RV8 Lazy Tappet Solutions?

[chassis 33]

I've got a RV8 which developed a tapety tap on Friday evening, I've checked for manifold leaks, loss of rocker pad etc etc, and come to the conclusion its a lazy tappet. The tapping goes at about 2000rpm presumably there is sufficient pressure to pump up the tapet then.

Any suggestions to sort it other than taking the inlet manifold off and cleaning taking the tappets apart to clean them? I'll put fresh oil in and see what that does.

Regards
Iain

[Boosted LS1]

Your thicker oil may cure it or raise the pressure if it's low.

Boosted.

[GreenV8S]

Wouldn't it be easier just to up the idle speed?

[steve_d]

GreenV8S said:

Wouldn't it be easier just to up the idle speed?

Or turn up the radio.

Steve

[rev-erend]

Lay him off..

Threatn him with redundancy and no money for Christmas..

Outsource power production to Italy..

Sorry - best idea's I could come up with.

Sorry they are not very original

[350matt]

try an oil change in conjunction with some flushing oil

Teh only trouble is the flow path through the followers isn't exactly free - flowing so bits of cr@p tend to get stuck

best of luck

Matt

[chassis 33]

F, S, B & A

They are the wrong answers gents. I'll try a flush and fresh oil (any reccomendations as to the brand of flush, although I am a bit hesitant about using a flush), but it looks like im going to be taking the manifold and rocker gear off doesn't it. Sob.

Thanks.

Regards
Iain

[rev-erend]

It's the only answer really - clean each in turn after removal - check for signs of sticking..

[v8 racing]

on a personal front i wouldnt recomend using a flush, i have found on the rover engine that this aproach has bad side effects!, personaly i would drop the oil filter and refill with a 10/40 royal purple oil espeicially as it is used for competion, also if you still have the bleed down lifters and it still happens after the oil change throw them away and put standard lifters in it

[MGBV8]

The best oil to act as a cleaner would be a polar ester oil such as Redline.

[Boosted LS1]

I don't think it's good to run a 'cleaning' oil in your engine. You never know where the shit will end up. Ian's engine should be spotless inside

Boosted.

[chassis 33]

Its not actually my engine or indeed car, I'm assuming its still running standard lifters, certainly don't get the clackity clack of the rhodes lifters on the racer. Thanks for the advice, I'll open it up this weekend I guess!

Regards
Iain

[stu3528]

Both my 350i and Twin plenum developed a 'noisy tappet', both times it turned out to be a loose spark plug!
Worth checking if you haven't already.
Stu

[chassis 33]

Thanks, checked the plugs, they're fine and no blow past on the ceramic either. Also done a compression test and it's acceptable so the noise isn't something nasty like a bent or damaged valve. Lookslike I'm going to be playing with valley gaskets shortly!

Regards
Iain

[chassis 33]

Right changed the oil and filter today, that hasn't helped, it was a long shot hoping fresh oil would clean crap out of a tappet but there we go. One thing I've noticed the noise dissappears on overrun. It's present at idle, cruising, and acceleration but goes as soon as I lift.

I haven't mis-diagnosed a cracked manifold have I? It is a Chimaera after all and they are prone to it, only problem is it seems to be coming from the valley not the outside of the engine.

Regards
Iain

[Boosted LS1]

I had a turbo engine that did this when I started it up. The cure at the time was a healthy blat along the bypass Perhaps you need to bury the pedal more often, get the oil circulating

My rhodes made the engine sound like a slapper on heat but I hadn't set the preloads so maybe they could be quieter? I won't use them again.

As for a misdiagnosis, you can but check.

Boosted.

[steve_d]

Make a listening tube.
With that you can move the end all around the manifolds and valley and be sure where the noise is coming from.

Steve

[chassis 33]

Just to close this one off...

I took the car round to Ian at Torque RVT on my way home from work this evening, just to get a second opinion....off side manifold gasket was the diagnosis just by poking his head under the bonnet. Got home, had my dinner while the engine cooled and sure enough, the rear bottom bolt is loose on the manifold. I've nipped it best I can in 10mins fiddling with a 14mm spanner, it's helped but I'm going to have to do a proper job of it over Christmas!

Regards
Iain