Engine Ticking and Blowby
 

I am looking to purchase a 2013 FRS with the boxer engine (non-turbo). Car has about 85,00 miles on it. I have a couple questions on some things I noticed.

1. There is a loud ticking noise coming from engine on the driver side. It's more quiet at cold start up and then gets louder once the engine is warm. I have read this is normal, but not sure what noise level is acceptable.

2. When I remove the oil fill cap while the engine is running I feel pulsating puffs of air coming out of the engine along with oil drops spitting out. I checked my 4 other vehicles and they have very little to no air coming out. The air coming out of this engine is noticeable and I had oil on my hand after holding it about 2' above the hole for 30 seconds. I am concerned there is an issue with the rings or valves (see ticking above).

I would like to know if these two things are normal prior to purchasing so I need an answer ASAP if possible. I also have videos if that would help.

Thank you to anyone who can comment!

1) High Pressure Fuel Pump

2) All engines do that, except your broken ones?

wouldn't even occur to me to take off the 710 knob while running.
sure way to rust proof the engine bay and garage.

Are the splats dark black with visible smoke pouring out too? Probably not blowby.
The timing chain is going to fling a lot up by the filler.
A lot of inlines and V8s have the filler on top of the valve cover where oil is less likely to splash.

Take it to a shop that has some idea of FA/FB engines and have a PDI done.

Thanks for the feedback. Shop is not an option (long story).

Ironically enough I ran across a 2016 BRZ today and the guy let me check his. It does the exact same thing on the engine, puffs air and spits oil. So I will assume both issues are non-issues.

Just a side note, I have 3x 5.3L Chevrolet and a 3.5L Nissan, none of them puff air at all. That is what was confusing me. Never owned a Subaru or boxer engine before.

Some cars do have pressure behind the oil cap while others don't. It surprised me recently when checking out a friend's Mitsubishi 3000 that his didn't have any pressure when we opened the oil cap, but on my other cars (Toyota, and Subaru) definitely do .

The engine does make a lot of strange ticking noises normally. High pressure fuel pump is pretty loud when hot and I think that's on the driver's side. Just wait till you hear the crickets.

Welcome to our forum - :clap:

Most likely nothing to worry about.

Just don't take the oil filler cap off when the engine is running. - ;)

The only sound you have to worry about with this engine is if it starts to go KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

As said the oil fil is normal. Remember this is a boxer engine and will be different.

The noises these things make do take some getting used to. It can be very apparent when the switch's back and forth between port and direct injection. I will never get used to that sound.

There is a know issue with a loud tick on the passenger side of the AT cars. There is a vacuum booster pump that will go bad and be very loud. This only applies to AT cars and is distinctively different from the fuel pump/injector noises.

Thanks to all for your replies and setting my mind at ease. I bought the car and after driving it for a while, I noticed exactly what everyone was referring to with the ticking noises. Guess I will just have to get used to it.

I removed the ***URGENT*** from title since I already purchased the car.

Congratulations on your purchase - :)

If you put an aftermarket exhaust system on the car, you won't hear many of those strange sounds anymore - :D

Turn the radio up

710 knob that's awesome. Had to google it.

Electronic diagnostics will probably give a ID10t error code.

You're pretty funny.