Tapping Noise When Engine Is Cold..

[Wacky Dee]

Have had the car for a couple of months now and after about a month is started making this tapping noise when the engine is cold .. the tapping gets faster when you press the gas pedal and it goes away completely after about 5 minutes when the engine warms up.

Took it for an oil change and the mechanic says (car still with them for other issues) it's still making the tapping noise even after the oil change ... so what could it be? He reckons lifters .. but I thought a new oil should fix that up if it's lifters (new oil is 10W40)

could it be anything more serious than the lifters? There's no noise when the engine warms up ..only for the first 5 mins when engine has cooled down. Cheers

[trel]

try 5w or 7.5w/30 oil. should make it better. its just the engine cold and all oil is at the bottom of the motor takes time to go to top. lifters 100%. nothing serious.

[mid life crisis]

i bet money its a exaust manifold gaskets . my sons had exactly the same symptons and i was convinced it was a lifter but i was proved wrong it was the manifold gasket due to broken studs.

ticked like crazy when cold and disapeared completly when warm

[GTR-N1]

Hiya D,

Either of posts #2 or #3 could be right.

You've only had the car for 2/12. So did you buy a car with full service history? Meaning were all the services done?

Check for sludge around the oil-fill opening. Hopefully the seller didn't put additives in before the sale to disguise the noise at cold. If so, the noise from valve lifters will come back.

If there's sludge, talk to your mechanic about cleaning it out.

I don't know if the Nulon product for lifter noise is good or how it works; or whether it can lead to sludge residue.

It can also be the gasket which was mentioned above because with heat, the thin gap can disappear through expansion.

Best to change this though if it's the problem eh?

Cheers, T

[DECIM8]

Its the lifters... Using a higher grade oil say 10-40 or 15 (wouldnt go higher) will stop it.

I must add ive just got this problem and It was due to the car running extremely rich and fouling the oil, thinning it out anyway.. Im actually replacing it today as it was becoming more noticable.

Id also mention your car most likely has not done the recommended KM.

The gasket problem mentioned above does not particularly form as a tapping sound more a hissing sound or squeel.. Just like a fuel pump of course this depends on your particular leak.. tapping could be a lose turbo but its very noticable.

When it all comes down to it.. It could also be your injectors as they do tap .. but I doubt it unless you've upgraded.

My money is on the lifters as its the most common noise complaint with skylines .. Cheers

Edited July 27, 2008 by DECIM8

[mid life crisis]

Its the lifters... Using a higher grade oil say 10-40 or 15 (wouldnt go higher) will stop it.

I must add ive just got this problem and It was due to the car running extremely rich and fouling the oil, thinning it out anyway.. Im actually replacing it today as it was becoming more noticable.

Id also mention your car most likely has not done the recommended KM.

The gasket problem mentioned above does not particularly form as a tapping sound more a hissing sound or squeel.. Just like a fuel pump of course this depends on your particular leak.. tapping could be a lose turbo but its very noticable.

When it all comes down to it.. It could also be your injectors as they do tap .. but I doubt it unless you've upgraded.

My money is on the lifters as its the most common noise complaint with skylines .. Cheers

well when my sons gasket was gone it was a def tapping noise not a hissing at all thats why i was conviced it was a tapped the noise got quiter as the engine warmed up as the gap got smaller as the manifold expanded ive worked in the motor trade for many yrs and still work part time as a mechanic and this one had me fooled and was glad to be proved wrong . if putting thicker oil in helps then you can rule out the gasket .

but i still stand by my statement that its a fair chance of been the gasket .

cheers mid life crisis

[ricsvtr]

My car just started doing this as well. I've been seaching these forums for the cause of the tapping and I'm convinced its broken exhaust manifold studs (as midlife crisis pointed out). Does anyone know if its safe to just leave the broken studs as is? I'd rather replace the studs and gasket when my turbo dies rather than pay the $500+ in labour just to replace the studs.

[Wacky Dee]

Thanks for all the tips .. I'll tell me mechanic to take a look at each. The oil's already been changed to 10W40 and the noise is apparently still there so I'll have em take a look at the manifold gasket next. Cheers

[trel]

I've got 2 broken exhaust manifold studs on mine as well, but no tapping noise which is strange. Dean, you in Vic? Any chance of some cash and a slab your way to help me do the studs? lol

[mid life crisis]

lol nah mate im in adelaide

[R338OY]

If it's still tapping after an oil change you'll probably need to get the lifter/s repaired and examine the lubrication system. I wouldn't leave it like that.

[QUICKY]

dude im pretty certain its d lifters and therefore nothign to worry bout. like alot of people have stated, use 5-30 oil and that may fix the problem

[Wacky Dee]

someone above mentioned (as did my mechanic) that it's actually thicker oil that would fix the noise if it's the lifters, not thinner oil .. who's right? My mechanic even suggested 20W50

[trel]

Well, how certain are you that your car has actually done 64k... A genuine 64km car wouldn't have noises like that not for 5 mins at least till its warm. But if you are convinced that it's lifters thicker oil couldn't hurt... All depends on how tight your motor is. A higher K motor will do good on 20/50 but I think its a bit thick.... Will cause you some bad cold start issues. Just start the car and get a screwdriver and use it like a stethoscope see if you can track down if the noise is coming from the rocker cover OR broken studs.

Worse comes to worse a decent mechanic can track it down for you.

Good luck man.

[GTR-N1]

Hey have you checked out that Nulon Valve Lifter additive yet?

And BTW you know already eh, that whilst you might go up from 10W to 15W,

you replace synthetic with synthetic & non with non? If poss. same brand too?

Tell us how it goes...

T

[Wacky Dee]

Thanks Terry I'll give that valve lifter additive a go if the mechanic can't find the problem ... Does this stuff have any negative effect on the oil?

EDIT: never mind, found my answer ..seems safe and apparently doesn't affect oil viscosity (http://www.autobarn.com.au/products/10/70/3303550)

Edited July 28, 2008 by Delta Force

[Wacky Dee]

just read in another thread about this lifter additive how it cleaned out all the crap from some poor chap's engine that it started to sound like a tractor due to all the lifters becoming noisy. Might give it a miss then

[Wacky Dee]

just spoke to mechanic and he said he listened to the engine with a stetoscope (or whatever the spelling) and reckons it's near the cam inside the head .. so most likely the lifters. He said he looked at the manifold gaskets and it wasn't that .. Ah well.

Does anyone know how much it would cost approximately to repair r34 (gtt) lifter(s) incl. parts and labour? I'm just looking for a ballpark figure ..

[Wacky Dee]

just wanted to update this ... the valve lifter tapping is completely gone after my service ie. thicker oil (Hi-Tec 10W40) so I'm pretty happy

[DECIM8]

glad to hear its sloved.. just use good fluids in it from now on