Noisy tappet when cold

[Spoonman]

Just wondering if this is an early warning sign of something about to let go.

Started up the Tamora from cold last night (Nov '02 model, 17k miles, engine's never been in bits), and one tappet was considerably noisier than the rest. Quietened down when the engine was warm, and showed no other symptoms.

It's never before made excessive noise from the top end, so something definitely wasn't right.

Any opinions, please?

[David Godfrey]

possibly timing chain? - I had similar when I first picked up my Tam - thought it was serious but turned out just to need adjusting.

[Spoonman]

Hmm, hadn't really considered the chain. Could be a possibility, but it sounded like more of an individual noise - like a car with a lazy hydraulic lifter.

[T66ORA]

When were the tappets last adjusted, mileage wise? Possibly that they need adjusting?
When the gap gets bigger the top end gets a bit noisier,when the car is cold it is noisier as the know, probability nothing more that IMO
QUE ALL THE "YOU NEED A REBUILD POSTS"

[David Godfrey]

T66ORA said:

When were the tappets last adjusted, mileage wise? Possibly that they need adjusting?
When the gap gets bigger the top end gets a bit noisier,when the car is cold it is noisier as the know, probability nothing more that IMO
QUE ALL THE "YOU NEED A REBUILD POSTS"

quick lock the thread

[jerrytlr]

T66ORA said:

When were the tappets last adjusted, mileage wise? Possibly that they need adjusting?
When the gap gets bigger the top end gets a bit noisier,when the car is cold it is noisier as the know, probability nothing more that IMO
QUE ALL THE "YOU NEED A REBUILD POSTS"

...just like when I posted regarding a slight misfire - 75% of the responses (despite the car having only driven 3K miles at the time) were 'rebuild'.

Turned out it needed a new ECU. Runs brilliantly now.

Anyway sorry to take the thread off topic - and just to try and bring it back - first step must surely be to get the valve adjustment done and see if that sorts it...?

Cheers

Jerry

[J_S_G]

How long/how many miles since the last *major* service (i.e. with the clearances doing)? Could well just need adjusting.

[icraigmy]

My Tamora is a 2002 and I purchased it in November 2005.

It's had a tapping noise from the engine ever since I purchased the car. I thought the noise was due to tappets, so I had the tappets adjusted, but this did not get rid of the pesky tapping noise.

Anyway I decided to get the 4.0L Red Rose engine upgrade this year, and it is being done at Dulford Automotive at the moment. I had some feedback from Richard at Dulford and as the old engine had been stripped down and new parts fitted, I mentioned this tapping noise. Richard said that the cam followers of the orginal engine were badly worn, and this could have contributed to the tapping noise. So my Tamora being a 2002 model had badly worn cam followers which could be a result of the narrow oilways in the speed 6 starving the top of the engine of oil. Reason why 5W/40 oil is recommened. Also bad warming up can cause this. Don't know how the previous two owners treated the car.

So the tapping noise I had with the original engine might have been a sign that the engine was about to blow at some stage - the cam followers breaking !

The oilways are widened in the 4.0L Upgrade, so won't get this problem again.

[hollowpockets]

my engine is a bit noisy tbh but when checked the cams were fine, the followers were fine and everything else was fine, tappets were adjusted and all still goes and sounds the same, they are noisy. doesnt mean nowt!

[targarama]

I've had my May 2004 car since new. It was always quite tappety, especially when cold - from new. The headgasket went and they did a full rebuild (I'm not complaining). Since then, with what I assume is a mid 2006 engine spec (esp. top end) the car is very quiet when cold, no bag-of-nails tapping. I don't think there was anything wrong with my original engine - its just how they were. Newer ones are quieter. I noticed a friend's 2005 T350 is less tappy then my original engine too.

[Spoonman]

Thanks for all the replies.

Started up the Tamora from cold again yesterday, and it was fine. No abnormal rattles, just the harshness of a proper bit of mechanical engineering. Been wondering if it was a sticky valve from irregular use over winter.

Still, I don't doubt it'll need some fettling eventually, and I'd be tempted to investigate four-litre options if only my work wasn't quiet at the moment. It's getting close to needing an 18k service, so we'll have to see if it lasts that long...

[mw510]

Many (if not all) cars can have noisy tappets immediately when starting from cold - especially if the car is outdoors and it is 'cold'. Oil thickens obviously in these conditions and so can take longer to get up to the tappets. I wouldn't worry and it sounds like it had 'solved' itself anyway.

[Ginner]

They don't have hydraulic tappets do they??? that why they need adjusting every 12kish.

[Spoonman]

Ginner said:

They don't have hydraulic tappets do they??? that why they need adjusting every 12kish.

No, not hydraulic, but that's how I'd describe what mine sounded like - one lazy lifter...