Engine Tappet Noise

[cavebloke]

Hi Guys,

I need some help curing a problem. I'm due to go on a long distance road trip in a couple of weeks but the engine has just started misbehaving.

When starting the engine it's making tappet noise. This is only under load though and not if you free rev the engine with the clutch in. Sometimes it goes away on its own and then it's gone for the duration of the run. But sometimes it is persistant for a long time (well beyond when the car reaches operating temp). Its occurence seems quite random - more common when the car is hot but recently happening when it's cold too.

The car is relatively new to me and only started doing this when I changed the oil/filter (breathers cleaned at the same time).

Oil is Fuchs Titan Race Pro 10w-50 fully-synthetic (as advised by Opie)
Engine is a 430 Pre-cat

Oil pressure reads 23 lbs on the guage rising to 26 lbs under throttle but never any more (this is slightly down 1-2 lbs since changing the oil).

Any ideas on what this could be and if there is a home-mechanic solution? Could it all be down to a worn oil pump???

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Simon

[Tom The Cat]

Hi Simon
Did you Prime the Oilpump? , how much miles on her?
well i've to confess, i'am not an Engine Specialist!
But all of my Mechanics Collegues said to me, if your Engine runs all the Time with non-synthetic Oil
and than you changed to fully-synthetic it's sometimes not the best way to do....(new Engines uses synthetic older once do not), you'll hear more mechanical noises.
In most cases ... change back to non-synthetic Oil, Result: Engine runs smoother.
But maybe something is worn!
Hope that helps ...TTC

[carsy]

Sounds like a blowing exhaust manifold gasket. They give a tick, tick noise especially when under load. Quite a common problem.

That oil you have in will be fine. Nowt wrong with a 15 50 synthetic.

[kevd]

I have recently had an issue pretty much the same as you describe. I was positive it was a tappet/cam issue, but in the end it was a blowing manifold gasket.
The way to confirm this is to get a length of hose approx 2 foot long, start the engine, then stick one end of the hose up to your ear, and get the other end around the the area where the manifold meets the head. Mine were leaking underneath so you will have to get the hose underneath as well, if it is blowing you will hear it clear as day. I could not believe how effective it was at confirming the issue. I have recently had a thread running titled MANIFOLD BLOWING? it is probably on the second page of the Griff forum. I would put a link up if I knew how to do it.
Kev

[kevd]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

try the link above hope fully it will work.

[cavebloke]

Thanks for all the responses guys.

Kevd your post sounds like you are trying to make me look like a nutter - but I'll give it a go.

Cheers,

Simon

[kevd]

Just make sure you don't get caught by the neighbours.

[gateeast]

Is it on the passenger side? If so, probably the gasket as the driver side was done after giving the same symptoms as you describe.

[cavebloke]

gateeast said:

Is it on the passenger side? If so, probably the gasket as the driver side was done after giving the same symptoms as you describe.

Hi John,

Hope you are well. Actually it was the drivers side. The rear two bolts were so loose I could turn them with my fingers. A quick nip up with a spanner and the problem appears (on initial testing) to be gone. So all is well with the world. I love a free solution.

Thanks to all who posted.

The hosepipe trick works like a charm! My alternator makes a funny noise though - I think listening to too many things might make you paranoid.

Simon

[gateeast]

Good news.

Hope it is going well, missing it of course hence my lurking around the forum!

John

[rsmithy626]

Nah you don't want a hosepipe, a bit of string and two halves of a coconut will do.