#M96Engine

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Lifter Tick or Bore Scoring? Why Misdiagnosis Could Cost You Thousands

In the world of Porsche M96 and M97 engines, few topics are as misunderstood—and misdiagnosed—as lifter tick. What sounds like a harmless ticking noise can actually be the early warning sign of a far more serious issue: cylinder bore scoring.

Jake Raby of Flat 6 Innovations has encountered this scenario countless times, and in a recent Rennvision technical video, he shares critical insights every Porsche owner, technician, and prospective buyer should hear.

The Problem: Lifter Tick That Isn’t

Each week, Flat 6 Innovations receives multiple inquiries from Porsche owners convinced they’re experiencing failed hydraulic lifters. Many have already spent thousands replacing lifters or camshafts—yet the ticking persists.

In most of these cases, the true cause of the noise is bore scoring, not a failed lifter. Unfortunately, by the time this is discovered, owners may already be out thousands of dollars with no resolution in sight.

A $14,000 Lesson in Misdiagnosis

One example Jake shares involves a deployed U.S. Navy sailor whose 2006 Cayman S exhibited ticking noises. A dealership replaced the lifters. The sound remained. Next, they replaced the camshafts. Still ticking. Total cost? Over $14,000—and the actual problem, bore scoring, wasn’t addressed.

Upon return, the vehicle was sold at a significant loss and the new buyer sent it directly to Flat 6 Innovations for a proper engine rebuild. This scenario, unfortunately, is not uncommon.

Why Bore Scoring Sounds Like a Bad Lifter

Bore scoring creates a rhythmic, metallic tick that mimics lifter noise. The tone, pulse, and location can fool even seasoned technicians unfamiliar with the M96/M97 platform’s specific failure modes.

In fact, Jake Raby admits that even he was once misled by this same acoustic illusion nearly two decades ago—and that experience is what drives his passion for educating others today.

🔗 Hear what bore scoring really sounds like in this sound comparison video from LN Engineering: 👉 Porsche Bore Scoring Sound

Lifter Failures Are Rare—and Behave Differently

While Porsche lifters can fail, they usually don’t produce audible ticking. Instead, they tend to cause:

Misfires, often felt before heard

Negative lash, where a lifter holds the valve open

Interrupted exhaust note, especially at idle

DTCs like P0300–P0306, indicating misfires

Jake emphasizes: "If you do have a lifter issue, it will usually cause a misfire before it causes noise." In contrast, bore scoring produces a tick without a corresponding misfire, making it easy to misinterpret.

Other Tick-Like Noises (That Aren’t Lifters Either)

Not every tick is bore scoring or lifters. Jake highlights three additional culprits:

Loose Spark Plug – Especially on M96/M97 engines, a loose plug can rattle under compression and create a ticking sound.

Exhaust Leak – A leaking manifold gasket or cracked exhaust flange can also emit a tick that mimics a lifter.

Direct Injection Injector Noise – On DI engines (post-2009), injectors seated in the combustion chamber can sound like valvetrain noise, particularly when under load.

How to Properly Diagnose Ticking in M96/M97 Engines

Jake’s recommendation is clear: Do not rely on compression or leak-down tests. These can both produce false positives or negatives.

✅ The correct method?

A borescope inspection, performed both through the spark plug hole and the sump, or using Jake’s hybrid third approach available to Rennvision subscribers.

🔗 Learn more about M96/M97 engine failure modes and solutions:

M96/M97 Engine Failures and Solutions (Part 1)

M96/M97 Engine Failures and Solutions (Part 2)

Final Thoughts: Assume Bore Scoring First

Jake Raby closes the video with a critical message:

“If you hear what sounds like a lifter tick, assume it’s bore scoring until proven otherwise.”

This mindset can save you from unnecessary repairs, financial loss, or worse—losing a car to an unrecoverable engine failure.

Whether you're a buyer, seller, technician, or enthusiast, recognizing the symptoms and insisting on a borescope inspection could be the difference between peace of mind and a $14,000 mistake.

📌 Key Takeaways:

Bore scoring is often misdiagnosed as lifter tick in M96/M97 engines.

Lifter failures typically cause misfires, not ticking.

Compression and leak-down tests are unreliable for diagnosing scoring.

Always confirm with a borescope inspection through spark plug holes and/or sump.

Loose plugs, exhaust leaks, or DI injectors can also mimic ticking sounds.