"Ticky Tappets", or worse?

[JonRB]

Seemed to have developed a nasty mechanical ticking sound on my Chimaera 500 today.
It is proportional to engine speed rather than road speed. It is more evident when the engine is under load - very evident if you put it in 5th at 30mph and give it a degree of throttle.

Upon returning home it was audible at idle so I popped the bonnet up. It is much louder on the nearside (passenger side) of the engine than the offside. The sound seems to be coming from the direction of the rocker cover which is making me think "ticky tappets".

Something to put up with and get fixed as and when convenient, or something I should be getting concerned about?

Thanks in advance
Jon

(Moderators - Not sure if this belongs in this forum or the engine forum, so please feel free to move if appropriate)

[victormeldrew]

If its load related I can't see it being tappets, unless you are losing oil pressure under load maybe?

Could it just be pinking, some bad petrol?

[iandbeech]

manifold gaskets?

[HomerJ]

I had a similar sound occur on a 205 Gti some years ago which turned out to be a leaking exhaust manifold gasket. V different cars, I know, but from the sound of it I'd have sworn it was something metallic tapping.

[JonRB]

I do know that I have a weeping rocker cover gasket. Dave Batty identified it a while back and told me to keep an eye on the oil consumption and we'd replace it when it gets worse.

Perhaps that time has come? (ie. could it be that?)

[jeremyc]

Sounds like exhaust manifold or gasket. I think similar symptoms have been reported here several times before - try a search.

[trefor]

Yep, check the exhaust manifold gaskets first - you can get at most and try and tighten them up with a range of open ended/ring/socket spanners (9/16 or 1/2 inch - can't remember which). Hopefully tightening will solve the problem!

[tonyrec]

Just had my exhaust manifold gaskets replaced.....everyone that heard it swore it was the tappets. Its very easy to confuse the 2.

The noise appeared all of a sudden as i was accelerating up a hill!

[JonRB]

Interesting, especially since so many people seem to agree.

Is tightening it up a difficult job? The Financial Controller (ie. the wife) won't release the funds to get Dave Batty to do it for me.

[2 sheds]

9/10 of these turns out to be exhaust gaskets, especially if louder under load.
tim

[JonRB]

2 sheds said:

9/10 of these turns out to be exhaust gaskets, especially if louder under load. tim

It is definately louder under load.

[tonyrec]

You really do need to replace them. I had Topcats do mine and it turned out to be a Ba****d of a job because the studs kept snapping and the result was that both heads had to come off..............all because of a £4 gasket.

If you do replace them, make sure that you replace them with the uprated ones......

[kenny chim 4]

Jon, I concur with the above as mine have been 'tappeting' for some months now- so it (probably) is something you can live with for now.

I do finally have a mechanic friend (sort of) booked to replace mine with stainless steel ones- which cost up to £8 each.

When trying to tighten the bolts, you obviously have to get under the car to reach the lower ones. A lot easier if you have a friendly garage that'll let you use their car- lift!

[T88CAN]

Be warned have a look at my post on this thread
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=46534&f=8&h=0
TONY

[JonRB]

T88CAN said:

Be warned have a look at my post on this thread www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=46534&f=8&h=0 TONY

Thanks for that, Tony.

[ajg]

kenny chim 4 said:

Jon, I concur with the above as mine have been 'tappeting' for some months now- so it (probably) is something you can live with for now.

A leaking gasket could cause damage to the face of the cylinder head as very hot gas passes over it, I think it's best not to leave it too long!
Andy G

[jellison]

Jon - long time. Sounds like tappets, but then aren't they hydraulic? - just get down to a specialist to look over the top end. Leaking rocker box gasket may accout for me using a fair bit of oil on passenger side - I'd change myself if it wasn't for those stupid studs they use. Hope its all sorted. Not drive mine for 3+ weeks - getting all minor paint dinges sorted (alot!).
L8R's TR is now quicker than 500!

[plotloss]

Something went on mine to do with the tappets I think, or it could have been the camshaft.

Anyhow, it made an absolutely shocking racket so this doesnt sound quite so terminal...

[shpub]

Jon: sounds like exhaust gaskets...

[Incorrigible]

Has anyone mentioned exhaust gaskets

Get it checked because escaping exaust will erode the head then you have to get the head off and skimmed on the side

Is it difficult, yes and no, you undo 8 bolts, bolt them back up. However, as mentioned before, it could go horribly wrong