Jump to content

2011 2.5L SE Fusion Ticking/Chattering Noise of Upper Valve Train


glynner252
 Share

Recommended Posts

I've posted in the past couple months about my on going saga to seek and destroy the ticking noise coming from my upper valvetrain which started at about 14K, I'm now at 28k at it's still there! I initially took it in to the dealer at about 19k and they told me there is an acceptable amount of mechanical noise to be expected. I told them this is my third I-4 cylinder fusion and I have a pretty in depth knowledge of these particular vehicles; such as the bad blower bearing which ford has yet to change that supplier obviously as mine is already starting to squeak in my 2011 fusion. There are no oil level issues, I'm using MotorCraft parts and oil. The noise was first noticable when I started my vehicle then it subsided, that is not the case now. It's always there now taunting me to diagnose it. The motor sounds like a small diesel which is tired and old already. Now some other posts were talking about there ticking being attributed to the fuel injectors? How is that, when a noise is usually mechanical? Are today's injector's mechanical? Others have also told me that it might be the silent chain tensioner. Anyone ever heard of that being the cause of a tick in the upper valvetrain? I have one on my snowmobile and have had to tighten it before but it wasn't becasue it made a ticking noise. Looking for any help here before I have to go back to dealer yet again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, the fuel injectors are mechanical (electromechanical actually). There is a valve that slams open and shut to control the fuel flow. Fuel injectors do get louder with age.

 

The timing chain is automatically tensioned. If the tensioner failed, you would hear a rattling noise when you start the engine. So I don't think that's it.

 

Are you using 5W20 oil or something else?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I drove more than nine cars and only one was a V8 and the other a V6. The rest were all I4s. Out of these, My Fusion's I4 gives the weirdest sounds. Yes I4s lack the smoothness and quietness of V6 and V8's but usually, they are just 'louder' and harsher (i.e. give out more vibrations as they operate).

My Fusion's 2.5 I4 sounds more like a diesel than a gasoline engine. There is this distinct 'knock' for lack of better term.

 

I park underground and when I go down the ramp next to a wall, the echo from the engine bay sounds like a chain drive (a high-pitched jingle-like sound). The funny thing is that it does not matter if I am in 'D' or 'N', but it does disappear if I stop the car, also, if I drive on a flat part of the garage next to a wall, that chain like sounds does not happen, but the diesel-like knock is always there, regardless.

 

The SM at the dealer insists this is normal for the 2.5 engine. I am not convinced, but have nothing to argue with.

 

On the other hand, if I roll up my windows, this engine becomes one of the smoothest I4s I drove (relatively speaking ). I think Ford's engineers got the counter-balance just right. If they could just complete their favor and eliminated the uncomplimentary sound track that comes a long :)

Edited by MTLFusion2010
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I have the same problem. I do not hear the sound until my car warms-ups after a short drive. Is it the motor mount? Transmission oil needing change? My car engine jerks while taking off past from the stop light also, maybe there is a connection. Please help :banghead:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I have the same ticking sound in my engine. It seems to be less pronounced after getting up to operating temperature which makes sense with how valve lash (clearance) is done. However, ours sounds exactly like the rental Mazda6 my wife had on a business trip with the same 2.5 I-4 engine. Remember, the 2.5 engine and the 6 speed manual transmission are Mazda designed, not Ford designed. These engines have been around since the 2009 model year in Mazdas and in the Escape with no known problems, at least according to the Mazda forums. A friend of mine has a 2010 Chevy Equinox and at idle, standing 20 feet away, it sound like someone threw marbles in the top end of the engine, a combination of valve lash, and as FusionDiffusion stated, the direct injection fuel injectors are especially loud. It's apparently normal for those engines. My 2.7 I-4 Tacoma is a little noisy when it's cold too. So I'm not worrying too much about my engine at this point.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

I've been "ASSURED" by the Ford Dealer that this clicking is indeed the normal function of the electro-mechanical fuel injectors on the 2.5L engine. Ford is actually adding insulation in newer models to quiet the racket.. (rather than re engineering the injectors....). The dealer actually acknowledges it sounds like a sewing machine.. The prior, original owner, also brought my car in for the same racket at 3,000 miles and the dealer has that documented on the file for the car. Sooo... if it magically becomes a TSB issue down the road it's properly documented. I'm not having any performance issues...continue to get 36MPG on the highway, with clean, smooth power.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

my 2012 2.5L Fusion has the same sound.. at idle it sounds like a diesel. rev it just a little and it smooths out.

engine's nice & smooth driving. It only when things warm up.

I'm using motorcraft 5w20 semi-syn with a Wix 51516 (equiv of the FL-400s).

I'm tempted to put 5w30 synthetic in to see if it helps things out.

However, I know Ford has spec'd 5w20 for a reason, and at the moment I have no reason to switch it out.

I might try 5w20 full syn instead. But for now, I'll see what the semi syn does for me.

I'm going to push for a 10k OCI and see what the oil test results will be. I'll know if there's anything wearing that shouldn't be.

 

this is my very first 4cyl car, I love the mileage and that everything's just easy to work on should I ever have to.

However, the diesel sound is annoying and a little scary to hear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I'm glad I found this post, as the 2011 SE I just bought had this ticking, and I was concerned about it, but it went away once the car warmed up. If it is just a byproduct of the injectors on these engines and not a sign of a major issue I'm glad I let it slide.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just want to shed some light on this topic. Usually when you hear a ticking noise form the motor it is usually a valvetrain noise such as free play in the lifters. My 2012 I4 fusion does this and it is annoying and the dealer says nothing is wrong. Nothing will probably go wrong but you should have the dealer check the valve train tolerances just incase you dont have any premature wear going on that will get worse with time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

If you hear an upper valve train noise after your vehicle is warmed up, there may be a crack between your cylinders. This tends to happen with ford fusions. The problem may not be as serious as you think. Your vehicle still may perform adequately overtime. A good thing to do, is to check your coolant to make sure the cracked cylinder didnt cause a leak to your coolant or then youll have to replace the head gasket. This soley depends on where the cylinder crack occured. This "Ticking Noise" is typically louder as you drive your car and the engine warms up. Also, the noise has been referred to as a "Diesel Sound." Hope This Helps!?

Edited by tiataylor1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you hear an upper valve train noise after your vehicle is warmed up, there may be a crack between your cylinders. This tends to happen with ford fusions. The problem may not be as serious as you think. Your vehicle still may perform adequately overtime. A good thing to do, is to check your coolant to make sure the cracked cylinder didnt cause a leak to your coolant or then youll have to replace the head gasket. This soley depends on where the cylinder crack occured. This "Ticking Noise" is typically louder as you drive your car and the engine warms up. Also, the noise has been referred to as a "Diesel Sound." Hope This Helps!?

If you're referring to this video, it's been reported in Escapes, not really known in Fusions. These engines are inherently noisy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're referring to this video, it's been reported in Escapes, not really known in Fusions. These engines are inherently noisy.

 

I've watched that video multiple times, in fact I've posted it here before. Brian is an awesome tech, and his videos are at the top of my list, and while he doesn't state specifically in this video that the Fusions are affected, the affected engine - the 2.5 - is the exact same engine in 2010-12 Fusions, so I would expect that there are Fusions out there with the problem shown in the video.

 

Now, a few comments, as well as a very recent observation following the top-end work I just had done on the 2.5 engine in my 2010 Fusion.

 

- The engine IS a relatively noisy one. I've heard it described as sounding like a loud sewing machine, and I would definitely agree with that assessment.

- Maintenance, as well as proper oil level, can have a huge impact on how these engines sound

 

 

-- The engine in my car actually sounded a fair bit like the one in that video, and I was concerned for a while that I might have the dreaded crack between cylinders. I ended up taking it in due to a CEL / Cylinder-1 misfire code, and diagnostics revealed low compression in cylinder 1 due to a failing exhaust valve. They ended up sending the head off to a machine shop for a rebuild/repair. While it was off, I had the opportunity to have a look into the open cylinders, and could not find any evidence of any crack anywhere in Cyl-2 or Cyl-3, which tells me that the cracking from that video was not in fact the issue.

I got the car back a few days ago, and I've put 275 miles on it since. One of the first things I did was check all fluid levels, etc.. and then start it up and have a listen to how it sounded after the service. I've also listened to it a few more times, following my commute home from work (55 miles one way), and I can say that the sound shown in that video is no longer there. In this case, the sound I was hearing was most definitely due to upper-end/valve-train noise - Most likely that one valve in Cylinder 1.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Hi Guys I have a different problem my car has no noise until I turn the ac on at idle or I turn the steering wheel at idle . but once I give it the smallest amount of gas it go's away it sounds like its coming from the passenger side...it sounds like the rattling sound is in tune with a small vibration. any ideas guys ??? 2009 ford fusion se

 

 

Edited by blackwidow9733
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...