Hey guys I drive a 1994 acura legend . the engine has 70k miles on it and gets full synthetic oil changes every 4k miles. I had some overheating issues maybe two months back so sludge is possible.

About two weeks ago my car started ticking ( sounded like hydraulic lifters). I flushed the oil and changed it. I still had the tick. I proceeded to test the oil pressure and found out that it was reading a low pressure. I flushed and changed the oil a second time. I then drove it for around 20 minutes and the ticking stopped. Now it ticks only SOMETIMES at start up and only after long trips (70-90 miles). It is completely quiet when I drive 20-50 miles and otherwise its quiet when I drive it with no tick. It doesn't matter the speed either nothing affects the tapping except long distance and cold start up. any tips? I'm lost!

Hydraulic lifters should be extremely quiet.

You also said that the motor had both oil pressure AND overheating problems (in the past)

Both of which can lead to hydraulic lifter failure.

Sludge buildup in the motor, from overheating, could very well be the cause for your hydraulic lifter problem, as they run off of oil pressure. Sludge can easily block your oil pump pickup, causing a severe drop in oil pressure.

And unfortunately the only way to replace hydraulic lifters is to remove the head.


When you checked your oil pressure? how did you do it?

Did you use a mechanical gauge? What was "low"?

Did the oil pressure fluctuate at an idle, or while revved?


It sounds like to me, that one of your lifters is maybe getting stuck, as it is an intermittent problem, and you aren't hearing the noise all the time.

This is pretty common, and will need to be addressed at some point, but if it has just started, I wouldn't concern yourself with it too much, at least right now.

Unless the symptoms get progressively worse. Keep driving the car. Just keep a watchful eye on oil pressure, and coolant temperature.