would a valve adjustment help at all in reducing valvetrain noise, or is this something that I may just have to get used to. It just hurts my pride to know that I paid for an almost $35,000 car and it has "normal" valvetrain noise. Any thoughts?

Just how "normal" or generalized is that, FORme? Have you read it often on this forum? Warranty at the dealership?? Good luck.

I'm affraid you have me a bit confused. I don't think its normal, the dealer tells me its normal when I take it for them to diagnose. They won't warranty something they say is normal.

Well, maybe it is normal. Engines do make ticking noises.

I realize that engines make noise to some degree, but a brand new car should not sound like it's constantly low on oil. I've checked the oil level and its slightly below the H. So oil levels are not the problem. Its a very heavily documented problem that has been resolved with the G37 guys and most of the 09 Z guys. I've also heard that the 2010's should not have the ticking issue as it was "resolved" on the line after they realized the problem with the 09's. Here I am though with a 2010 that clearly has the issue. There was even a TSB for it. So obviously it is not normal if they have issued a TSB. I just will not be satisfied with "oh, that's normal"

On another note, I wonder why there was a TSB issued for Infiniti, but not Nissan. Any ideas?

Take it to another dealer and then another, until one of them agrees with you. Then have them fix it. If you don't like my answer, then what is it you would like to hear from the community?

Well ya I dont like your answer because you're basically saying that engines tick. Not true. I have owned multiple new cars that have sounded like they should. Plus, you didn't even answer my question regarding valve adjustments, so you really didn't offer up any valuable information, just a dumb remark. The answer I was looking for from the community is clearly posted in my original post, if you cannot decipher that then :shakes head:

the only adjustment that can be made would be reshimming the lifters which would cost a hell of a lot and require both heads to be completely torn apart. they could pull your valve covers and check the clearances first with feeler gauges to give you some piece of mind but that would require tearing the top of the motor apart, and i'm not 100% sure whether or not that would require disconnecting the vvel actuator sub assembly which nissan says needs to be replaced if it is ever removed, if they mistakenly take apart the ladder assembly you will be in for new heads as well. your best bet is to keep trying for warranty if you don't like it. It might be a problem with the hydraulic lifters if there is some air trapped in them that can't be bled out and that would again require tearing the heads apart. if it's only coming from the very front of the engine it might be a problem with the chains or tensioners but that is highly unlikely.

Thanks man, very informative! +1 rep for you!

Hey, isn't that what I said? Go download the service manual like everyone else and read it. Then start turning wrenches; that is if you know what a wrench is.:shakes head::shakes head::shakes head:

FORme, man I have had the same ticking noise, it concerned me but I never could really find anything wrong with the motor. At one point after I bought the car I took it to the dealer and made them let me go start a different 370 so I could listen to it, that 370 made the same noise so I just let it go.

Bottom line is, if you figure something out to remedy this please let me know!

Ok, this is getting a bit childish. I wasn't looking for a basic answer like "go try for warranty, or "engines tick." My original post asked specifically for technically inclined people if they could answer a valve adjustment question. You never once even said anything pertaining to my question. I got my answer from 1slow. :tiphat:

So, are you now going to tear down your top end seeing you have an answer? You could have found the answer very easy if you had bothered to read the service manual or google. So keep trying the warranty route because your mechanical knowledge is obviously limited to attempt a DIY. Have a nice day!:tiphat:

The new VQ37VHR heads are NON SERVICEABLE, meaning you cannot adjust the valves. Typically the FSM recommends changing the oil to Nissan Ester oil for ticking and noise issues, which has been documented on the G37 forums (and on here) to stop the ticking. I hope you're still under warranty, because the only other alternative after this point short of dealing with it is head replacement if your SM deems it is necessary.

Man I'm so anal I have no doubt I will find a fix. If I have to build my internals, then that's what I'll do. Currently though, I wrote Nissan Consumer Affairs a lengthy letter letting them know that if it isn't fixed, it should be replaced. They actually called me back within a week to let me know that they are very sorry and they have heard of previous complaints, and they are looking into a fix. It seems to me that its a somewhat isolated problem, since a lot of people dont have it. It has been well documented by Infiniti, but Nissan is a bit behind. My advice to anyone having this ticking issue to write a letter to Nissan so that they can issue a TSB. The more people complain, the more chances of it getting approached by Nissan.

Dude you need to pay more attention to detail. I never once said I was gonna attempt a valve adjustment myself. I just wanted to know if it would have a chance at fixing the ticking. Btw I am a mechanical engineering major, so you can stop with the half assed attempts of trying to outwit me. Now.. :gtfo2: AND have a nice day!

See this is what I call useful information. Its also bad news. Thanks weeeee!.

I wouldn't recommend adjusting the valvetrain. Leave it be. Ticking isn't always the valvetrain. Coule be a number of things...

Have you tried removing the serpentine belt? I'd start there...

I haven't, any reason? I've heard something about the timing tensioner also being a culprit. Thoughts?

At this point, unless you're not under warranty (mandatory warranty period for Nissan is 36 months/60k miles) is to take it in to the service department and make them deal with it. If the issue isn't resolved, you can take the issue up further with regional or national. There's no use in trying to fix it or diagnose the problem yourself.

Ya I would never attempt to do any major work like this on my car personally. I'll just take it in to the dealer. Just want to be well informed to battle the "oh that's normal" crowd of douchbags in the service department.

^I went to the service department the other day and this douche didn't know what a TSB was. He was also messing around on his phone which really pissed me off. I was not pleased with that visit to the service department. I can't believe that some of the Nissan dealerships hire these people.

:iagree: Now go take your car to the dealers as others have suggested as well.

Or, are you sure the ticking is valve train related and not confusing it with injector ticking? You could go buy an automotive stethoscope to determine where the tick is originating from. Then go back to the dealer if it is determined that it's the valve train.:tiphat:

^^ I wouldn't even bother unless the dealership is doing a poor job of diagnosing the issue themselves.

Wrong. Go read the section EM of the service manual and look for "Camshaft Valve Clearance - Inspection and Adjustment". Sure as heck sounds serviceable to me.

That's in fact what's happening here, I have taken it to 3 different dealers, and all have said that it's "normal valve train noise." A field service engineer came out from Nissan to listen to the problem and he actually said something different. "normal injector sound." So I've just assumed since he's an engineer, he knows whats up. Still sucks though, hopefully my FI exhaust will make me notice the exhaust tone over the tapping.

I had some idiot tell me that it sounds like a perfectly normal sound for a 370z engine. I asked him to go bring a new one and listen to them side by side and tell me if it still sounds normal to him. He then says "Oh I cant do that because I've never actually heard a 370z engine before." WTF? So I responded, "How can somebody say that an engine sounds normal if they have never heard the engine before?" I think I blew his mind, because he just stood there looking at me...silent...clueless. :shakes head:

^that last line was full of WIN

From what I have been told by service managers, this is one of the reasons they recommend their billion dollar oil, its to help quiet the engine which is probably the valves clicking.

Timing tensoners were issues in the VQ35/VQ40 - due to a bad batch of chains that had rough edges.

It would sound about like a supercharger growl...

Belts can squeak and tick, bearings in the alternator, for example, could have a rough edge resulting in a tick...just sayin'

Ya I've heard about and had Ester oil in my car. Still ticked. I changed the oil personally with Redline at 2500 miles and it went away for about 2 days, now its back with a vengeance.

You can't adjust the valves in the traditional sense.

- Intake side cannot be adjusted. If it is out of specification the cylinder head assembly needs to be replaced.
- If the exhaust side is out of specification, FSM calls for the removal of the VVEL and cam and replacement of the affected valve lifter.

So yes, you are partially correct, so I do stand corrected.

Agreed. Also, it will be an expensive repair should an intake valve get damaged.

Are there any videos or sound files running around about this ticking?

My 2009 6spd w/ SP has never had this issue. I ran factory oil until 1500 miles, Castrol GTX until 5000 miles, and have used Castrol Syntec 0W-30 up until this point with repeated oil analyses that are perfect. With 17,500 miles, the only ticking I've ever hard is the injectors. The injectors on my previous 2007 Altima VQ35DE were very loud, too (louder under load). So...I'm curious if mine does it too and I haven't ever paid attention or if I'm one of the lucky ones.

You all should try changing to Castrol Syntec 0W-30, too. It's a super oil and has really good wear characteristics. I ran it in my Altima for the 40000 miles I had it and had perfect oil analysis results every time and I GAVE THAT CAR HELL!!! Same with the Z. Just sayin...

Late,
Trav

yeah you know i'm not to sure about nissan's "it's non-servicable" remarks for the vvel. I almost want to buy an extra head to play around with it and see because the thing has to put together at the factory somehow, it's just a matter of what fixtures, tools, and processes you need to do it, and being that there is probably an alignment table required for the thing with several indicators, and they aren't going to put one of those in every dealership they probably just labeled it non serviceable. of course replacement parts would be a problem as they don't sell VVEL ladder bar assembly bearings at the dealer.