Scoobydrive

are driving me mad. Its a version 2 sti ra (1995) and when it starts first thing its not to bad but after giving the car a good hard driving they sound louder clicking/tapping away and now and again I can hear an irregular tap which is louder agin when hot.
I got a specialist to check out the car a few weeks back and he said the car was spot on but he heard it when it was just ticking over from cold.

It actually sounds louder from underneath the car when hot and its like you can hear the tappets through the exhaust manifolf, if that makes any sense.

I am using silkolene pro s 10w60 in it and the oil is only done about 800km ago and changed properly by cranking the engine etc.

Can anyone make any suggestions?

Thanks.

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Ask David at API I'm sure he's got a trick for sorting them.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

STi Vers 2 has solid lifters with small 'top hat' shims that lterally fit on the end of the valve stems. The valves in a '2' are also shorter than all other STi engines. A really difficult one to rebuild if you have to reshim the tappets as they are like nothin sold outside of Japan.

I'm told that Sunny GTiR tappet shims are similar but require surface grinding to appropriate Subaru thickness.

SO, Providing, that it has a Vers 2 engine in it in the first place it should be reshimmable. However, IF it has had an angine change it might have a hydraulic tappetted [ WRX ] engine fitted, which would the wrong engine, but maybe more manageable for the problem.

You'll never know unless you take the valve covers off and look unfortunately.

David APi Engines / APi Impreza

Scoobydrive

Thanks David,

Mmm Im a little confused now as I was told by the specialist above that my car has hydraulic tappets. He did not remove anything to check or anything but he just said at the time that there was just light tappet noise and it was normal. Would I be correct in saying so that he does not know what he is talking about.

Well there is no doubt in the world that it drives like an sti and I would be very surprised if it has had an engine changed. Is there any identification on the engine itself that would proove one or the other.

Is what I explained above unusual activity for a car with solid lifters, hense why you raised the question about whether it has an original engine in it or not?

Is this an expensive fix if i decide to go down that route and what is the main reason for this to happen?

Thanks again.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Hmmm,,, where to start??

STi vers 2 engine definitely has solid lifters and shims -if it doesn't, then it's not STi or maybe not STi heads. Sti Vers 2 pistons are crude forged affairs but very definitely different to WRX [ from the underneath ].

The noise described certainly sounds like noisy hydraulics. But equally if someone has been unsuccessful in reshimming the correct tappets because of the type and shape of them they could be rattly for that reason.

To do the tappets - if shimmed type, is an engine out job and will cost about £700 plus VAT to do successfully. Rattly hydraulics can often be quietened by using a pint of Auto Transmission fluid [ ATF ] added into the engine oil [ drain an equivalent amount out of course] and run for 2 / 300 miles .

Drain out everything new oil filter - proper oil - 10W or 15W something and see what happens.

Good luck David APi

Scoobydrive

Thanks again David, its a sept 95 sti ra 2 so it would be one of the first sti 2 models so, would this make any difference? Was the sti 2 the first sti using solid lifters?

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

STi 2 RA will only be solid lifters. If it is hydraulic type, then it'll be wrong for your car.

As far as l know the Vers 2 STi is the first with solid lifters, but as we see so few of the first cars [ prior to STi 2 and NOT WRX ] it's difficult to be certain where the change came in.

David APi Engines / APi Impreza

Scoobydrive

That answers all my questions David, thanks.

jayscoobra

my car has the exact same problem, when the car has warmed up the tapping/clicking gets worse if you raise the rpm to around 3000 the noise apears when facing engine it sounds like it is coming from back right hand side of the engine.the car is a jdm 95 wrx ra (closed deck engine), just changed oil to silkolene 10-50 and had the timing belt done. engine sounds like a diesel now and im noticing some power loss aswell. ive noticed the oil pressure sits slightly higher now that the new oil is in if that means anything.
any sugestions as to my problem would be great
thanks
jamie

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

That sounds rather more ominous than just tappets. get someone who know better to listen to it ASAP.

If you're anywhere close to Junc 12 M40 call in

David APi

jayscoobra

thanks david wish i was closer then i would pop by, but sadly im the wrong side of the border, got the car booked in at greers in beith on friday so hopefully they can find out whats wrong.

Big Bear

STi version 2's were hydraulic lifters, the RA's had the solid lifters .

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

I thought I said that on post 7

David APi