Is it correct to think it is a slipping cylinder that gets gripped by the block when expands by heat; or is there the opposite belief of ticking happens only when hot ?

Any trick to determine which cylinder of the eight is ticking without dismantling the engine ?

 

Ticking is not only associated with a cylinder. It can be your valve train.

if it's only at cold start up I would say something is up with your oil.

whst oil are you using?

 

Cylinder sleeves are heated, such as having the block on a large BBQ grill, when you want to remove them because they can be slipped out when hot. Can't do that very easily when they are cold!

Your tick is when the block is cold. Goes away when hot. That might be many things, but I wouldn't be looking at sleeve liners for that particular problem!



Every auto parts store sells a cheap automotive stethoscope so that you can place its long metal tip on various engine/transmission outer surfaces to track down noises.

 

Get a doctor's stethoscope and listen to the valve covers when it's running. Also listen to the oil pan or lower block. You'll tell where it is when it's loud. If it's up top, probably rockers out. If it's down low, it could be a number of things, but the slipped liner has a very distinct sound.

 

I recently had a tick that turned out to be a slight exhaust leak...

 

Thank you. I will follow suggestions and other tick sources.
Now I am in conflict. Need to turn my brain on...

If heating a block in a 'BBQ' is the way to remove a sleeve; I understand it, by having the block hotter than the sleeve. (hot block, warm sleeve)
But heating the sleeve alone, in my opinion, it will not release easily.
(warm block, hot sleeve)

An engine just started cold, will heat up its sleeves first before the block.
A cool block should hold the sleeve tighter than an expanded hot block.
Am I peeing out of the can ?

 

You are not.

Earlier reply a bit of misinformation. Block is heated to remove liners, both will heat up equally on BBQ or in oven but the block expands more allowing removal of liners.


Manifold to y-pipe gaskets and fasteners often fail and definitely worth looking at when cold ticking audible.
......