S2 Engine Clicking

[Lou013]

Hi there,

Since a few months my S2 (2.9 cologne so) has started to make some clicking noise.

With a screwdriver on my ear I investigated where does this noise could come from :
seems it's the cylinder head...

I removed the rocker covers to adjust the tappet setting, but my adjustment screws seems to be welded ?! I think I have hydraulic one so...

No valve spring broken so I am out of ideas...

I made a video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4hohbJ9Hik&fe...

(my fuel pressure regulator is a bit whiny, I'll order a new one from burton)

Can anybody help me on this one please ?

Edited by Lou013 on Sunday 15th June 14:03

[Loach1]

Sounds like a lifter is not pumping up. Using the screwdriver, maybe you can isolate one cylinder and replace both lifters? Or do the whole set in the spirit of 'while I'm in there'. There are some sludge removal products, but sometimes they can just push the deposits elsewhere causing new issues. Using synthetic oil and changing it frequently should halt any further build-up.

[phillpot]

Loach1 said:

Sounds like a lifter is not pumping up.

S2 unlikely to have hydraulic lifters?

The tappet adjusting nuts are very tight (there is no lock nut) how hard did you try (hydraulic or solid lifters they are both adjustable)?
11mm socket and an 8 or 9 inch bar should "crack" 'em, you may well struggle with a spanner.

Even if you can't move them it's still possible to check (but obviously not adjust) the valve clearances.


ETA, just tried your video, sound but no picture?

It's messy but you can run the engine with rocker covers off and put a feeler blade under each rocker in turn to try and isolate a particularly noisy one (maybe do one bank at a time)

Edited by phillpot on Sunday 15th June 19:36

[S2Mike]

As Phillpot says, it really feels like you are gonna break em before they move with a spanner, also be aware the clearances for inlet and exhaust are slightly different 0.35 inlet 0.40 exhaust. ( sorry if I am covering something you already know) could be enough for them to click gently.

[Lou013]

Hi, thanks for all your answers. Indeed just sound on my video (because rocker covers were on, so not much to see)

I read here (http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1178829&d=0&nmt=) that some S2 had hydraulic lifters, but it's impossible to tell just by looking at the rockers, so I thought that if I couldn't move the adjusting nuts, it was because of hydraulic ones.
I checked the clearances and it was not perfect but not catastrophic either...

I was afraid of breaking the nuts because other cars I adjusted the tappet it was very easy, but there was a lock-nut. So I will try with a 9 inch bar, thanks for the advice !

I have been told to check injectors too, if one was leaking or not allowing fuel to go through, but the car seems to run on 6 cylinders.

I'll be pragmatic here and begin with tappets adjustment

[S2Mike]

When I first got my S, I had a noisy tappet sound which I solved, with advice on this fab forum, but it was mentioned at the time that a slight manifold exhaust blow could sound similar to a maladjusted tappet.
Hope its the easier job !

[Adrian@]

Collapsed Vac pipe around the rear of the air box ...
Adrian@

[phillpot]

Adrian@ said:

Collapsed Vac pipe around the rear of the air box ...
Adrian@

Intrigued, do tell more!