Intermittent tapping noise from no 1 cyl / acc belt area.

[CrackRabbit]

So my 2003 Ford Focus (2.0 SPI / manual trans, and pointing out that it is a Ford Focus and that IS the problem isn't funny.) has been driving me nuts with an intermittent tapping noise coming from the no. 1 cylinder /accessory belt area.

At first I thought it was a sticky valve lifter/tappet so I ran a bottle of seafoam through it, noise stopped, changed the oil, and everything was fine for about 2 weeks.

Yesterday morning the noise was back, drove the car to work and back ( about a total of 1.5 miles) and parked it. Started it up this morning and the noise is gone again.

I'm really confused now as to exactly what it might be. Been doing some searching I think I have narrowed it down to a couple of things. A bad bearing on one of the pulleys or the first signs of valve seat failure.
If anyone has any insight or thoughts they would be appreciated .

 

[radioouman]

I don't know anything about the engine, but I'll bet that it is a lifter. Hydraulic lifters do occasionally stick. You might try different grades of oil to see if you can improve it. I had this happen in a 1995 Saturn SW2 when it was really cold outside. I believe that changing the brand of oil got rid of the noise.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Driving it 1.5 miles a day is probably the issue! (jk)

 

[MadAmos]

I agree, with out hearing it sticking lifter is most likely possibility, the clearances in hydraulic lifters are measured in ten thousandths of an inch and can be very sensitive to oil quality and viscosity and dirt/deposits I have seen cars that need 5w 30, or 0w30 in cold climates check the owners manual. It is also possible that the only permanent fix is going to be a new lifter but start by getting the oil right, oh and in my experience there are no additives that will help if the correct oil won't quiet it then replacement is the answer.

 

[cheesehead]

Could you try maybe putting it in a garage with some space heaters for a few hours and warming the car up? If it goes away, you could then try reducing oil viscosity.

I can't see what the joke about the Ford Focus is. They're pretty reliable cars.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I live in Southern California. Cold weather isn't an issue. I've been using 5w-20 since I bought the car.
The oil I have it now is Motorcraft semi-synthetic, the previous oil change was supertech 5w-20 dino and it had maybe 800 miles on it when the noise started.

If oil were the issue I would think that the noise would be more constant and the higher quality Motorcraft oil would of taken care of it completly.