Yes, you are correct, it ONLY does it at full operating temp BUT it doesn't do it all the time. I picked up the car 4 months ago, so I have never changed the oil yet. When it was low, I added what the manual recommended, 0-40w Mobil 1 Synthetic.

 

I would get it looked at ASAP before it becomes big. Either way no DB9 should be making noises like that. You didn't happen to get that car at thrift auto sales did you? Buyer beware with them. Good luck!

 

Several threads on Pistonheads and AMOC forums regarding ticking V12 engines. Certainly not common, but also not unheard of. All seem to be OK from a performance standpoint, and some have been fixed by various component replacements. The most involved one I've recently read about was to replace an ovalized cylinder liner.

 

Had same exact sound on my X3 that would come & go. Sometimes only when the engine was cold other times when hot. It was a lifter / rocker.

 

I may be way off base, but it sounded like an exhaust leak to me, especially when the camera was close to the floor. Maybe a flange bolt needs to be tightened? Manifold crack? In any event, put the car on a lift and explore.

 

Hmmm? It did seem louder at the bottom. That would make my day if it was something loose. I'll have to did deeper in the matter. Thanks for that observation.

 

First thing I thought of too. Sounds like an exhaust manifold leak.

 

If it was an exhaust leak I would think the sound would be present all the time. The OP says the sound is intermittent. I wish the OP lots of luck though! Hopefully the AM gods have mercy! Either way it sounds expensive...

 

Since it only happens when the engine is warmed up, is the exhaust manifold leak scenario like? Seems it would do it cold and quiet up as the engine heated up (metal expansion), tightening the leak. I could be wrong and hope the leak is the issue.

 

Just a little update.......had my oil changed about a month ago...........tick still exists. Still intermediate. Still only happens when the car is driven for quite a while and sometimes doesn't tick at all. Sometimes when it does start ticking it goes away after a while. So frustrating and annoying.

 

The only way this is going to get fixed is if you pay a mechanic to diagnose the problem. If I was a betting man, my money would be on the chain tensioners or cam followers (buckets, lashes, etc.) in the cylinder head. Usually these types of problems will only get worse so its better to get it fixed ASAP instead of doing the "wait and pray" approach.

 

I just listened to the video clip on previous page and all the attempts / advice to diagnose issue, but does indeed sound like a base engine issue to me.

Sorry to say for OP and anybody else with similar problem, and after cylinder head components that have been / can be changed in situ have been ruled out (but they sound like different sort of tick than one in video), requires removal, strip, engine rebuild and refit to correct.

We have 3 '9's in with same problem (well, 2 nearly down 1 to go). All have worn small end bearings with oval liners, probably get around 2 cars per month coming in with same complaint.

2 quarts down on oil would not have been root cause of issue, especially if updated dipstick fitted.


Copied from my blog on PH...

Our experience of numerous ticking V12 engines, the mode of failure is small end bearing wear which causes faint ticking which goes mostly unnoticed (but on a few cars that visit our shop for basic service we can hear it looming as problem and the owner is blissfully unaware). However long it takes? the wearing small end causes piston to rock / rotate out of control, rings to flutter at high engine speed which starts to wear liner oval. At this stage, the oval liner (piston slap) and worn little end (faint tick) alerts the owner that the engine has an issue - cant avoid but notice because the engine sounds like an old ticking Talbot tapper. At this point also, oil consumption is normally a little high because the engine is internally breathing excessive oil through breather circuit system / back into inlet manifold. At this time its engine removal, strip, re-liner and engine / car rebuild. This is a pain because should this happen to an older high miler DB7 or DB9 the repair value Vs the cars market value questions if its economic to repair - Scary to think DB9 is in that category in 2014 but is a dilemma more than a few BR customers had to battle with.

The 'tick' doesn't seem to cause widespread problem to DB7 or Vanquish but is not unknown. Seems to be mostly an issue for early DB9 because as of yet, we have not seen problem on a 470BHP DB9, or any later 510BHP spec V12. Conversely there are some early high miler DB9's out there that are fine too.

 

Wow! That's really disheartening to hear. This is bad bad news. I really hope mine is not this situation.

 

quite, i hope this happens to as few as possible around the globe

Fact is, there is the potential and is not isolated.

what made me say what i did about your case is that in the video clip there is the / a distinctive metallic sounding tick charecteristic of the fault i stated present. Of course, diagnosis remote is tricky, and i hope for you the outcome is simple, but if you have checked all the obvious and drawn a blank, there isn't much else left.

 

This is the first I have heard of this. I wonder if Irish who works at a AM dealer has heard about it? Mike, what is causing the small end bearing to fail? Do you have pictures of failed ones?

My condolences to the OP hopefully you get it rectified. It would suck to have a car for such a short while then find something major like this!