Is it a bit tappety or is it me?

[MrMCI]

Hi guys,

One thing that I hate about owning older cars is that I worry about every rattle, squeek and clonk.

Anyway.....I love my engine and it sounds awesome when the throttle is open, one thing that I have noticed though is that under a light throttle at about 2k rpm I get a tappety noise. I have had problems with the exhaust manifold studs coming loose but I know that they are all tight at the moment.

I guess this is fairly normal and it runs beautifully but is there any way of quietening it down, I am currently running 10w40 Castrol GTX, I guess a thicker oil may help.

Any comments or help really appriciated.

[carsy]

I think i would put something a bit thicker in there. They do like the thick stuff and it will probably quieten it down a bit.

[PeteGriff]

MrMCI said:

Hi guys,

One thing that I hate about owning older cars is that I worry about every rattle, squeek and clonk.

Anyway.....I love my engine and it sounds awesome when the throttle is open, one thing that I have noticed though is that under a light throttle at about 2k rpm I get a tappety noise. I have had problems with the exhaust manifold studs coming loose but I know that they are all tight at the moment.

I guess this is fairly normal and it runs beautifully but is there any way of quietening it down, I am currently running 10w40 Castrol GTX, I guess a thicker oil may help.

Any comments or help really appriciated.

I use 15:50 Mobil, runs lovely and quiet. Change the oi for something thicker! Regards, Pete

[PeteGriff]

MrMCI said:

Hi guys,

One thing that I hate about owning older cars is that I worry about every rattle, squeek and clonk.

Anyway.....I love my engine and it sounds awesome when the throttle is open, one thing that I have noticed though is that under a light throttle at about 2k rpm I get a tappety noise. I have had problems with the exhaust manifold studs coming loose but I know that they are all tight at the moment.

I guess this is fairly normal and it runs beautifully but is there any way of quietening it down, I am currently running 10w40 Castrol GTX, I guess a thicker oil may help.

Any comments or help really appriciated.

I use 15:50 Mobil, runs lovely and quiet. Change the oil for something thicker! Regards, Pete

[whitewolf]

Before you change the oil have you ever used an engine flush??

Personally i never had (on my other car - corsa) and the tensioner was tappy after high revs. Used some wynns engine flush then fresh Castrol 5-30w after and its silent now - even after 2weeks not running on honeymoon, she fired up and no tap noise at all.


Just a thought.

Mick

[Colin RedGriff]

It's also worth whipping the rocker covers off and checking the rocker arms. They are alloy with a steel pad on the valve side. The pads can become detached and make the engine sound tappety.

Reasonably straight forward to replace either with standard alloy ones or solid steel ones.

[Lunablack]

Colin RedGriff said:

It's also worth whipping the rocker covers off and checking the rocker arms. They are alloy with a steel pad on the valve side. The pads can become detached and make the engine sound tappety.

Reasonably straight forward to replace either with standard alloy ones or solid steel ones.

From reading the build of that engine on the griff pages, it already has steel rockers

[MrMCI]

I am lucky, I indeed already have the group a rockers. When I listen to engine on the drive I can't really hear it, the injectors make a similar clicking noise so it could just be that it is more pronounced from the cabin.

I'm probably just being paranoid. I am a worrier. It is good to be out and about in it again. :-)

[V8 GRF]

MrMCI said:

I'm probably just being paranoid. I am a worrier. It is good to be out and about in it again. :-)

According to your profile you're also an engineer, Beaver Barrans on here is also an engineer and he hears all sorts of things as well

These are noisey engines in comparison to modern engines so I wouldn't worry unduly.

[TVR Beaver]

V8 GRF said:

MrMCI said:

I'm probably just being paranoid. I am a worrier. It is good to be out and about in it again. :-)

According to your profile you're also an engineer, Beaver Barrans on here is also an engineer and he hears all sorts of things as well

These are noisey engines in comparison to modern engines so I wouldn't worry unduly.

Ha.. too right I do.. but think you've just got to stop looking for things as it will drive you mad! these are 1950's designed engines so.....
mind you, may be worth you reading this... I have a slight 'chatter' around the 1400 mark (as a lot do but they just don't hear it!! )...

Could it be this??

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Alexdaredevilz]

Sure its not your medallion clinking?

[spend]

Lunablack said:

Colin RedGriff said:

It's also worth whipping the rocker covers off and checking the rocker arms. They are alloy with a steel pad on the valve side. The pads can become detached and make the engine sound tappety.

Reasonably straight forward to replace either with standard alloy ones or solid steel ones.

From reading the build of that engine on the griff pages, it already has steel rockers

Still worth removing IMO to check for excessive lash in the follower/pushrod/rocker area, and any scoring of the pushrods against the head guide holes.

I'd also check the trumpets are still firmly glued in, they resonate quite loudly as they work loose and seem to go quiet at other frequencies?

It's also worth considering the exhaust catching syndrome as that also seems to have a habit of only being apparent at certain rpm's?

[MrMCI]

Cheers all, I am sure that it is just me being an engineer but thought it was worth asking. Enjoy the good weather over the weekend.

Mark

[Chilliman]

Alexdaredevilz said:

Sure its not your medallion clinking?

Nice to see you still have a sense of humour Alex

[jeboa]

'exhaust catching syndrome'???????

[Barreti]

The engine sounds lovely sitting on the drive Mark
If its still worrying you and you want to drop off the manifolds you're welcome to bring it round and get it on the ramps once mine is off them.

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Exhaust leak can make the same noise ..especially under load ..

I got this noise on the exhaust manifolds where it goes 4 in to 1.

..