Tapping noise from engine.

[Benny Dub]

Alright guys, picked up my Chimaera 400 HC last week and so far am having a hoot! power is immense, and looks and sound! love it.

I've had two problems so far tough. First of all, all the gauges stopped working. Tracked tis down to a blown fuse but took a while to find the right one. Have since replaced the fuse and they are fine now.

Secondly though, over the last few days there seems to be a tapping noise from the engine, which increases in tempo and volume accordin to the revs of the engine, and how much throttle is used. The oil level and pressure is fine, there is plenty of coolant, and after my dad took a quick look and out his ear to the engine he said it is not the tappets.

Any ideas as to what it might be? It seems to be getting worse so I am getting quite concerned.

cheers
Ben

[anonymous-user]

What's the mileage on the car? It sounds like it could be camshaft wear to me. Especially if it's done over 50k on the original cam.

I imagine that the noise probably isn't getting any worse it's just that you're listening for it more.

Edited by BagOfOldRats on Tuesday 15th April 17:57

[im]

Christ - your an 18 year old student with a Chim! Me thinks you've got good parents

Welcome aboard though!

As for the tapping...I'm sure one of the resident mech types will be along with a suggestion sooner or later.

[Big Ashy]

Very difficult to say from what you have described but it is possible that it is just one of the manifold gaskets blowing.
Happened on my Griff a couple of years ago and immediately thought of something more sinistre. If you can hear a muted tapping from inside the car whilst driving and it hasn`t quite got a metallic sound to it then it may well be a replacement gasket that is required.
Fingers crossed its the off side bank and not the near side as is a tad difficult if i remember correctly, (could be the other way round?) good luck!

[tvrbob]

Highly likely it's either exhaust manifold gasket or a leak where the four pipes go into one.

My exhaust leak finder

[Benny Dub]

thanks for the help guys, it's not quite metallic and does seem to be perfectly in time with the revs so hopefully should be the gasket instead of somethign else.

I'm pretty sure it is getting worse though. I do hope it is the manifold leaking or something cos now when I drive ti I can't help but have images of my head of the pistons and cams and everything getting ripped apart!

I'll have a look at it in the morning, cheers guys.

Oh and im, yes I'm only 18 but parents gave me nothing towards it. Took out a loan and paying that + insurance back myself, as well as all running costs of the car. Bit of a big step compared to my Rover 220 SDi I used to drive lol!

good times.

cheers
Ben

[Big Ashy]

Yes, I remember that worrying noise and all kinds of thoughts ruuning through my head about what mechanical catastrophe was waiting for me.

Once the gasket has blown, it will get louder as the hole gets bigger, think it will be nothing more than that.

Not wanting to sound like your Dad (figure of speech) and may well be speaking out of turn, but be aware, your new motor is nothing like your Diesel Rover and will bite when your least expecting it!! Apologies in advance if your a Nigel Mansell`s son or similar, enjoy!

[Benny Dub]

ok cool sounds about right, any ideas how much it will cost to fix? I take it I need two gaskets?

Not really sure to be honest, pretty new to these cars/engines.

Since buying it I've been driving it pretty hard which I don't think the last owner did so a gasket going sounds pretty logical.

What should I expect cost wise and how hard is it to do yourself? Where to get the parts? Will a local motorfactor do?

cheers for the help guys
Ben

[jdharris]

Don't want to worry you but mine had a similar noise which I thought was an exhaust gasket at first but turned out to be the cam. The sound was coming from deeper in the engine which gave it away. My advice would be to get someone who knows what they're listening for to take a look (err.. listen)... It's not the end of the world - I still drove mine with the ticking noise for a couple of thousand miles which wasn't a problem.

Hope that helps and hope it is just the gasket.

[Seasider]

Another way of tracking down a gasket leak is a short piece of hose pipe to your ear, other end moved around the manifold joins you will hear it just try not to touch the manifold, you will & it will whiff for a while


You will also look like a berk whilst doing this

[Benny Dub]

cheers guys.

I'll use that hose technique and tvr bob's leak finder to see if it is (hopefully) the gasket.

If not, how much are replacement cams? hard to fit or should I use a garage?

I take it these engines aren't particularly delicate or complex so would a local garage do for fitting?

cheers for the help
Ben

[HRG]

tvrbob said:

Highly likely it's either exhaust manifold gasket or a leak where the four pipes go into one.

My exhaust leak finder

Where did you get that bung from?

ETA: you can use a large plastic handled screwdriver as a stethoscope to listen to the engine internals spinning round.

Edited by HRG on Wednesday 16th April 12:18

[tvrbob]

HRG said:

Where did you get that bung from?

I run a polymer research laboratory and these bungs were among many varied sizes in the 'bung' cupboard. Sorry, not much help. TBH all you need is something round and slightly smaller than the inside diameter. Wrap it with rubberised tape and you should be able to create a seal.

[That Daddy]

Benny Dub said:

cheers guys.

I'll use that hose technique and tvr bob's leak finder to see if it is (hopefully) the gasket.

If not, how much are replacement cams? hard to fit or should I use a garage?

I take it these engines aren't particularly delicate or complex so would a local garage do for fitting?

cheers for the help
Ben

Its weather a local garage are gonna be interested in setting up the cam timing properly(you have adjustable cam gear fitted,or should have)they are not complicated engines but things do have to be done properly,its certainly no hamfisted fitters puddingam sure someone on here can recommend a independent you can trust to do the job properly and understands the RV8.

[Benny Dub]

HRG said:

tvrbob said:

ETA: you can use a large plastic handled screwdriver as a stethoscope to listen to the engine internals spinning round.

yeah my dad did that yesterday, he couldn't quite work out what it was but said it definitely wasn't the tappets. At first I didn't know what the hell he was doing lol!

yeah if someone could recommend a good garage to trust around the North wiltshire area then that would be good. There's a TVR dealer about 5 miles up the road from me but I don't fancy paying their prices

cheers
Ben

[Codshead]

tvrbob said:

HRG said:

Where did you get that bung from?

I run a polymer research laboratory and these bungs were among many varied sizes in the 'bung' cupboard. Sorry, not much help. TBH all you need is something round and slightly smaller than the inside diameter. Wrap it with rubberised tape and you should be able to create a seal.

I used a couple of old bald tennis balls with a short length of copper microbore tubing pushed through them and sealed with Araldite at the entry and exit points, then connected a compressor as tvrbob suggests.This worked a treat, but don't push them in too far!

[Benny Dub]

so yeah guys I think it is the cam. Haven't double checked the manifold but will be doing so soon.

How much can I expect to pay for a cam replacement + labour? What are the best places to go? etc.

If I'm getting new cams anyway are there any fast road cams available? (I guess the TVR ones pretty much are anyway?).

cheers
Ben

[Rum Runner]

Benny , check for loose spark plugs as well and they can be quite tricky and if not tight you can get a similar noise as you get blow by around the plug thread and possible arching of the spark as the plugs leads also tend to go off because of extreme under bonnet temps

Edited by Rum Runner on Friday 18th April 00:01

[daz the plumber]

might not be the cam ,ive recently had a new cam and theres no exhaust leak.my car still has a noise as if the cam is worn .many tvr v8 cars have this problem because the oil recomended is to thin thus wearing the ports where hydrolic lifters go up and down .ive heard many v8 engines in kit cars ,mg s , cobras, etc and they sound fantastic because they use 20/50 oil.i dont know why tvr say use mobil one its like p...ss.these engines are over a 50 year design, and no different to any other buick engine .

[Rum Runner]

daz the plumber said:

might not be the cam ,ive recently had a new cam and theres no exhaust leak.my car still has a noise as if the cam is worn .many tvr v8 cars have this problem because the oil recomended is to thin thus wearing the ports where hydrolic lifters go up and down .ive heard many v8 engines in kit cars ,mg s , cobras, etc and they sound fantastic because they use 20/50 oil.i dont know why tvr say use mobil one its like p...ss.these engines are over a 50 year design, and no different to any other buick engine .

This is very true i found both cars quiter when switching from mobil 1 0-40 to Silkolene Pro S 10-50 which is much higher spec oil , opie oil man on hear Knows his stuff