Hello, here is julekpl again. I am having a slight issue with this ticking sound coming from my 1990 miata. I know it is not from the belts, and I do change my oil ever 3000 miles so I know that would cause any issues. The ticking starts after I drive around a bit, when I stop my car, put it in park, and then I put it in drive again, that's when it starts. It hasn't caused any problems, but I would like prevent it from causing any. Anyone have an idea on this issue? And my engine is stock.

 

If it is coming from behind your left shoulder it is most likely the electric fuel pump. Not the a very quiet pump, if you didn't hear it your car would not be running! If it is from the engine area, then it could just be the sound that comes from things just heating up a bit and then cooling down.

 

Does the crankshaft pulley wobble at all when it is running?

Hydraulic lifter noise is common in these cars even sometimes with fresh oil. What oil do you use? How many miles on the car? What is your hot oil pressure reading?

 

Well mine is an automatic, and from what I know, the crankshift is not wobbling, and I use a 5w20 oil that I don't remember the brand name of. It has 87k original miles on it, and usually while running it gets around 60 for the oil pressure, a bit less maybe. I know that it's not the belts, and that it is behind them, deeper in the engine, and is sometimes it get loud, where it sounds like the belts.