MOT and HLAs...
Discussion
MOT today - walked through it without a problem! Yay!
But the bad news - have been suffering bad HLA noise ever since I bought the car. It did very little mileage over the last 6 or 7 years and only had a couple of oil changes in that time (based on mileage not time).
Didn't really notice the HLA noise until after the first service with semi-synth (at an MX5 specialist). Was really really bad, and there 90% of the time (disctict from the usual 5 second rattle on startup). Used some Wynns Hydraulic Lifter de-gunker with little effect. After 3k miles or so I got the oil changed for fully synth with a flush first. It seemed better initially but it's still doing it most of the time. It's now done 2k miles with the fully synth.
When he changed the oil last time my tech said to give it 4k miles and then another change and see how it goes. If not, HLA replacement - although usually only a couple need changing. Today when I spoke to him he seemed to think all would need replacing
16 of them at 30 quid a piece - that's 480 quid on HLAs never mind other parts and labour!!
So, what to do?? I am not spending half the value of the car on sorting the rattling, but having said that it is really, really annoying and makes it sound like a shed. Bad news in a soft top as well. Will a few more flushes/oil changes sort it? How about taking the head off and bunging the HLAs in degreaser and then refitting? Can you replace one or two HLAs?
I'll spend a few hundred getting rid of the noise, but if it's more than 500 quid I won't bother
Trouble is, can't think what I'd replace it with if I did get rid - 944 Cab / TVR S both too expensive and not useable as daily drivers
But the bad news - have been suffering bad HLA noise ever since I bought the car. It did very little mileage over the last 6 or 7 years and only had a couple of oil changes in that time (based on mileage not time).
Didn't really notice the HLA noise until after the first service with semi-synth (at an MX5 specialist). Was really really bad, and there 90% of the time (disctict from the usual 5 second rattle on startup). Used some Wynns Hydraulic Lifter de-gunker with little effect. After 3k miles or so I got the oil changed for fully synth with a flush first. It seemed better initially but it's still doing it most of the time. It's now done 2k miles with the fully synth.
When he changed the oil last time my tech said to give it 4k miles and then another change and see how it goes. If not, HLA replacement - although usually only a couple need changing. Today when I spoke to him he seemed to think all would need replacing
16 of them at 30 quid a piece - that's 480 quid on HLAs never mind other parts and labour!!So, what to do?? I am not spending half the value of the car on sorting the rattling, but having said that it is really, really annoying and makes it sound like a shed. Bad news in a soft top as well. Will a few more flushes/oil changes sort it? How about taking the head off and bunging the HLAs in degreaser and then refitting? Can you replace one or two HLAs?
I'll spend a few hundred getting rid of the noise, but if it's more than 500 quid I won't bother
Trouble is, can't think what I'd replace it with if I did get rid - 944 Cab / TVR S both too expensive and not useable as daily drivers
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