How noisy is your K series VVC?

[AZURE111S]

I've recently had to replace the head of my 1.8 VVC engine, and can't help but think it's a fair bit noisier than the previous unit. The new head was actually brand new, and was fitted by a Rover specialist.

I get a chatty/tappet noise which becomes louder as the engine heats up (presumably as the oil thins out). It's noticeable when idling, and is even audible up till about 3,500rpm, when the sports exhaust note drowns it out!

The guy who fitted it insists its fairly normal for these engines, and that it's just 'how they are'. He reckons it's about middle of the road in terms of noise, just noisier than the original head that I replaced.

Just wanted to know how noisy these units normally are in your experience. Also wondered if anyone thinks the type of oil used can influence these sorts of noise (I've no idea what's in it at the moment).

Thanks,

Ben

[PB9]

yep, the vvc make much noise.. And the few different oils I've had in my car made no difference.

-pb9

[kambites]

They do seem to vary quite a bit - I don't think it's anything to worry about.

[BazC]

AZURE111S said:

I've recently had to replace the head of my 1.8 VVC engine, and can't help but think it's a fair bit noisier than the previous unit. The new head was actually brand new, and was fitted by a Rover specialist.

I get a chatty/tappet noise which becomes louder as the engine heats up (presumably as the oil thins out). It's noticeable when idling, and is even audible up till about 3,500rpm, when the sports exhaust note drowns it out!

The guy who fitted it insists its fairly normal for these engines, and that it's just 'how they are'. He reckons it's about middle of the road in terms of noise, just noisier than the original head that I replaced.

Just wanted to know how noisy these units normally are in your experience. Also wondered if anyone thinks the type of oil used can influence these sorts of noise (I've no idea what's in it at the moment).

Thanks,

Ben

Hi Ben,

I had EXACTLY the same thing on my S1 111s.

I managed to experience pretty severe HGF which meant that the head needed to be replaced, but rather than a brand new head, I opted for a recon unit complete with cam, valves etc already fitted.

The replacement unit just sounded awful from the start, only at about 4k did it start to sound vaguely like the original. Mine was exactly as you describe - chatty, cammy, tappy. (LOL - sounds like three of the seven dwarves...) and it did seem to get worse as the engine warmed up.

Obviously I wasn't happy, but like yourself I got the 'TADTS' from the supplier. Eventually they agreed to investigate and found what they called 'premature wear' on some of the components and agreed to supply and fit another head completely FOC.

The 2nd head assembly is much, much better - the car itself feels so much smoother to drive than it did. But if I'm honest, it is still not as good as the original, some days it still seems to sound pretty ropey.

In summary, I'm not really sure how this helps you but just so you know, I feel your pain!

Incidentally, what caused you to have to chnage the head on your car?

[CooperS]

How long have you had the new engine running in? Dont K engines require some time to settle and adjust?

[Jez49]

My S1 111s had a brand new head fitted by Lotus when I bought it due to cambelt failure, the rest of the engine had done 38k, the thing sounded rattly and harsh, so much so that I made them fit another new set of lifters, that made very little difference. It always went like stink but sounded crap. At 60k the car lost power out of the blue while cruising along, the diagnosis was poor compression in one cylinder due to bent valves - no idea why or how. I chose to find a replacement engine instead of throwing money at the old one.

I now have a vvc engine from an s2 with 20k on the clock and its totally different, smooth and much quieter, talking to other owners the noise varies a lot but you'll never find one that doesn't sound like a metro to some degree, you need a nice sounding exhaust to drown out the rattles!

Jez

[Russ H]

My first early S2 had sticking lifters, they had a batch of heads with
incorrect oilway drillings down to the hydraulic tappets.

My current 4500 mile 111S piston slaps when cold and sounds horrible
until warm. Not the best sounding engines are they? A loud pipe helps.


Russ.

[lee111s]

Mine's the same. I have an s1 111s and it sounds a bit tappety till the engine warms up. what you have to remember though is that the engins is MUCH closer to you than in any other car, and there is next to no sound deadening in the elise. With the elise being bare inside with limited carpets etc, the engine noise is amplified further once again making is sound pretty rubbish when you start it up.

If the sound bothers you that much get a decatted larini or something similar

[chris7676]

Can't hear what you asked cause the engine was so noisy. 930 miles of it last 4 days...