Vantage 4.7L Engine Noise

[rocketboots999]

Hello all. Newbie here.

Just to clarify the thread title, I am not referring to intake or exhaust noise. I am interested in hearing your viewpoint of how noisy the top end components (cams, timing chains, whatever) of the V8 4.7L engine are at idle. Do you hear ticking or maybe a very light rattling sound or what? Hood open or closed?

The engine on my MB SL550 was quite quiet, as was the whole car. I know that it is subjective, but how quiet should the engine be after around 15K miles?

Thanks.

[quench]

My previous 4.7L V8V did indeed have a subtle yet noticeable thrash as you describe which was readily apparent from within the cabin at lower engine speeds, before road and exhaust noise drowned it out.

[V8V Pete]

Hmmm ..... sounds familiar! Please refer to the second half of my thread from 2 weeks ago: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I cannot say for definite but I suspect there is a quality control issue with the valve tappet bucket shims. My replacement engine developed a bad tappet rattle after only 3000 miles. This has been fixed by Bamford Rose and is now nice and quiet. Not as quiet as some cars but I suspect that is partly due to the lack of sound proofing and the bonnet vents & side strakes letting more high frequency noise out than most cars. I also know that mine is certainly not the only car to suffer this problem.

You say your car has done 15000 miles but don't tell us how old the car is, whether or not it is still in warranty or where you are based. I'm afraid to say that if you take it to a main dealer you may well get fobbed off a bit. "They all sound like that sir", "Oh, that's just the injectors" etc.. If you're out of warranty take it to a proper expert for diagnosis and possible remedial work. If you are in warranty and get fobbed off as above, then I advise you to get an expert independent report and then decide whether you want to take that back to Aston Martin customer services or get the Indy to fix it properly and in a timely fashion.

Photo of culprit in my engine. Of course yours may be nothing but I can tell you that major mechanical failure in the V8 is relatively rare.

[rocketboots999]

Thank you.

The noise I am hearing could possibly be described as an "inconsistent clatter" and seems to be more centralized rather than from one bank or the other.

My car is a 2010 and has just been delivered, so I am going through certain "as delivered" issues that I want to see how the seller (US Aston Martin dealer) responds to before I comment on their overall service and responsiveness, which has so far been good.

I am comparing this noise vs. the light clicking from my SL550 V8 with the hood open. Its engine component noise was much quieter at 71,000 miles than this car is at 15,000.

[macdeb]

Could do with a video to hear it. I was told the 'injector thing' But was a lot more serious as I knew it would be.

[shunt]

Hey, mine too. I was also told, they all sound like that sir. After it bugged me for 6 years I traded it. It wasn't right. BR fixed it by replacing the shims after I traded it. Common fault and wish I'd sorted it during my tenure because it always annoyed me.

Poor form from Aston really.

[abh]

Very interesting! I too have a 2010 V8 manual. Ever since I got it, I queried the overly tappity engine noise and in response had a new pulley wheel fitted under warranty but the dealer I bought it from, the servicing dealer and Works all said 'they all do that sir'. After Works said it, I decided I should overlook this characteristic. Perhaps I shouldn't (esp as the 1yr warranty just expired)! But given this is my first Aston I have little to compare it too.

Thoughts from those more experienced?...

[CPBRI]

My 2015 GT has had it since new. Was also given the injector explanation.

[V8V Pete]

abh said:

Very interesting! I too have a 2010 V8 manual. Ever since I got it, I queried the overly tappity engine noise and in response had a new pulley wheel fitted under warranty but the dealer I bought it from, the servicing dealer and Works all said 'they all do that sir'. After Works said it, I decided I should overlook this characteristic. Perhaps I shouldn't (esp as the 1yr warranty just expired)! But given this is my first Aston I have little to compare it too.

Thoughts from those more experienced?...

I know I'm bound to say this but I would take it to an Indy and see what they think. For me that is BR because they truly know these cars inside out but the choice is yours. The reason I say this is in the name because they are independent of AML so are not tied to what the factory says (which all main dealers are). When I'm trying to think of reasons AML would not sort this issue more readily I come back to cost, and the fact it may be very common. The exhaust shims can be done with the engine in-situ but if inlet ones need doing then it's an engine out job so is vastly more expensive. It seems to be exhaust more often and apparently that may be because the exhaust valve stem is narrower so has a higher point pressure on the shim. However, AML clearly don't want to be taking lots of V8 engines out under warranty if they can get away with TADTS or changing the injectors.

Quite how a pulley can cause a tappity noise I have no idea.

If it would help I could post a video of my engine before and after the repair but it's not subtle!