My car sounds terrible...help

[green_comet]

Well i have been back from the united states for about 3 days, and havent really taken my car for a long drive, since home (just around the block a few times).

I have noticed that when its running now its sounds terrible. I remember it used to do it a little before i left about a month ago, but then it would warm up, and the sound would go away. But now its just keeps tapping and no matter how warm it gets it just dosent stop.

Does anyone know what might cause this? Its coming from the middle of the rocker cover. Would anything need adjusting/tightning?

I have been doing some searching and think it might be the lifters. Its says in the big forum that an oil change is due.. I changed it about 3 days before i left, along with filter??

any help would be really appreciated

cheers
Ryan

[jules]

I would warm her up and then flog it to redline.
Clear out the suckers.


Jules

[rhysk]

Change oil..

If this doesn't clear it up, then the official Mazda fix is to hold it at 4 000 rpm for 20 minutes. But I would prefer Jules' method of driving it like you stole it for half an hour or so

[Lucky_Luke]

Hey comet, my car does the same thing occasionally only cause i drive it once a week on weekends, but it only makes the noise for a few minutes while the car warms up and then is fine, and only the first time i start it.

Just wondering, is your engine high km's and what weight oil are you using? cause im using quite a heavy grade, 20-50 or something, maybe the oil is too thin???

L.

[JBT]

Another trick I use when the car has been idle for a few days is: start it and, if it starts rattling, switch off and re-start. Works 100% of the time and I have no idea why.

[JSE]

CHange the oil and if it still is making a \"ticking\" constant noise its the lifters. This is a very common problem in the NA6s.

[Garry]

What Jules said. If problem persists change the oil.

[JBT]

No point in green_comet changing the oil unless it's for a change of grade. He only changed it about 5-6 weeks ago and the car has only been run for a few days either end of that period.

[green_comet]

No point in green_comet changing the oil unless it's for a change of grade. He only changed it about 5-6 weeks ago and the car has only been run for a few days either end of that period.

Yeah it was Motul 300V chrono 10W40 too, cost a small fortune..

But yeah i took it out for a spin today to get some Nulon lifter free, and a timing light. Gave it a little on the way to super cheap and back, when i came to a stop it had really gone quiet. Still got the lifter free, and some engine flush i will use next time.. Also advanced the timing to 14 degrees. Goes alot better now...

[jules]

I would say it's fixed. Malibu did this once and I booted the life out of it, and black smoke belched out, and the little car thanked me for it. Go figure.

Jules