Tappet-ty Noise On Cold Start

[Wibbly]

On a cold start my 2.3 petrol makes a slight tappetty noise under the load of pulling out of the drive. Goes within a few 100 yds (not enough time for much to warm up). After that it's quiet as usual under load or even idle (hot). From comments here I'd say it was the tappet/lifters waiting to get oil, but why would it only make a noise only under a light engine load?

 

Are these the sympotoms of piston slap? A problem with 2.3's? The car hasn't been thrashed... Done ~64K miles...

 

Already had a timing change tensioner replaced a while back...

 

Any ideas?

 

W

[bigdaddy]

Mine does the same, but only for about 5 to 10 secs,,,,,,,I thought it was cold oil and wear/tear of the engine

 

mine has 104500 miles

[Wibbly]

Mine does the same, but only for about 5 to 10 secs,,,,,,,I thought it was cold oil and wear/tear of the engine

 

mine has 104500 miles

 

My concern is that it's lengine load related, whatever is causing it. But once hot, the engine sounds quite sweet to my ears under all conditions...

[Wibbly]

Any ideas?

 

W

 

I should add the only other rather odd symptom is very occasional large unexplainable drop in oil level, without any other symptoms (like oil in the water, visible leaks, smokey exhaust, etc). Happened a couple of times in th elife of the car. Goodness knows wheer the oil went! Normally it requires one top up between some services these days...

[NikpV]

Sounds oil related - is the correct viscosity in there - id its too thick it would take longer to fill the hydraulic tappets correctly but not when hot ?????

[Wibbly]

Well, a year on, and it's much the same. There's been an oil change (checked correct grade). Maybe this is something far worse brewing, like big or little end problems, but I don't know what the symptoms of this would be and presumably they'd be obvious with the engine hot/oil thin... The odd thing is it remains load related, and only for 50-100yds after starting a stone cold engine. Edited December 16, 2007 by Wibbly

[Bigjeeze]

Try checking the pressure relief valve - it sounds like it's sticking.

[Wibbly]

Wouldn't I expect the oil pressure light to be slow turniing off or even flickering if it was low oil pressure during a cold start?

[Smilge]

On a cold start my 2.3 petrol makes a slight tappetty noise under the load of pulling out of the drive. Goes within a few 100 yds (not enough time for much to warm up). After that it's quiet as usual under load or even idle (hot). From comments here I'd say it was the tappet/lifters waiting to get oil, but why would it only make a noise only under a light engine load?

 

Are these the sympotoms of piston slap? A problem with 2.3's? The car hasn't been thrashed... Done ~64K miles...

 

Already had a timing change tensioner replaced a while back...

 

Any ideas?

 

W

 

Piston slap is a loud rattle when you first start it .... I reckon you're talking top end and possibly worn lifters. Does she burn oil? ..... get someone to follow you and witness when or if it does.

[Beyond Help?]

Wouldn't I expect the oil pressure light to be slow turniing off or even flickering if it was low oil pressure during a cold start?

No, the pressure only needs to be a few PSI to float the shells and turn the light off. The holes into the tappets are very small and the oil has to flood round them as the tappets 'chatter' and turn round so the holes do not actually line up. It can take a few minutes for everything to be right for them to fill.

 

A friends Focus used to rattle for about five minutes before the tappets filled, I don't think you have much to worry about.

[Wibbly]

Can/does the rattle increase under load? It's this aspect that seems odd to me.

[maximus]

My TDI 110 Galaxy 1999, does the same thing. The oil light takes a good 5 seconds to go out, the engine sounds tappety for 10 to 20 seconds then it settles down and is ok when warm. I don't drive off/ put the engine under load or even rev it until it goes quiet.

I thought I'd try magnatec oil to see if it helps but that did nothing.

Looking at one of the posts above I may try thinner oil, say 0W30, and see if that helps.

[pikey]

My 2002 tdi 115 has a rattle when you take your foot off the throttle after initial drive/load down the road when cold in the morning. It does not experience the same rattle when reving without load or after driving for 30 seconds or so. I have noticed it is getting slightly worse as the car is getting older. I think it may be drive related as it occurs when you take the load off by depressing the clutch.

Thought are some kind of clutch issue, sounds like springs in clutch rattling around, some kind of idler gear associated with drive but only under load or maybe an issue with the variable vane in the turbo.

The car has always been serviced on time with vw505.01 oil and does not use a drop with 80k.

 

Any suggestions would be helpful, got a feeling something will go with a bang shortly!

[seatkid]

Easy solution: turn the radio up good and loud.

 

If it aint burning or losing oil, whats the worry?

 

Once you think you hear a noise that sounds like it may be a problem, it generally gets louder and louder... This is just your brain fine-tuning the "panic centre". A bottle of your favourite spirit can (temporarilly) detune the "panic centre".

 

A lot of strange noises on cars are often due to loose/badly fitting trim/panels/bits and bobs around the engine bay/ front end etc.

Edited March 23, 2009 by seatkid