The 16V is a noisy bugger - Can it be silenced

[gregclarks]

My 16V is running and pulling well, but christ it sounds a bit rough. especially if you open the bonnet and rev it from the engine bay.

It sounds as if the chain drive, or head or something is loose/worn. Its done 85K to be fair, but i am sure that the 16v should sounds a bit smoother.

The noise is a tinny, ticking that seems to vary with revs, not ground speed. It got a little better when i changed all the belts, but now its as it was just 1k on.

Any ideas what it may be or if your engines sound a bit ropey?

Dont get me wrong, when i boot it, it screams so loud that you cant hear it, so it is fine! But i would love to smooth it out.

 

[Tom B]

I would compare it to another ABF, because I've had 2 and they both sounded like that!

 

[e5sta]

mine sounds like it too - think the abf engines are naturally "raspy" im goin to get a replacement panel filter and drill a hole or two in my airbox that way it might be a cheaper way to disguise the sound

 

[jadwot]

Same wit mine. Tho that tinny sound might be a cracked heat sheild. When i heard it thought it was an engine noise

 

[Jamin Berry]

Same with mine. I always get scared it running low on oil

 

[Dolly_Gti]

mine does it something cronic, the cause, Hydraulic tappets my friend. my mate put some oil in designed to quieten down older cars using hydraulic tappets and it worked abit in his fiesta.

 

[gregclarks]

i have already teared off the bloody heat shield from the CAT, so i know its not that. i feel a little better that they are all noisy, i too worry its low on oil - i run mobil 1 - 0-40w... anyone care to comment?

 

[Mckellar]

they do sound a bit rusty/raspy but its all good.

compliments an exhaust note nicely..

 

[Electro Ted]

Definitely a characteristic of the ABF engine. A lot of people have compliment the sound of mine, quite "raspy and rally" apparently!

I love it, it's character building!!

 

[Mckellar]

keep thinking i have a hole in my exhaust at about 2k revs and pulling lol

 

[F2 Stu]

My ABF is a quite & smooth as if its running on cream

 

[Fl@pper]

My ABF is a quite & smooth as if its running on cream

mines still running

must admit even after a FULL rebuild and only 5k miles its proper ABF sound

they aint sewing machines for sure but its a lot quieter

 

[F2 Stu]

so's mine onl/ 400miles on the rebuild thus far

 

[Fl@pper]

so's mine onl/ 400miles on the rebuild thus far

oooh cool - gently does it this time?

 

[F2 Stu]

Been very restrained thus far - showing encouraging signs on a map that isnt really that suited to it

 

[Dave_R]

i have already teared off the bloody heat shield from the CAT, so i know its not that. i feel a little better that they are all noisy, i too worry its low on oil - i run mobil 1 - 0-40w... anyone care to comment?

I would put in 10-40w oil, thats what is recommended in the manual and when I was up at Stealth Racing I asked him and he said use the dealers oil! Which is 10-40w Synta

 

[edc]

I switched to Synta Gold 5w40 and it seems to be a bit quieter