My buddy has a 2003 Montero XLS with the 3.8L engine and it has an engine tick. It sounds like a fan hitting the rad shroud but it is internal. We took the accessory drive belt off and the noise was still there.

Any one ele have this issue? I don't want to tear the engine apart if its a simple fix.

 

A friend took his sport in to have the rear main seal changed. When it came back it was ticking. I figured they started it dry or without refilling the sump. I did an oil and filter change and it still had the tick. I then put in a can of Rislone. Within 2 minutes the tick was gone and has not come back. Rislone is the best!

 

It might be one of those evil hydraulic lash adjusters. Does the tick go away when the engine is revved?