I found a lot of info on valve ticking for the 22re, but not that much about the 3.0. Over the past 2 days I've noticed a loud ticking noise coming from the drivers side of the engine. It's louder than the normal injector noise, it's loud enough to concern me. To my untrained ear it sounds like its coming from the big aluminum "thing" (that's a technical word) where the "3.0 V6" is written (intake manifold?).

The thing that concerns me is that it happened suddenly. In an old post, Frank said if the valve gets too out of spec I'll burn it up. FWIW, I did just have the dealer replace the PCV valve on Friday and they replaced the rubber hose too. The last time the valves were adjusted was a little less than 60k ago.

So does this sound like the valves or something else? How long can I live with this?

dude my 3.0 has had a ticking noise since the dealer did the HG recall at 175k....I am at 200k now....it is a 3.0, they just freaking tick. I went to premium gas and change the plugs frequentily and the ticking is bearable now.

Yeah, but the thing is, I've never had the valve ticking, at least not this loud. Does the valve ticking normally come from the driver's side or does it matter?

This happened to me, so I ran a little risoline through there, and never heard a tick (well, besides the normal 3.0 ticks) again. This was for most likely a stuck lifter. Possible maybe?

for the most part EVERY 3.0 I have ever ridden in has ticked. dont get me wrong, I love my little 3.0 but I would trade her in a heart beat for a 3.4 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I had this happen in july to my old 86.5 V6 Nissan HB I only had 113k on it. It was ticking like crazy I added some lucas oil additive and used premium gas and the ticking went away. My buddies 4 cyl nissan hb just started making the same ticking noise.
I have heard valve chatter before but this is rediculous.
I wonder if it is bad gasoline causing this? It doesn't surprise me they are probably watering down the gas at the stations to make a few more $$ off us.. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Try and isolate the sound. It could be valves, injectors, or an exhaust leak. Cut a piece of garden hose to use as a stethoscope, or buy one from a parts shop.

Joe is right, other things and especially exhaust leaks can sound like ticks. My engine, or valve covers to bes specific, sounds like it they have marbles in them. My neighbors 3.0 is extremely quiet in comparison. I guess some are louder than others.

What I meant about burning up the valves is that since the exaust valve looses its heat through contact with its seat in the cylinder head, as time goes by and the gap between the cam and valve gets smaller, the valve spends less time in contact. Eventually, it could over heat, or "burn up" the valve.

That said, I don't know when my valves were last done and I would like to get them adjusted in the next few months just for piece of mind.

Frank.

I'll try to track down the origin of the noise tonight with a tube. Thanks guys.

man Ive been trying like hell to track town this tick on my 3.slo

Mine sounds like a gasket leak (there are enough gaskets in there )

First off my valves tick if i use 89 gas if i use 93 all is well with the valves. Im going to make a sound recording of mine tonight and post it here to see if we have the same sound.