Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Andys VXR on 26 February 2012, 22:32:31

Title: maybe small end
Post by: Andys VXR on 26 February 2012, 22:32:31
My car has a slight tapping sound when ticking over but it sounds to deep a ticking to be tappets but not so deep to be big end those of you that have messed around with cars for years will know what i mean . Right the problem is that every now and then it goes really quiet and sounds how it should sound then it will come back as and when. Ive tried the under load test you know put it in gear hand brake on and slowly let the clutch up to see if it makes it noisier and it dosnt.ITS A 3.2 MANUAL 150.000 miles
Title: Re: maybe small end
Post by: tango on 27 February 2012, 01:52:26
have you tried an oil change
youd be surpised what it can do
Title: Re: maybe small end
Post by: Andys VXR on 27 February 2012, 20:40:18
Yes new oil last week no difference. I might change tappets summer time how long would it take to do i know ive got to take cams of just a rough idea. It seems to be drivers side .
Title: Re: maybe small end
Post by: 05omegav6 on 28 February 2012, 12:02:54
Before condemning it, add some Wynns Hydraulic Lifter Treatment, works a treat :y

Also what oil did you use? If the engine has done a few miles it might not appreciate 5w30 as it's relatively thin compared to the 10w40. I put the 5w30 in mine for the first time at 160k and it rattled like a bastid.

Went back to 10w40 with lifter treatment and much quieter (misfire aside) :y.
Title: Re: maybe small end
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 28 February 2012, 12:10:49
If it was the little end I would not expect it to dissappear at all.

Title: Re: maybe small end
Post by: Andys VXR on 28 February 2012, 21:20:18
Yes its 10-40 oil in there and yes i was thinking if its small end it wouldnt go away . Now ive heard some people say lifter treatment is great and some say it not worth it. Anymore yes or no on this treatment much appreciated.
Title: Re: maybe small end
Post by: tigers_gonads on 29 February 2012, 08:19:36
All depends on if it is your lifters and if so, how gummed up they are  ;)

Sometimes, a few quick oil changes (500 miles ish) can clear it.

As for pulling the lifters out, its plenum off ............. rocker covers off ........... cams out and them a magnet to get the little buggers out  :y
Stick them in a vice and give them a squeeze to get the crap out.
Re build then see how it goes  :y

If your cam cover seals are a few years old, you might want to budget for a new set (get Vx ones or you will end up doing it again in the summer  ;))

Hth
Title: Re: maybe small end
Post by: Kevin Wood on 29 February 2012, 10:21:32
I would pop off the cam covers and see if any of the lifters can be compressed by hand for starters. No need to remove the cams to try this. It's almost impossible to diagnose noises remotely but lifters are by far the most likely scenario, and I've been surprised in the past how noisy they can be if they fail properly.

Worth trying lifter treatment first though.