Tappets yet again

[ChrisGadd]

Hi,

Ive read the previous links re hydraulic tappets but unsure if this applies to me or not.
The tappets are getting a little noisey and the engine oil is due to be changed (this wekend all being well).
What I don't want to do is mess arround with the tappets if I don't need to. I have a 1993 K reg S3 with a bonnet that has drivers lights (don't know if this is usual or not for a late S3 ?)
What are the chances of my engine having hydraulic tappets ?

[Wildfire]

Ummmmm pass. It could do as it's quite a late car. You could ring the factory. They might be able to help.

[jons_s3]

Hi Chris,

I've got a 'J' reg S3 with fog lights and my tappets aren't hydraulic. In fact, I did the tappets last weekend! It's a pretty straightforward job really, most of the work is in removing bits to get to the rocker covers. If you haven't done it before, I would allow yourself a good day. There are some good instructions on www.tvrsseries.com

[jons_s3]

jons_s3 said:

I've got a 'J' reg S3 with fog lights and my tappets aren't hydraulic.

Although that doesn't necessarily mean that they all are!

[tvrgit]

I seem to recall from previous discussion on here that the hydraulic tappets were limited to cars that were originally fitted with catalysts - ie the S3C.

If your car is an S3 and not an S3C then the chances are the tappets are not hydraulic. There is no definitive way to tell without major engine dismantling - the heads and rockers are identical.

I (mistakenly) adjusted mine and I now know that they just didn't "feel" right - they felt as if they were already set much too tight and took about 2 turns to loosen to the what felt like the "right" setting but was actually totally wrong!

Resetting them after that is a bleeding nightmare...

[ChrisGadd]

Thanks for your replies I think the odds are that they are not hydraulic so next weekend I'm going to get me spanners out