Tappety engine

[wedgemaniac456]

Engine starting to sound more tappety any reason for this could the use of a slightly thicker oil make a difference mine had mobil 1 originally but have 10w40 now,but have heard 20 50 is good because engine is old design .Anybody know the best oil or reason for tappety noise.

[350zwelgje]

The 20w50 is the right one. Due to the colder temperatures the 20 is not the ideal oil for it right now. A 15 or even 10 rating would be better for starting under very cold circumstances. Does the tappet noise disappear when the engine is warm? If yes, it would confirm 20 rating to be too thick an oil at the moment.

Rob

[Campbell]

I would try 15/50 oil, a good knowen brand and a new filter, if the engine is only tappety on start up and on cold idle but sounds better say when the temp is over 50C that is when the oil temp will start to rise and help by flow better.
Is your oil pressure ok on start up?
If you car has had a few years on Moble1 then the cam and tappets could be shot as although moble1 is a good oil but is no good for the rover V8 or the way the cam is covered with oil and lubed...
Or the car galley could be full of black nasty old oil stopping the cam, tappets from getting the proper lub.
You can take the right hand rocker cover off and have a look at the general condition of the oil or sludge build up.

Cambelt

[rev-erend]

It must be said - your post is vague.

Did it suddenly get tappety after changing to 10 w 40 after running mobil one which is 0 w 40.

I would find that too much of a coincidence.

The change to 10 w 40 should make it less pronounced .. unless the change of grade was because it was getting more tappety on 0 w 40 .. ie that cam was towards the end of its life anyway ?

If that is the case then a 60 w 300 is still not going to fix the problem..

[RCK974X]

You didn't say which engine....

Every time I've tried 10W-40 in the Cologne lump, it leaks out everywhere, (even the front crankshaft oil seal !), but it's fine on 20W-50.
Of course, when I say it's fine, being a Cologne V6 it still leaks out the rocker covers slowly, which seems to be a built in design feature.

There is actually a disclaimer on some of the thinner oils here in NZ, which says not to use on older engines.

I use castrol GTX for preference.

[wedgemaniac456]

Sorry engine v8 400se has always sounded bit tappety was probably use of mobile 1 with previous owner.Thats why changed to 10w40 but will change to 20w50 .Had a feeling could be cam wear performance a bit down too.Many thanks for comments.

[Henry Harris]

My 450SE has always been somewhat tappety. It has a 4.6 cross-bolted engine. The tappety noise is on start-up sometimes, but only lasts a second or two. The other times is at over about 3,000 rpm. There is nothing else wrong, just a bit disturbing. At this time the cam followers are being replaced as the engine appears to be fine otherwise and this will eliminate them as a source of the noise. I'll let you know at http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0....

Edited by Henry Harris on Monday 6th February 11:39

[broadside]

Have you checked your exhaust manifolds for cracks in the metal or around the welds? Your exhaust manifold gaskets could be shot too. A leak from these areas sound tappety too. Mine has been sounding a bit tappety so I wll be investigating these as I know one manifold is 11 years old and the other one around 9 in mild steel.

[wedgemaniac456]

Had the problem with tapping noise because of manifolds and got that sorted ,very scraped knuckles but got it done

[Tasmindevil]

Two camps on this one for and against flushing oil but I gave my old 400 an engine oil flush, new oil/filter and tappet conditioner made a remarkable difference, however only went ahead after I spoke to castrol via a contact in the oil industry. And errr ditto had a cracked manifold that made the engine sound like a diesel !!!