Unleashedbeast

On another thought.....

The engine is showing the very same symptoms as engines produced before the cutoff date, but because it was built 4 days after, they said no repair under the TSB? That's a bad assumption to assume it's built correctly that short after the supposed cutoff date.

ShadyNinja

so you don't mind pouring in something to make the noise go away?

they sell 75w140 gear lube @ Walmart, It might get rid of the noise all together but its not the right product for the engine.

just drive the hell out of it if the engine fails before the factory warranty period take it in.

JAJ

Where exactly did they find the engine build date? Is it from the computer records of the car's construction? Presumably it could a month or two before the car itself was built.

What is your vehicle production date?

As for putting in a more viscous oil (5w-30 or 5w-40), it would seem to me that if they're opening up the oil passages with a reamer to provide more flow, then a thinner oil would be better than a thicker one. Thinner oil would flow faster through the smaller openings.

Funster_2011V6

They put the car on a lift and looked at a number stamped in, presumably, the engine block.

JAJ

Ahhh... the engine serial number! I had a Mercedes for a while, and the engine serial number was key for getting the right repair parts because the engine had been in production for nearly ten years.

Is it possible your ticking noise is not the one that the service bulletin was supposed to fix?

Funster_2011V6

Quite.

If there weren't so much plumbing over the valve cover I'd have already pulled it to check the valve lash. But the fuel lines go over top and I haven't the correct tool to remove them.