Discussion
Been a lurker here for...oooh...a long time.
I would like to ask a favour.
Despite performing numerous searches, I can't seem to find a very definitive, for want of a better word, answer to this.
I have lots of tappet noise - and no, it doesn't disappear. When I rev it, it increases in frequency.
My other problem (may be caused by the same thing) is that on idling it dips and goes back up - which sounds like an "idle speed" problem. Having adjusted this countless times (and accidentally touching the +B terminal with the paperclip to earth
) I can almost tell you that it's definitely not that.
When it's warm it has a lovely habit of not starting, and when it's cold and wet a belt is screeching - fanbelt I would assume.
My haynes manual tried to convince me the tappets were a cambelt :|
Put my mind at ease
(It's a 1.6 Roadster J plate if there are technical differences (like no LSD etc etc...)
Other than that...on the twisties...oh yes.
(I also have an esprit which isn't well. Over to the lotus forum I go!)
Grant
I would like to ask a favour.
Despite performing numerous searches, I can't seem to find a very definitive, for want of a better word, answer to this.
I have lots of tappet noise - and no, it doesn't disappear. When I rev it, it increases in frequency.
My other problem (may be caused by the same thing) is that on idling it dips and goes back up - which sounds like an "idle speed" problem. Having adjusted this countless times (and accidentally touching the +B terminal with the paperclip to earth
) I can almost tell you that it's definitely not that.When it's warm it has a lovely habit of not starting, and when it's cold and wet a belt is screeching - fanbelt I would assume.
My haynes manual tried to convince me the tappets were a cambelt :|
Put my mind at ease
(It's a 1.6 Roadster J plate if there are technical differences (like no LSD etc etc...)
Other than that...on the twisties...oh yes.
(I also have an esprit which isn't well. Over to the lotus forum I go!)
Grant
Ah, tappets!
Or to give them their proper name, HLAs (Hydraulic Lash Adjusters). On the Mk.1 MX-5 they are sort of bucket things that fill with oil which is why they all rattle for the first few seconds on startup until the oil has got to the top end.
My car (94 1.8 import, 80k km) has suffered at the hands of its previous owners - infrequent oil changes
Basically they get gunged up and the oil doesn't get to them. This sounds bad but I have been assured that it doesn't creat wear, just that the tolerances are too large and so there's a lot of clatter.
Since I've had it I've done 10k km and changed the oil twice, including a flush. First time was to semi synthetic 10w40, second time to fully synthetic 5w40. It improved for a little bit but was soon back. It sounds like a sewing machine sometimes
The official line is if an oil change doesn't cure it then you will need to replace the HLAs - 40ukp +vat each, there are 16, plus labour = uneconomical.
I reckon that's rubbish, surely you can take them out, clean them, replace them for free!
Your best bet is engine flush/oil change to decent fully synthetic and give it a good old Italian tuneup. If that doesn't sort it, do a couple more oil changes over the next few thousand k. The oil in mine is black after 7k km! I think they need regular changes. My dad's UK 1.8 was the same.
I am going to try another flush and some 0w40 Mobil 1 synthetic soon.
Some people have had luck with Wynn's Hydraulic Tappet stuff, have used 2 or 3 bottles myself with little or no effect
Not sure about the other problems, don't sound related to me...
Or to give them their proper name, HLAs (Hydraulic Lash Adjusters). On the Mk.1 MX-5 they are sort of bucket things that fill with oil which is why they all rattle for the first few seconds on startup until the oil has got to the top end.
My car (94 1.8 import, 80k km) has suffered at the hands of its previous owners - infrequent oil changes
Basically they get gunged up and the oil doesn't get to them. This sounds bad but I have been assured that it doesn't creat wear, just that the tolerances are too large and so there's a lot of clatter.Since I've had it I've done 10k km and changed the oil twice, including a flush. First time was to semi synthetic 10w40, second time to fully synthetic 5w40. It improved for a little bit but was soon back. It sounds like a sewing machine sometimes
The official line is if an oil change doesn't cure it then you will need to replace the HLAs - 40ukp +vat each, there are 16, plus labour = uneconomical.
I reckon that's rubbish, surely you can take them out, clean them, replace them for free!
Your best bet is engine flush/oil change to decent fully synthetic and give it a good old Italian tuneup. If that doesn't sort it, do a couple more oil changes over the next few thousand k. The oil in mine is black after 7k km! I think they need regular changes. My dad's UK 1.8 was the same.
I am going to try another flush and some 0w40 Mobil 1 synthetic soon.
Some people have had luck with Wynn's Hydraulic Tappet stuff, have used 2 or 3 bottles myself with little or no effect
Not sure about the other problems, don't sound related to me...
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