Strange noise from cold

[Sheff's Cordy]

hi can anyone give there advise. every time i start my cordoba 16v from cold there is a tapping/clicking sound coming from the rocker cover. doesn't affect starting drivability etc its just annoying. cheers

 

[andyj]

it's the tappets, they will slightly 'tappetty' until the oil gets circulated to them when the engine is first fired up

mine had it, and so has every other 16v I've listened to!

 

[Sheff's Cordy]

Cheers, I think they must be worn cause the noise has started recently. someone told me using thicker oil helps.

 

[Cupra Kid]

Standard 16v start up clatter, everyone i've ever seen has had it.

 

[Viking]

Cheers, I think they must be worn cause the noise has started recently. someone told me using thicker oil helps.

Wrong way to go in my opinion. Thicker oil will take longer to get round the engine and fill the tappets with oil, so the noise will be worse. Thinner oil moves faster, so will lessen the time it makes the noise, but may also burn off faster.

Run a flush through it at the next oil change and then drop the oil out. Can't do anything but help in my opinion. If the tappet oil flow is reduced due to sludge then flushing the sludge out will improve oil flow.

 

[Sheff's Cordy]

My mate has come up with a diagnosis he thinks the water pump is on its way out which is causing the noise on start up.