nasty rattle/tapping noise - Drifting forum

owent · 01-07-2008, 21:52

hey, my sr20det has just recentely developed a loud tapping noise, seems to be coming from the top half of the engine but cant be sure.

it has slight vvt rattle on startup, but once driven a couple of feet, this goes.
once the car is hot, or left ticking over for a while, i get a loud tapping noise coming from it.

doesnt seem to be there when driving above 2000 revs but hard to hear.

any help massively appreciated

oilrag22 · 02-07-2008, 21:41

how is the oil level and what brand and type oil are you using??

owent · 02-07-2008, 22:01

its good level, and its castrol edge 5w30 i think, fully synthetic?

oilrag22 · 02-07-2008, 22:11

Can you reproduce the sound @ 2000 revs, without driving?? Only tapping noise when hot?? Might be that there is a tappet that "leaks" oil when it gets too thin due to temperature. In other words it doesn't hold it's pressure, and it will sound like there is a valve with excessive lash on it.

owent · 02-07-2008, 22:15

hard to tell, but it sounds like it could be there very slightly at 2000. what thickness of oil should i be using? i just went by the handbook, and will that damage my engine?
not very clued up

oilrag22 · 02-07-2008, 22:26

Doesn't really hurt the engine, might cause one or several of the valves to open little less, but in any case this is better engine health wise than valves staying off the seat.
I'd say first try a semi-synthetic oil, with slightly higher viscosity, i.e. 5W-40. And see whether there is a change. No real need to change filter...

owent · 02-07-2008, 22:28

thanks for the help mate, ill give it a shot, and see what happens

01-07-2008, 21:52	#1 (permalink)
owent tail slider Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ulverston, cumbria Posts: 144	nasty rattle/tapping noise hey, my sr20det has just recentely developed a loud tapping noise, seems to be coming from the top half of the engine but cant be sure. it has slight vvt rattle on startup, but once driven a couple of feet, this goes. once the car is hot, or left ticking over for a while, i get a loud tapping noise coming from it. doesnt seem to be there when driving above 2000 revs but hard to hear. any help massively appreciated

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02-07-2008, 21:41	#2 (permalink)
oilrag22 Drift, you will... Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 363	how is the oil level and what brand and type oil are you using??

02-07-2008, 22:01	#3 (permalink)
owent tail slider Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ulverston, cumbria Posts: 144	its good level, and its castrol edge 5w30 i think, fully synthetic?

02-07-2008, 22:11	#4 (permalink)
oilrag22 Drift, you will... Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 363	Can you reproduce the sound @ 2000 revs, without driving?? Only tapping noise when hot?? Might be that there is a tappet that "leaks" oil when it gets too thin due to temperature. In other words it doesn't hold it's pressure, and it will sound like there is a valve with excessive lash on it.

02-07-2008, 22:15	#5 (permalink)
owent tail slider Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ulverston, cumbria Posts: 144	hard to tell, but it sounds like it could be there very slightly at 2000. what thickness of oil should i be using? i just went by the handbook, and will that damage my engine? not very clued up

02-07-2008, 22:26	#6 (permalink)
oilrag22 Drift, you will... Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 363	Doesn't really hurt the engine, might cause one or several of the valves to open little less, but in any case this is better engine health wise than valves staying off the seat. I'd say first try a semi-synthetic oil, with slightly higher viscosity, i.e. 5W-40. And see whether there is a change. No real need to change filter...

02-07-2008, 22:28	#7 (permalink)
owent tail slider Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ulverston, cumbria Posts: 144	thanks for the help mate, ill give it a shot, and see what happens