I am getting an intermittent ticking sound from my engine. I've heard from various sources that I probably need a valve adjustment. An ex-Lexus mechanic told me that it is a lifter problem and it will cost $800 to fix. He also said if I don't take care of it they would lock up. Is there any truth to this? If so what is the worst case senario?

 

My car does this as well. It has 227K on it. I have heard that it is common and will not cause any harm. But thats just what I heard.

 

first of all: the Lexus has NO lifters--4 OH cams and 32 valves !!!!

see a good mech--may be a valve click--shims are required to adjust.

 

Well to put a fine point on it, the Lexus V-8 uses shim adjusted bucket style cam "followers", which in the lingo qualify as "lifters" to many. A lifter in the basic sense is the device that the cam lobe impinges on in order to convert the sliding or wiping forces to forces that are parallel to the valve or pushrod.

 

ok,but will a valve or lifter adjustment solve this ticking noise.

 

Could also be your EGR pipe making the noise, that's a common problem as well.

 

A leaky EGR pipe will make a noise very similar to the lifter noise. However the EGR tick will be at the firewall, behind the engine. Lifter noises can be identified with a mechanics stethoscope, which will also help to eliminate confusion with the injector noises.

 

Thanks for all the comments! I do need to go to another mech to diagnose this problem, I just hope realy and truely that it will not cause any harm to the engine.

By the way 'SharpLS' , my EGR was recently changed so I know that's definitely not the problem, but thanks anyway. When I had the EGR problem the sound was closer to the firewall, the ticking sound is definitely the engine.

 

Lifters? What lifters? It's the valve shims are out of adjustment.
JPI

 

Ok? What's the worse that can happen being they're out of adjustment, can it cause more damge? The problem just started a few weeks ago ,but is intermittent.

 

Have another tech look at your vehicle again. If the valve are out of adjustment It will make the ticking noise all the time.
JPI

 

I have confirmed with a Lexus tech. that problem with the worn shims is harmless. It only causes that ticking noise.

 

Get a fresh oil change maybe even use some sea foam if they are sticky it will go away. Mine did tick as well but i switched to Motul synthetic and since it has gone away.

 

I had one solid lifter always that made noise so I spent $888.00 and when they finished the valve ajustment it did quiet down but there was still valve noise on the older lexus engines. The tech also found a big build up of carbon on the intake which Ive since found all lexus will build up carbon on the intake cutting down performace. Have your car tech clean out the carbon when you have the valves ajusted or just ask him to clean out the carbon on the intake he will know what you are talking about. The carbon build up on the lexus ls400 is common and when you clean it out the engine comes to life and performs just great.