Have 98my sti type r impreza has tapping noise from engine on offside sounds very near the end of the rocker cover, only when cold doesn't do it when first start it up, only starts when fast idle drops off and slowly gets better when warm. Doesn't get much louder under load like a piston slap would ANY IDEAS or known faults thanks.

 

By the sounds of your description I would say it is a tappet, Check your oil level & quality of, May be due for a change, But generally most are a little tappety as they get on in years & nothing to worry about. If you are concerned take it to a reputable garage (or Friend) to let them have a listen.

Dean

 

Cheers dean, I've only owned the car a couple of weeks, it started tapping 2 days after I bought it, I checked the oil which was way ok and recently changed to semi synthetic. Took it back to the garage who said it was noisy injector which I found hard to believe as the noised got better as engine warms up. Unsuprisingly it didn't cure it. Took it back again they said it sounds like other imprezas, disagreed because the nearside bank of the engine sounds ok normal tappet noise where the offside does not. It sounds like an excessive valve clearance so faulty tappets but have been told they have shim type tappets and the vehicle has done only 40k and usually for shims to be noisy the car hase done lots of miles if anyone has any help or info would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Kriss,
Injectors can be noisy, One tappet generally sounds worse to the ear than several, COuld be a bit of **** in it, Sometimes an engine flush can sort it but personally i don't like using it as it can also move **** from other areas around (**** being carbon etc) what Grade of oil have you put in ?? 10W60 Fully synthetic is about the best, A Zero or 5W is way to thin..

Dean

 

Dean & Kriss,

Can't be crap in the cam buckets as they are solid lifters on an STi car. It might be valve gear, but is more likely piston slap.

Best to let someone who knows, and is not trying to fob you off, listen to it and advise - quickly - so that you can invoke sale of goods if it is more serious.

Call me if you rae local to Warwickshire and we'll put you in the picture.

Good Luck David APi Engines / APi Impreza

 

cheers for the info 10w40 semi was used also 5w40 was used before made no difference on either oils. I might be wrong but to be piston slap I would presume it would be more of a deeper knocking noise and would start as soon as the engine starts but this doesn't. It starts when the fast idle drops off to about 950rpm 45-60 secs after start up. I also thought these boxer engines suffered with piston slap at 2500-3000rpm? Has any one known of noisy camshafts the sound is just really near the end of the rocker cover not in the block but could be decieving?

 

Check that the crank pulley is not loose, recently had this on mine and it sounded like the engine had something very wrong with it? Also check the other pulleys on that belt and the timing belt / wheels etc.

Dean, how's it going, I used to post as 'Goober'!

 

Blinkin Ink, A up stranger, Im Ok, cars had a new brain (Apexi PFC) & more mods, How come the name change ?? Baliffs after you ,
How are you doing ?? Everyone asks every now & then about you.

Dean