Okay so I have a 99 A4 1.8t manual trans that I just purchased. I have been researching this noise like crazy. The noise is loud when cold started and seems to disappear when warm/is very faint if you listen close. Noise goes away when rpms are raised. Car is still getting 29/30mpg on highway no CEL or oil light on currently. My suspicions: One being the CCT but not sure cause the CCT seems to be more of a light fast tick. Valve lifters and or Oil sludge problems maybe oil pump/strainer causing low oil pressure and lifters to make noise. I'm just hoping someone with experience can help pinpoint the actual cause. Any help appreciated! Video Below sorry its dark. Also car has 104,000 miles.

0813011904.3g2 - YouTube

 

Pull your coil packs and make sure the spark plugs are tight. I've seen this a lot with the bmw e36 and on bimmerforums. Always did the trick ! Also a good seafoaming in the oil and vacuum lines would help too ! Just change the oil after doing the seafoam

Edit* At least from this video is what it sounded like to me

 

I just changed the plugs and the oil. I used bosch iridium plugs and mobil 1 0w-30 oil. Neither one of those seemed to help. Is the seafoam very effective? Ill have to give that a whirl.

 

Oh okay nvm on the plug thing. What I meant was a lot of the plugs would work loose (especially on bmw e36's) and it was sound like that. Seafoam does wonders for sure

 

Ill try the seafoam... however I do have my doubts.

 

Ill pop in my old plugs and give it a try tomorrow. Not sure about when I'll do the oil cause it only has about 50 miles to the oil change.