Engine Noises - help

[Schultzy]

Ok please no newbie teasing!

When i start up my NA 1.6, it make a lot of racket as tho there is no oil in it. Onle last a few seconds then is smooth again. Any reasons for this at all? I have Royal Purple oil in it btw.

Also, when idling, it makes alot of ticking noises. I have been told these are noisy tappet. Is this correct if so what can be done to fix this? (what are tappets anyway)

I am young and this is my first piston engine but any help is greatly appreciated!

Cheers
Schultzy

[Craig]

Noise on startup is normal as the tappets are hydraulically operated/powered so they need to get oil up there to work. Ongoing ticking is usually a sign of an impending oil change (do it every 5000klms) but can also mean they are gummed up. Try some lifter free stuff (Wynns Shut Up Ya Bastard etc!) seems to work well too.

Craig

[StanTheMan]

what Craig said.

I changed to Mobil 1 fixes the issue for 5-6k km.
then i changed the engine to a late 91 model.....can't remeber if i've heard it since.
thats the grey matter.

[kitkat]

How's the oil level? may need a top up.

Where does the oil pressure gauge sit on initial start up? (eg cold morning)

[Schultzy]

oil level appears fine by my judgement in the dark

oil gauge sits a tad over 4 at start up. Is this normal? I did notice it was a bit higher when i put the Royal Purple in it.

Schultzy

[Sean]

oil level appears fine by my judgement in the dark

oil gauge sits a tad over 4 at start up. Is this normal? I did notice it was a bit higher when i put the Royal Purple in it.

Schultzy

Yeah should be rightm and once upto operating temps it should sit just below 2.

[Schultzy]

yup thats right.

The ticking sound (i suppose the tappets) seems to be getting worse. Along with my worn tail shaft, the whole car sounds terrible at the moment!

[StanTheMan]

there is a tail shafts for sale on e-bay ATM
pretty sure its a 1.6 too

[john!]

Also have a look at what brand of filter you are using, not much use to my mind using hundred dollar a bottle oil and a 2 dollar filter. A lot of people round here recommend the mazda oem filter, but you could also try the mobil1 filter or the pure one filter (got mine at supercheap). The better filters have an anti-drainback valve, which allows more oil to remain up the top of the engine. It seems to work well enough, I get a very brief clatter (half a second at the most) and that is it, running shell helix ultra 10w40.

john

[tjcool]

i find the only time mine makes noise is (as someone suggested ) when it needs an oil top up
I generally find that even with 5k changes the little motor will need a good top up in there at some point.
Mine doesnt blow any smoke or leak onto my drive way but it does go through some oil.
Ive always put it down to the beast just having high compression.

also shultzy if you live in iceland it just may be the oil taking its time to get warm and then get spalshed around the top of the motor but obviously the noise should then stop once its warmed up. so may be a tappet prob

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tappet