86 560SEL, 73K

If car has not been started for a day or overnight, it sounds like a valve isn't getting enough oil for a short second upon initial startup.

I have the whole top end redone last winter with new chain, guides, heads pulled, etc.

What do you think?

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

what's the outside temperature and weight of oil you're using?

i have 5w-40 synthetic in my coupe (which is in storage now) and it did this for about a second on initial start up on the coldest of days. the tick will go away once oil pressure builds. never ticked in its life when it was warm outside.

i'd consider it normal?

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Allen Kroliczek
Oak Grove Autosport | Oak Grove Autosport
01 G500, 82 300TD, quite a few more.....

i use 10-40 valvoline maxlife synthetic blend.

car lives in garage, but lately temperatures have been in the 40s

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

I'd bet it's not a valve but the timing chain. See if the sound is coming from the front of the engine on startup.

Are there new plastic chain guides? A new chain tensioner?

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
FrankenBenz: '87 560SEC with an '02 cammed LS6 and custom 4L60E.
Bling: '87 560SEC, ported/polished, lowered
Lisa: '87 560SEL, lowered

on my 103 i get this noise on startup for a few seconds, occasionally in wintertime or when the oil and filter are replaced.Its a light ticking noise like loose tappets.
I assume that the noise from a timing chain may be of a clattery nature .
mak
300se

Switch to a true synthetic which is ACEA approved and it'll probably go away.

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A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

Chain, tensioner and all guides were replaced about 10K miles ago. had the whole engine front off, so all the guides were replaced. then had the heads off too. Was a huge deal and VERY expensive!! I fooishly spent almost as much on the repair as I did on the car, but I figured if I spent the money, I could drive the car for the next 10 years. At least that's the story I told the wife.

the sound lasts for barely a second.

tried to record it on my cellphone. not very good sound, but the tick is at 4 secs into the video http://www.flickr.com/photos/randys32/sets/72157622890750673/

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

After replacing the chain, guides and tensioner, the engine still had a ticking sound from the right hand valve cover. It was a very dirty smog pump. After rebuilding the pump all was quiet. The smog pump will run for 1 minute until the controller turns it off. One of the members here told me this could be the problem. The noisy pump was telegraphing the ticking noise allowing me to believe it from the valve train. This might be something to check. Good Luck.

it only last for a second and only after the car has been sitting and cold. like overnight or all day

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

You probably have one or more worn Hydraulic Lift Compensators (Lifters). I had to replace a couple noisy ones on my 560SEL. Not difficult at all. Can be done in an hour or so if you have a valve spring compressor tool. It's usually best to replace them all at the same time.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

If it only happens for a second or so on a cold start I wouldn't fret. If it continues for longer periods of time, or even when hot it could be the hydraulic compensators or it could be a cam lobe (or two) wearing. On my 560SEL I wore through the cam lobes around 190K and had to replace both cams. That started to show with a slight ticking when warm and was really loud on cold start.

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.