1.9 8v Tappety When Hot

[matt1900 0]

Hi guys,

 

Generally my engine sounds sweet, it's quiet from cold and sounds even better when warmed up, but when it starts to get quite hot and the oil temp gauge is up to the 2nd marker it starts to sound overly tappety. I've tried using different types of oil but this doesn't affect the situation at all.

 

I'm willing and able to re-shim the head, but I would have thought that if the clearances were out it would rattle from cold then quieten down once the oil had started working properly and the internals had expanded and reduced the gaps.

 

so im left thinking, when really hot the oil thins so much that it just stops working as efficiently. but I think there's maybe something i'm missing here. could the oil pump not be giving enough pressure once the oil thins/heats?

 

As I said, I'm prepared to re-shim the head but not if it's unlikely to solve the problem.

 

Any input is appreciated.

 

Thanks.

 

Matt.

[Baz 421]

What oil do you run and when was it last changed?

[matt1900 0]

What oil do you run and when was it last changed?

 

It had 15/40 mineral when I noticed the problem, so I changed it to 0/40 fully synthetic, and I changed it again 2 days ago for 10/40 semi synthetic. It's had 3 changes in the space of 6 months or so.

 

The only thing I forgot to mention is that when I first changed it 6 months ago, I put some wynns engine flush in it for 10 mins with the old oil then changed it, and I dont know whether the noise was there prior to this or not, so this is something that could possibly have affected it but again I'm just speculating and dont actually know.

 

Oh, and the oil pressure gauge on the dash reads normally, nice n high when cold dropping when it warms up but never too close to the bottom.

 

Ta.

 

Matt.

[matt1900 0]

I removed the rocker cover today and checked the clearances, all of which are pretty much spot on.

 

I did notice that the oil spray bar has no o ring seals at all so someone either fitted it without them or they've dissintergrated. also the spray bar seems to be bowed, as if one end is seated flat against the cam cap, the other end pops up, though by the marks on the rocker cover the bar should be held down anyway.

 

Am I right in assuming these missing seals could affect the oil distribution to the top end and worsen when the oil thins right down?

[Guest freda155]

It had 15/40 mineral when I noticed the problem, so I changed it to 0/40 fully synthetic, and I changed it again 2 days ago for 10/40 semi synthetic. It's had 3 changes in the space of 6 months or so.

 

The only thing I forgot to mention is that when I first changed it 6 months ago, I put some wynns engine flush in it for 10 mins with the old oil then changed it, and I dont know whether the noise was there prior to this or not, so this is something that could possibly have affected it but again I'm just speculating and dont actually know.

 

Oh, and the oil pressure gauge on the dash reads normally, nice n high when cold dropping when it warms up but never too close to the bottom.

 

Ta.

 

Matt.

 

Have you tried thicker oil such as 50 och 60? Currently I'm using 5W/50 and the tappety noise is the same at all operating temperatures. Oil pressure about 4,5 at 120 km/h (4 000 rpm)

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

If it's got over 100k on it, chances are it will have worn exhaust valve guides.

Made a big difference when I changed mine!

[dcc 855]

a crack in the exhaust manifold will also give you a 'tappety' noise - metal expanding when warm etc..

[James_R 3]

that gets noticabely louder (and annoying) with the loud pedal too and is a nasty tick tick tick noise that does your head in very fast!!

[matt1900 0]

Replaced the oil spray bar and the problem is solved as far as I can tell.

 

I knew it was an oil starvation probem to the top end when I realised the pulley end of the cam shaft started sqeeking when the tappets started to become noisey.

 

freda155: yeah I tried a 20/50 which made no difference so went back to 10/40.

 

Alex: Thanks for the input on the valve guides, thats very useful to know.

 

dcc: I do actually have a crack in my manifold but it doesn't appear to be blowing, that deffo wasn't the noise though but thanks for the input, again thats very useful to know.

 

Cheers guys, hopefully thats the end of this little problem. (till the valve guides & manifold give in lol)

 

Matt.

[Pob 1]

Did you buy a new spray bar or just try another? if you bought one, how much was it and did it include the O-rings?

 

Do you have a part number?

 

Thanks,

Dan

[Pob 1]

Did you buy a new spray bar or just try another? if you bought one, how much was it and did it include the O-rings?

 

Do you have a part number?

 

Thanks,

Dan

 

 

Forget my last post... £51 + vat for a spray bar! I think I'll clean a old one

 

Dan

[matt1900 0]

haha, yeah sod buying one new.

 

I got one off a helpful guy on ebay, he said he had a few. I asked him to make sure it still had all the seals still in tact.

 

My original one had yellow plastic parts and on the one he sent me they were green, not sure if there's any difference, I think the green maybe off slightly later engines perhaps as mine is an 87 MY.

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

You could just buy an O ring set, Wickes sell them for about £10

[Pob 1]

You could just buy an O ring set, Wickes sell them for about £10

 

I have a spare one but the seals are split, I'm going to make sure its clear and goto the local pug dealer and have a rummage through the tub of o-rings.

 

Mine is brown, well both spray bars are. There was only one bar to choose from so there isn't any difference in the bar, just the colour of the plastic bits. I thinks

 

Dan