Ticking sound when accelerating

[PMB]

Direct Injectors are loud as frig, and are easily noticeable on 4 cyl. engines. They make a sound that is MUCH like a rock in a wheel, but obviously tied more closely to RPM instead of vehicle speed.

My previous car also had them, and it was a common complaint in the forums for new owners of GDI engines. I think many people that are saying they never heard them probably have 6 cyl. and possibly HK audio which will easily kill the sound of the DI's making their ticking noises.

One more thing that can make the ticking louder is lugging the engine (high load at low RPM). The DI have to work really hard to shoot fuel into the cylinder, and therefore I found the noise to be more obvious. Any chance you have a manual, or you're driving in manual mode with low RPM's?

 

[Regs120]

Bad gas?

 

[YOWStinger]

Bad gas?

I've got to go with this, are you filling with premium? I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned knock/predetonation, you shouldn't hear ticking under acceleration, my engine note is smooth, there is no ticking. You may have one of the badly gapped OEM spark plugs, you should have the dealer pull them and check them. Especially that you mention that it sounds like it's "slipping" sounds to me like you're misfiring.

It's definitely not "getting used to different drivers", that's not how cars work You don't have to take it out for dinner and get to know it!

 

[PMB]

I've got to go with this, are you filling with premium? I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned knock/predetonation, you shouldn't hear ticking under acceleration, my engine note is smooth, there is no ticking. You may have one of the badly gapped OEM spark plugs, you should have the dealer pull them and check them. Especially that you mention that it sounds like it's "slipping" sounds to me like you're misfiring.

It's definitely not "getting used to different drivers", that's not how cars work You don't have to take it out for dinner and get to know it!

Nobody is mentioning knock/predetonation because it's not going to happen with modern engines, and certainly the engine won't let it get to the point where it's actual audible to a human.

 

[YOWStinger]

Nobody is mentioning knock/predetonation because it's not going to happen with modern engines, and certainly the engine won't let it get to the point where it's actual audible to a human.

There are reported instances of incorrectly gapped plugs from the factory, and new or re-gapped plugs are a requirement for a JB4 install. I'm not entirely clear on why you think misfires aren't audible to humans.

cc @Terry@BMS

 

[PMB]

There are reported instances of incorrectly gapped plugs from the factory, and new or re-gapped plugs are a requirement for a JB4 install. I'm not entirely clear on why you think misfires aren't audible to humans.

cc @Terry@BMS

Well, I didn't suggest that you can't hear misfires. Knocking/pre-detonation has nothing to do with misfiring.

Knocking sounds like somebody hitting the engine with a hammer. Misfires sounds like popcorn inside your exhaust system.
Modern engines have knock sensors that can detect the earliest signs of knock before they make any (to human) audible noises and will start adjusting engine parameters (usually timing) to mitigate knock before it can cause engine damage. Therefore, unless something is seriously wrong (CEL) you will not hear knock. Misfiring will also throw a CEL pretty quickly because the emissions system will be throwing a fit, and a load of other engine parameters will be missing their targets.

 

[YOWStinger]

Yes, you're correct, I'm still inclined to think this is a result of our often badly gapped plugs rather than something rattling, or not using fuel at a high enough octane.

Here are a bunch of the popular threads to see if they're similar to your experience.
Why HKS Plugs?
3.3TT - Cylinder #6 Misfire
Unknown Rattle upon Acceleration
Gas. 87, 91, 93 Octane?
Secret Engine Killer -LSPI- Low Speed Pre-Ignition
Ottawa area stingers
How to avoid blown spark plugs in your tuned Stinger

 

[Kruizinkareem]

If it's a knocking sound it could be LSPI (Low Speed Pre-Ignition)
It happens at low RPMs and high load.
Is it consistent and happens a lot or does it come and go?
This video talks about it if you want to watch.

 

[G-342646]

I have an 18 Stinger Premium with almost 5600 miles. Love the car but not so crazy about the sunroof and rear hatch rattles. I also have an issue that is beginning to concern me. If I am driving the car and have to accelerate, such as passing someone, I get a loud ticking sound. While driving home from work yesterday, I turned a corner and then accelerated and got the ticking sound. I mentioned this to my dealer awhile back and the service writer told me it is because the car is "adjusting to different drivers". Seriously? I am the primary driver of this vehicle. My husband drives it once every two weeks to get gas for me. I want to take the vehicle back in for this issue but am hoping someone can give me ideas on what to have them look at because I am not buying their original diagnosis. Thanks!

I just bought a 2019 Stinger and after a few days started to hear a click when accelerating.
Turns out it was my sunglasses in the holder above the rear view mirror!

 

[MICHIELLE M ETHIER]

I've got to go with this, are you filling with premium? I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned knock/predetonation, you shouldn't hear ticking under acceleration, my engine note is smooth, there is no ticking. You may have one of the badly gapped OEM spark plugs, you should have the dealer pull them and check them. Especially that you mention that it sounds like it's "slipping" sounds to me like you're misfiring.

It's definitely not "getting used to different drivers", that's not how cars work You don't have to take it out for dinner and get to know it!

I had to tell you that your response solved the issue. I do not put the gas in my car, my husband does that for me when needed. After reading your response, I asked him if he was putting premium in my car. Apparently he was using the mid-grade. Now that he has been schooled on this, he has been putting premium in the car. Not only is the ticking sound gone, I am actually getting better gas mileage. Thanks for your help on this!

 

[YOWStinger]

I had to tell you that your response solved the issue. I do not put the gas in my car, my husband does that for me when needed. After reading your response, I asked him if he was putting premium in my car. Apparently he was using the mid-grade. Now that he has been schooled on this, he has been putting premium in the car. Not only is the ticking sound gone, I am actually getting better gas mileage. Thanks for your help on this!

Glad to hear it cleared up! Nothing worse than stressing about that stuff

 

[Lopdan36]

Honestly, nobody has reported this before, so it might help if you could capture it on video?

Modern engines all have somewhat louder engine noises from valve train and the like that years ago would have caused concern, but we don't hear that in the cockpit and it's completely normal.

 

[Lopdan36]

I actually have this problem it doesn’t do it all the time it happends atleast once a drive when trying to accelerate from stopped or accelerating between second second and third like mid shift between its a loud clicking or ticking noise and power drops while doing this for a second or two any ideas?