Loose Sump Baffles

[Tripps]

The chaps at my local dealer have listened to the strange noise I'm getting and think it might be the baffles in the sump being loose (from memory I think he said there were four weld points).

However, just to check this they want £250

The noise comes and goes, generally related to speed-bumps and similar jolts.

Has anyone had any similar problems, and if it is the baffles is it easy to rectify?

[jwoffshore]

There are potentially two baffles.

One is a crank oil scraper bolted on to the main bearing caps. Not all the V6's have these. If this is loose you are in big trouble! However this is most unlikely.

Also, in the deep part of the sump there is a baffle resting at about a 45 deg angle across the lower front corner. It is attached by spot welds, two or three at each end to the sides of the sump. This baffle is very thin metal and I have seen a couple of loose ones where the spot welds have failed or the metal has cracked though fatigue. I guess the metal is so thin that it vibrates at certain rpm.

Only solution to this is to remove the sump and weld repair. I expect the £250 is just labour to lift the engine out far enough to remove the sump and weld it up.

JW