Ticking at idle, goes away with throttle, also crazy knock readings

[DJ Robu5t]

Finally got my gsx running good, fixed all of the boost leaks and vacuum leaks, got dsm link. Tried to get a base tune (proving to be difficult as it's my first time tuning this much), running right around 14.7 at idle now, and once it boost it pegs straight to 10 and then gets richer.

On to the problem, at idle I hear a ticking/knocking type noise, we don't believe it's rod knock as it goes away with throttle and it's not nearly as loud as most rod knock you would hear, you can hear it a bit louder around 2500 when you let off, but it's gone after 2500 rpm. It's not very loud, but it's definitely noticeable, sounds more towards a tick than a knock (what I would imagine to be a hammer).

On a side note, but somewhat related, I get raw knock of around 3-5 at idle, and anywhere from 20-40 cruising, that seems odd to me, we just replaced the knock sensor as well. The weirdest thing is that I get almost no knock retard through a full pull, most I will get is 0.7 degrees knock retard. Why am I getting 30+ counts of raw knock just cruising and no knock retard.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I'm getting my shop to do a compression test Monday, just trying to get some research done before then so I can narrow it down.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

It's your lifters. Have them replaced. If skilled enough they can be done without removing the cams by popping the rocker arms out.
Ticking noise goes away due to increased oil pressure. Performing a proper engine oil flush may even resolve your issue.

 

[TurboLaserRS]

MJcanada that sounds awesome. I'm fairly sure I could get the rocker to come off but how do you get it back on with the cam in the head and everything around it still in place? That sounds almost absurdly difficult. I'd really like to get 3g lifters myslelf but I haven't because I don't want to redo my timing.

 

[DJ Robu5t]

Well last night I was able to hear it while cruising, only with the windows up, still not very loud, just noticeable, would lifters still tick while cruising? Say around 2000-2500 rpms cruising? Could this be what the knock sensor is reading as well? Either way, the car is sitting til Monday when I am getting the compression test done, don't want to do anymore damage just in case.

Rod knock would be noticeable performance wise correct? Because I can't tell a difference in performance, still runs great, it's also louder at night, so I'm guessing that points to lifter tick as the oil would be even colder rather than during the day.. just freaking out since I won't have the money or time to rebuild the motor..

 

[DJ Robu5t]

For anyone that was watching, it was rod knock, very beginning stages, the bearing was getting worn down but didn't go out yet, saved the rods and crank didn't need to be cut, moral of the story if you hear anything off get it checked out asap and save money!!

 

[Eckzavier]

Always inspect strange noises! Glad you caught it before it got too bad!

 

[evo-gsr]

Jusf to add...lifter tick can set off the knock sensor too sometimes.

 

[DJ Robu5t]

Found out the ticking wasn't lifter tick. It was the damn spark plug wires arcing out against the valve cover, they had tiny cuts in them... odd things with these cars.