loud tapping noise from cold starts

incoming · Post by **incoming** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:12 pm

hi guys getting a loud tapping noise when i start my car in the mornings
i have to let it warm up and it wont be as loud..
when i drive it eventually goes away..
im thinking its the tappets

my car is a 95 GR..
are the tappets adjustable or not on the GRs?

Post by **aza013** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:19 pm

you have to replace them in a gr

koolio1234 · Post by **koolio1234** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:55 pm

you can get them changed but it'll cost ya

if your willing to put up with it you can save yourself the time, money and hassle.

Post by **vipfto** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:58 pm

first of all is your oil still good?

if so actually its normal for them to have some noise from cold start as does take a few second for oil to get around, if it makes noise for longer than few seconds then you can replace them.
the job is not as bad as some make it out to be and i think bennoz did a diy for it? but a word of advice dont flick the key to turn cams as he did

just hand crank it around

its actually just fiddly and make sure you dont lose any of the springs or drop anything in the heads. on the rear bank its rather awkward however the front is rather straight forward that is if your confident and mech minded.....

if not then get them done at your mech the tappets should cost around the 300 mark for all 24 but labour will prob be around the 200 mark too as they have to remove intake etc and while intake off think about replacing leads and plugs to save time and money in future that is if they have not already been done

incoming · Post by **incoming** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:23 pm

i wont be doing it myself
my mate is..
he just wanted to know if the tappets in GR are adjustable (solid) or not (spring)
his replaced GPX tappets before but cant rem lol

zaskar98 · Post by **zaskar98** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:41 pm

GPX are adjustable, GR are hydraulic. As mentioned above, make sure you're using the right oil, if it's too thick it won't pass through the oilways in the tappets, so not pumping them up properly so they're noisy. Also try a flushing agent before you spend money on replacements unless engine is really high km's.

koolio1234 · Post by **koolio1234** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:06 am

zaskar98 wrote:GPX are adjustable, GR are hydraulic. As mentioned above, make sure you're using the right oil, if it's too thick it won't pass through the oilways in the tappets, so not pumping them up properly so they're noisy. Also try a flushing agent before you spend money on replacements unless engine is really high km's.

+1 to oil thickness check. Change to a lower viscosity oil to reduce the noise but it wont necessarily go away completely. If it only occurs intensely when the cars still cold then thats ok.

Post by **Bennoz** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:14 am

Sorry, I have to disagree. NEVER change your oil viscosity - put the same oil in that was designed to be in it. Masking the problem will onlt result in premature wear on other bits.

I hate using additives too, pull out the tappets & replace them. Its not that hard a job.

Post by **I8A4RE** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:47 am

Bennoz wrote:Sorry, I have to disagree. NEVER change you oil viscosity - put the same oil in that was designed to be in it. Masking the problem will onlt result in premature wear on other bits.

I hate using additives too, pull out the tappets & replace them. Its not that hard a job.

And i have to agree with ben

koolio1234 · Post by **koolio1234** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:22 pm

Bennoz wrote:Sorry, I have to disagree. NEVER change your oil viscosity - put the same oil in that was designed to be in it. Masking the problem will onlt result in premature wear on other bits.

I hate using additives too, pull out the tappets & replace them. Its not that hard a job.

I heard that you get less of a noise with 0w40 (which is why i suggested a lower viscosity oil). BUT then again its not suitable during the summer months.

Also, I dont think replacing tappets is easy for non mechanically-minded ppl as it would be easy for them to fk something up.

Out of curiosity what kind of implications would result in leaving the tappets noisy, any permanent long/short term damage?

Post by **I8A4RE** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:16 pm

In short no.

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:01 am

sh*t its a well known fact the FTO suffers from lifter problems. Stuff trying to mask the issue by spending money on different oils. I was one of the first to attemp a lifter change and its not expensive and more than worth it.

Just change the lifters its not hard at all! Oils can only do so much your much better off changing the lifters.

Before you give it a go get the right tool for the rear bank as its a pain in the arse to do.

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:04 am

koolio1234 wrote:
Bennoz wrote:Sorry, I have to disagree. NEVER change your oil viscosity - put the same oil in that was designed to be in it. Masking the problem will onlt result in premature wear on other bits.

I hate using additives too, pull out the tappets & replace them. Its not that hard a job.
I heard that you get less of a noise with 0w40 (which is why i suggested a lower viscosity oil). BUT then again its not suitable during the summer months.

Also, I dont think replacing tappets is easy for non mechanically-minded ppl as it would be easy for them to fk something up.

Out of curiosity what kind of implications would result in leaving the tappets noisy, any permanent long/short term damage?

Noisy lifters are no big drama. Also chanigng lifters is no big deal. I dont believe you have to be mechanically minded to do it. Its just time consuming. When you life the rocker arm to replace the lifter you know if it is seated correctly or not. Its not really hard.