noisy tappets

[nicecupoftea]

Hi folks,

Recently bought a 13 year old 50k mile MX-5. Needed a service, not many miles done of late (probably less than 1000 over the last 3 years).

It had the usual MX-5 rattly tappets when cold - usually fixed with a service. Well it's had a full service, semi synth oil (not sure what type but MX-5 specialist did it so presumably it's appropriate!)

Quietens down nicely after a few secs of running, but I keep noticing the rattle comes back much worse later on when the engine is hot (not always though). Often if I restart the engine when it is already warm it's straight away noisy.

Oil level is fine, pressure is fine and when cold it quietens down straight away.

Any suggestions? I have been wondering whether lack of use and a patchy service history means the top end is sludgy? I have been recommended to flush it using Wynns Tappet Treatment(?). Worth doing?

[steve_d]

Think you need to find out what oil went in. With the milage you do it cannot be cost effective to try and remedy the problem. It may just be that you need to go up a grade on the oil. Put 0W-40 in mine once instead of 15W-50... you would think I had thrown in a box of washers the noise it made.

Steve

[nicecupoftea]

I'm going to ring the chap tomorrow and ask what he put in and ask if he has any suggestions. He is an MX-5 specialist though so I'm pretty sure he'll have put in the right oil! He did tell me the grade but I forget what it was now though.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hmm, forgot, will give him a call.

I'm thinking of trying that Wynn's Hydraulic Lifter stuff - bung a bit in and then take it down for another oil change, see if that sorts things out. The car hasn't been run much in the last few years so maybe it just a bit gummed up...