maff125

iTrader: (1)

Hi all,

This is getting on my nerves now, here's a you tube link, i've just gone out and recorded it, the engine oils at normal operating temp and it's quieter when cold i think

B9SLJ

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a rod knocking to me when you rev it possibly the little end. You need to take it to a garage for proper diagnosis to be certain what it is

maff125

iTrader: (1)

Would the little end bearings be tapping since 2010 and from 60,000 miles?

Sounds like it's always been tapping away as i have this receipt in file..

nortonscooby

Id say its spun a bearing mate.

maff125

iTrader: (1)

I've had a few cars that have blown the bottom end bearings, they get louder when on and off the throttle, plus they last five minutes before the engine light flashes and they die.
i've not had the car long and once the oils warm has been driven pretty hard, doesn't sound anything like crank bearings to me, i think the video sounds quite makes it sound less like a tap

nortonscooby

Its done well if been like that since 2010. There is many reasons that invoice could state that depending on who and where wrote it. Could of been down to injector noise. Cold start piston slap. Loose coil pack etc. Doubt that the noise you got now is the same and its been there for 7 years. Could of been rebuilt cheap and its gone again? How long have you owned the car and what mods have been done and current miles on clock?

B9SLJ

iTrader: (1)

If it's been like it for last 7 years it can't be what I thought it might be. Surprised none of the owners hav bothered to have it fixed tho.

maff125

iTrader: (1)

Well yeah, once crank bearings start to knock they don't last long at all do they?

And this really doesn't sound like a knock at all, just taps away, might order some gaskets and plugs to rule that out

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Sounds more like a blowing gasket to me,if it's not exhaust then could be inlet manifold gasket.
I wouldn't say it's a bearing tho,Doesn't even sound like valve train noise but I've only had a quick listen on my phone but possibly valve clearance.
On next oil change strain the oil through a cloth,any metal in the oil would indicate internal damage.

B9SLJ

iTrader: (1)

Gaskets are worth trying for sure as they are cheap and easy to do
I had on old e30 325 sport that sounded like it needed tappets doing an it turned out being the exhaust manifold gasket.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

It actually says what it is in the garage's advisories box: "tappet (hydraulic lifter) noise".

But it shouldn't make any undue noise, as any wear gap is compensated by the lifter's internal piston. That's the whole point of hydraulic tappets. Even if it did, I can't believe it'd sound like that!

...Unless he actually means a generic 'tapping' (rather than actually meaning 'tappet').


Or unless the garage is just guessing at a tappet, of course(?)!

maff125

iTrader: (1)

A Good pal has his own garage and runs a 500bhp classic and he changed the oil 300 miles ago, he came with me to buy the car and picked up on the tapping noise when viewing and said it may be a gasket, so we didn't even check the oil when drained as it's sounds nothing like bottom end and he's knackered a few!

Will be taking him to tdr in warwick to pick up his classic so ill see what mark says before ordering any bits, it's only two weeks away

maff125

iTrader: (1)

Not owned the car long at all, totally standard type UK PPP sti 97,000 miles full history, bought it from a near 50 year old chap

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

I thought it was only really early cars v1/v2 which had hydraulic lifters,don't v3> have solid lifters?

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Sorry - yeah, I think you're right. The v.1/2 defo do, for sure.

(The MY97/98 plus MY99/00 have top hat style buckets, with one having under bucket shims, and the other over bucket, IIRC Merlin24's advise, correctly.)


In which case, perhaps the garage DOES mean that it's a rogue tappet....!

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

...That said, I have no idea what lifter type the New Age heads have.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

V2 sti RA have solid lifters with top hat shims v3/4 under bucket shims and the later cars under bucket fixed shims.
I think !! That many bloody versions and engine types I get lost!
Merlin24 is a wizard for sure,everything Subaru is etched in his mind,my minds a bit like that cheese with the holes in,what's that called now

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Yeah, I used to have a decent knowledge of the technical stuff, but annoyingly have forgotten many parts of it (as is evident ^^^)

Bugger.

Tidgy

Hard to tell from a video but crank bearings tend to be pretty deep sounding, that doesn't.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Agreed.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

+2
It's more like a skeleton wanking in a biscuit tin kind of sound

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

lol

I love that 'analogy'.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Lol me too,I laughed for days when I first heard it used 😂

mikey_w50

Bearing on timing belt?

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Also, "feed the pony".

When my mate came out with it down the pub, then proceeded to explain it, I hit the floor.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

maff125

iTrader: (1)

My pal reckons it's hydraulic tappets, there are lots of things that can cause this tapping noise and if it's been doing it since 60,000 miles in 2010 it can't be too serious.

Will what to get an experts take on it then go from there, but will start with plugs, all gaskets etc, or failing that, live with it as it's not THAT bad at all or just sell up

Tidgy

If it was bearing noise it wouldn't have lasted 6k, let alone 60 lol

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

^^^ Indeed.

I've had many a big end fail on previous cars.

maff125

iTrader: (1)

Didn't manage to get up to TDR as mates car wasn't ready but have done a hard 150 miles since and it's still the same and very strong, just noticed this morning that it's totally quiet from cold for about 20 seconds and then the noise starts which makes me think it's gaskets/exhausts related as heat expands things.

Undecided whether to go back to an m3 at the moment but for a weekend blast I think the sti has the edge, might replace the up and down pipe gaskets as would like to get rid of the tap as it is annoying driving through built up areas, need to check plugs as well