Renault Clio MK2 2003 1.2 16v chattering tappets

[Midge8290]

Hi all, so my lil Clio has just started to develop some chatter, mainly first thing when she is cold but is there pretty much all the time. She has just done over 93500. I have recently did a oil change a few days ago and it hasn't done anything. I was recommended by my local garage to start of with an engine flush before considering renewing the tappets. It's a D4F engine. Hydrolic tappets.

I've also heard years ago that adding additives or anything like that into the engine can cause more problems than good.

Any advice would be great

[Reciprocating mass]

The garage you spoke to are talking Horlicks
The valve clearances need adjusting if there really bad, though they do sound a little tappy
Anyhow, just get them done by somebody that knows how to do tappets rule of 9
They should be checked every 60,000 miles anyway

Edited by Reciprocating mass on Thursday 12th September 13:27

[Midge8290]

Well I did speak to a few garages this morning but non sounded interested enough to do anything about it. That's why they recommend a cleaner. It chatters worse when cold but you still can faintly hear it in the back ground when she is warm. It's not mega loud even when it's cold but obviously it's going to get worse. I would rather fix the problem than try and hide it

[Reciprocating mass]

Ring your local Renault garage and get a quote just to have the tappets adjusted and see what they charge, either that or find a little classic car
Workshop they will be use to adjusting tappets
There shouldn’t be any need for parts other than a rocker cover gasket and the labour time

[GreenV8S]

Reciprocating mass said:

The garage you spoke to are talking Horlicks
The valve clearances need adjusting if there really bad, though they do sound a little tappy
Anyhow, just get them done by somebody that knows how to do tappets rule of 9
They should be checked every 60,000 miles anyway

Perhaps you're thinking of mechanical tappets, which do need to be adjusted periodically.

Since the problem goes away it seems unlikely the preload is wrong and more likely there is a hydraulic problem.

[Reciprocating mass]

D4f doesn’t have hydraulic lifters it has adjustable tappets they should be checked and adjusted every 60 thousand miles,
I used to work in a Renault garage and have done quite a few hundred of them in the past
Get them checked and adjusted if required by somebody that knows how to adjust them then go from there,

Edited by Reciprocating mass on Thursday 12th September 19:33

[Reciprocating mass]

The valve clearances are at the top left of the page for d4f engine

[GreenV8S]

Reciprocating mass said:

D4f doesn’t have hydraulic lifters it has adjustable tappets they should be checked and adjusted every 60 thousand miles,

I stand corrected.

[Reciprocating mass]

I should of made it clearer in my first response
To the op

[Midge8290]

GreenV8S said:

I stand corrected.

Ok, do you know it is involved to adjust them? My MK2 ph1 Clio which was a 1.4 1999 had her tappets adjusted while I was there and the mechanic had to push the car forward and back to do the tappets in a certain order. Is this the same principle? I have been trying to find a video specifically talking about adjusting tappets on my car but I can't find any.

I have a DIY approach especially when it comes to cars as I absolutely love learning on them.

[GreenV8S]

Midge8290 said:

Ok, do you know it is involved to adjust them?

You need to adjust the valve clearances when the valve is fully closed. Since the valves open in a specific sequence when the engine is running, you can adjust them in the same sequence just by nudging the engine forward to take it through a complete engine cycle. Look up the 'rule of 9' that was quoted earlier.

It's common to adjust them using feeler gauges, but if the rocker is worn you may find you need a dial gauge to get an accurate result.

[Reciprocating mass]

What green v8 says, you can also turn the crankshaft pulley with a socket extension and ratchet through the wheelarch with the o/s/f wheel removed, have a google for the rule of 9
Either that or download diaologys which is the official Renault workshop procedures lap top based manual and covers all repairs and maintenance tasks for every model