Diesel Castanets

[Glassman]

My diesel engine (especially in the colder temps) sounds like someone is playing the castanets under the bonnet.

Could this be an injector issue, or timing?

[Locknut]

Has this started recently and/or suddenly, or has it always been like that? If it started recently, has anyone put petrol in it? What car and engine is it?

[Glassman]

Nissan Primastar (renault engine) 1.9

Only seems to rattle like this in cold temperatures. No petrol has been anywhere near it.

It did have the head off about 2.5k miles ago and one recon injector was put in. It runs very well, no real issues, but it's that annoying sound it makes.

[Evoluzione]

Are you accompanying it with a Flamenco when you fire it up on a morning? If not that is your problem, right there.

[Locknut]

It could be a timing issue then, maybe the belt is one tooth out. However I think a lot of those Renault engines sound like the timing advance is being pushed to the limit so maybe it's "normal".

[mybrainhurts]

One of mine briefly made a huge rattle, then went back to normal a couple of times.

When the air temperature next dropped to about 2 degC, it stopped dead. Head cracked. Seems hydraulic tappet(s) were starved of oil at some point.

[Glassman]

Locknut said:

It could be a timing issue then, maybe the belt is one tooth out. However I think a lot of those Renault engines sound like the timing advance is being pushed to the limit so maybe it's "normal".

This has been suggested. I'll take it in for a tweak.