Engine tapping/loud ticking on startup!
 

As title when starting my car this morning had a really loud noise coming from the drivers side of the engine. It seemed to go or quieten down when the oil warmed up.

Anyone got any ideas what the cause is? The car's a 93 type ra

More info- the oil level is fine and the noise increases with revs.

Looking at other threads on here, tappets and oil pump seem the most likely. What sort of cost would i be looking at for sorting either of these?

Probably a leaking exhaust manifold if its on the drivers side.. Could be a sticky lifter (I'm not 100% sure which EJ20's had hydraulic lifters).. Use a long screwdriver as a stethascope to see if its comming from the head on the drivers side.. If not its probably the manifold blowing.

Thanks for that Davey

Ive just started it back up, the oil must still be fairly warm as theres no loud tapping anymore. I used a screwdriver and the ticking seems a little louder on the rear cylinder drivers side, but all of them are ticking? i got underneath to listen out for leaks in the manifold but couldn't hear blowing anywhere?

The leak will probably be at the join with the turbo.. sometimes when they warm up the leak disapears as everything expands.

I'll have to wait until its cold and try to listen out on the uppipe. I dont think my engine has hydraulic lifters, its a EJ20GN, i can only find hydraulic ones for EJ20EN engines- is this correct?

No tapping today either, changed the oil as a precaution but i think this was probably a one off? fingers crossed eh