Ticking sound after stainless steel manifold fitting

Hi guy,

My cars going for mot in the next week or so and after fitting a 4-2-1 stainless steel manifold there's now a ticking sound coming from the engine bay, any ideas what this could be? Possibly a leak?

Thanks
Lee

Yup sounds like it's just not nipped up enough little more might do it 

golfman16 said

Yup sounds like it's just not nipped up enough little more might do it 

Cool thanks,

Is there a sequence to tightening up the bolts or doesn't it matter? Also should the bolts be new or is it okay to re use the old ones?

Thanks again!

Old should be ok but new ones are always nicer to work with , don't think there is a sequence tbh I'd work from the outside in tryn keepin it as even as possible , was the gaskets renewed at the change ? Might be another cause . 

golfman16 said

Old should be ok but new ones are always nicer to work with , don't think there is a sequence tbh I'd work from the outside in tryn keepin it as even as possible , was the gaskets renewed at the change ? Might be another cause . 

Yeah new gasket but it was slightly different in that the standard gaskets were 4 separate pieces and the new one was one piece. Hoping I don't have to replace that

I don't know if there is a specified sequence either, but a good rule of thumb would actually be to work from the centre out, that way any tightening stress are worked outwards somewhat rather than being gathered and compressed toward the centre.
Just my 2 cents worth….

It's best to fit new nuts as they will be even harder to remove next time as being heated up and cooled down lots of time does things to metal, new nuts also have a locking collar so they don't work them selves lose.

GSF, Euro car parts should sell them as should a good motor factors or you can get them delivered to your door in a couple of days for £2.75.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK1-MK2-MK3-T25-CAMPER-CORRADO-EXHAUST-MANIFOLD-LOCK-NUTS-x-8-A713-/191413095873?fits=Model%3AGolf&hash=item2c911c0dc1:g:Bv8AAOSwnDxUbael

mark1gls said

It's best to fit new nuts as they will be even harder to remove next time as being heated up and cooled down lots of time does things to metal, new nuts also have a locking collar so they don't work them selves lose.

GSF, Euro car parts should sell them as should a good motor factors or you can get them delivered to your door in a couple of days for £2.75.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK1-MK2-MK3-T25-CAMPER-CORRADO-EXHAUST-MANIFOLD-LOCK-NUTS-x-8-A713-/191413095873?fits=Model%3AGolf&hash=item2c911c0dc1:g:Bv8AAOSwnDxUbael

Thanks for the advice guys!

I've bought new nuts so time will tell. I'm dredging having to do this as is a bit of a mission with only car ramps to work with!

Wish me luck!

Or dreading! Bloody auto correct  

Is it not just easier to take the inlet manifold off to get better access rather then struggling from underneath 

MCCUE23 said

Is it not just easier to take the inlet manifold off to get better access rather then struggling from underneath 

Good point, I'm pretty new to mechanics but is that the better way to go? Someone told me I could mess up something if I took the inlet mani off?

may just be how it is with the new systems, the 4 branch manifolds tend to be a bit louder than oem thinner metal used and no big cast iron manifold to absorb noise etc. also it could be the manifold is badly made, wouldnt be the first that was warped so bad that you cant get it to seal to the head.

a bit of toilet tissue waved about round the joints will help you track down any leaks, if you see it flapping about there you go

I would go with what rubjonny has just said. I had this on my cab - when it got hot it would started ticking, almost popping because the manifold had a slight leak.

A bit of garden hose pipe and put one end in your ear and move the other end around the manifold to hear for any blowing.
If you have removed the inlet manifold recently then you may be fine removing it again but you will need a new gasket if you have not removed the inlet manifold I would leave it well alone as it can be difficult to remove it.
I worked from under the engine at the back as you can easily see the 4 bottom bolts and you can see 2 bolts at the top either end of the head it's just the top 2 middle bolts which are hard to see.

Yeah I wiggled the mani in from underneath but I had to disconnect the drive shaft! my new nuts arrived today so I'll be a busy boy this weekend. Gotta use rubjonny's tissue method first then I'll try sort the leak. Mot ran out on Tuesday so my Friday drive to work is gonna be boring 😭😭😭😭

Hi guys,

So I tried the tissue method and it didn't move this was after installing the new nuts. It's still making the ticking sound though! If it was the mani gasket would the ticking sound speed up with acceleration? I tried tightening the inlet mani bolts but they didn't budge. Any ideas what else it could be?

Cheers

Sounds like it might be pinking, try knocking back your ignition timing a couple degrees 

as i say, with the aftermarket 421 they will sound more 'ticky' until they coke up a bit, just the way there are.

but yeah, check the timing is correct etc and look for soot stains round the manifold flange etc