Ticking Sound on top of engine...
 

Being new to Nissan engines...is this normal? I can really hear it going through drive-throughs and stuff. Sorry for the noob question :) First car I own that sounds like that.

You mean after you turn the car off you can hear it from the outside and not from the cockpit? It's normal, there is a LOT of heat under the hood. Nothing to worry about, my g37 did it too.

Nope, while its running.

Its not very loud. Almost sounds like lifters. Just curious.

injectors?
tick tick tick tick? really fast?

very normal. You mentioned drive thru so I'm assuming after driving for a while when you stop, it's normal to hear the ticking. Previous Z did it as well.

Ever figure out what it is?

throttle body?

Yep.

I just noticed this sound two days ago!
 

I don't think it came from the top of the engine(at least not my Z). Mine came from the underside of the car (around cat area-both side). It's a constant ticking noise (exactly the same noise you get when you park your car after driving). You CANNOT hear this noise while driving or even in intersections but when you idle the car in your garage or a quiet area (after driving for at least half an hour), you will notice the sound. Not sure what it is. Doesn't affect the performance of the car in any way. I'll take a video tomorrow.

NO. :(

My previous LS1 and my new VQ37VHR are both a little noisy, and both became even moreso with aftermarket intakes that get rid of the factory sound baffling. You're probably hearing 'normal' valvetrain noise. Slight ticking/clicking, frequency changes with engine RPMs. Normally don't notice it driving, but you'll hear it in a garage or drive-through because it echoes off the nearby wall back into your window.

I agree with the people who said its probably the injectors, they do make an audible ticking noise. My 300Zx does it, my 350Z did it. haven't noticed it on my 370 but probably does it too.

Yeah what I'm referring to as valvetrain noise above could easily be injectors too. I don't know what it is honestly, but I hear it and it's normal :)

Injectors
 

Injectors for sure. Have had the same noise with every Nissan I have owned. The only car I didnt here it in had an RB26 bored to 2.8 ltr with huge cams. The rugged idle of the car covered the injector noise.

So its very significant. If the noise changes for you without any moderate or high powerplant mods...........check it out before something expensive goes wrong. Drive your car every once in a while with no stereo on so you can get used to the normal noises of the car. Helps you in the long run with early troubleshooting to diagnose what may end up being costly repairs.

I have NO ticking noise from engine area. But, after driving more than half hour (meaning cats are fully warmed up), I get a little ticking noise. I am certain it's NOT engine or injector related. It's coming from cat or exhaust area. Camera was placed RIGHT under left cat, car idling.

VIDEO
YouTube - MOV01759

popcorn?