Discussion
I drove the tuscan with the roof off today and noticed that there is a strange rattle that increases with the revs. I suspect that this could be tappets or worse valve wear.
When the car is idling, with the exception of when the engine is cold, you cannot detect the rattle....I hadn't noticed this noise before, so I guess that when the roof is on it was insulating me from the noise of the engine???
Is this a sympton of a 'top end' failure or normal for the SP6 engine??
(If you want to know what the sound is like, imagine shaking a bag of spanners quickly!)
When the car is idling, with the exception of when the engine is cold, you cannot detect the rattle....I hadn't noticed this noise before, so I guess that when the roof is on it was insulating me from the noise of the engine???
Is this a sympton of a 'top end' failure or normal for the SP6 engine??
(If you want to know what the sound is like, imagine shaking a bag of spanners quickly!)
Havent looked at your previous posts sorry, so dont know if you have had a re-build or not. How many miles are on the clock? A rattling noise does not necessarily(sp) mean all is bad news. Tuscs are noted for being a bit like the proverbial bag of spanners on start up. Make sure you let the car warm up slowly as its a dry sump. If you are concerned, get your dealer to check it out. Give us some history on the car and I am sure there are loads on here who can give you good advice. Good luck.
Only start to worry if the rattle is accompanied by huge oil consumption. Mine was using 1 litre every 200-300 miles prior to it's rebuild.
Oh - and the engine still rattles, although maybe not as bad as before the rebuild. The SP6 sound effects are commonly referred to as "the sewing machine noise".
Not sure if later engines are any quieter.
Oh - and the engine still rattles, although maybe not as bad as before the rebuild. The SP6 sound effects are commonly referred to as "the sewing machine noise".
Not sure if later engines are any quieter.
The 'sewing machine noise' analogy is spot on - that's exactly what it sounds like.
It does use a bit of oil , about 0.5 litres per month, but I am averaging about 1000 miles/month so far, so I think that this is OK.
I'm not reving over 4000 rpm until the oil is around 50 degrees - taking tips from what I have read on this forum.
Thanks for the input.
It does use a bit of oil , about 0.5 litres per month, but I am averaging about 1000 miles/month so far, so I think that this is OK.
I'm not reving over 4000 rpm until the oil is around 50 degrees - taking tips from what I have read on this forum.
Thanks for the input.
tuscy said:
Only start to worry if the rattle is accompanied by huge oil consumption. Mine was using 1 litre every 200-300 miles prior to it's rebuild.
How much did your rebuild cost??
My engine was using the same amount of oil until it rattled and dumped all the oil on the road last week....
Matt
The rebuild didn't cost anything, it was sorted out between the dealer and TVR after WH refused to cough up.
I'm not aware of anyone having to pay for a rebuild (arising due to the usual well known failures). It appears that TVR are quietly sorting out the problem units and not wanting to attract too much attention.
I'm not aware of anyone having to pay for a rebuild (arising due to the usual well known failures). It appears that TVR are quietly sorting out the problem units and not wanting to attract too much attention.
Another thing to keep an eye on is revs at idle. My tuscan went rattley and started to consume a lot of oil and then the revs dropped from idling at 900 rpm to 500rpm. Within 100 miles the engine let go.
I'd heard of this sequence happening before so whilst not best pleased wasn't entirely suprised!
Cheers
DC
I'd heard of this sequence happening before so whilst not best pleased wasn't entirely suprised!
Cheers
DC
Not sure why it uses more oil.
My engine let go on a tour of Europe, so however far it is from Etoges in France to Gravadona in Italy via St Mortiz is how long it took for the symtoms to really become noticable.
By the time I got to Etoges I noticed neat oil had started to be blown up the back of the car from the left exhaust which kind of made me nervous.
It started to use around 1 litre every 200 to 300 miles (I put a litre in in Strasbourg and a litre in Zurich). The engine blew up in Gravadona.
So I'm not sure that its using the oil as much as losing the oil. Also as 'bits' become loose and out of tolerance the car maybe chucking more oil into the engine to compensate thus increasing the pressure in the engine. I never saw my oil pressure drop during the journey.
Cheers
DC
My engine let go on a tour of Europe, so however far it is from Etoges in France to Gravadona in Italy via St Mortiz is how long it took for the symtoms to really become noticable.
By the time I got to Etoges I noticed neat oil had started to be blown up the back of the car from the left exhaust which kind of made me nervous.
It started to use around 1 litre every 200 to 300 miles (I put a litre in in Strasbourg and a litre in Zurich). The engine blew up in Gravadona.
So I'm not sure that its using the oil as much as losing the oil. Also as 'bits' become loose and out of tolerance the car maybe chucking more oil into the engine to compensate thus increasing the pressure in the engine. I never saw my oil pressure drop during the journey.
Cheers
DC
TUS 373 said:
When people are talking about engines letting go or blowing up, what symptoms are you talking about here? (Obviously catastrophic ones!). I'd really like to know. Also, what was the diagnosis after taking the car to a dealer/the factory?
Thanks
TUS 373
Don't think I'm unusual in this...
A conrod snapped in my engine and the piston disintigrated exiting either side of the block. It blew two holes around three inch across in the block.
The repair was a full rebuild replacing all conrods, pistons, cams, finger followers, the block and the starter motor. (Don't ask how but some flying debris smashed the starter motor!)
Cost - after some serious haggling by my dealer was met by the warrenty company, but the bill started at £13K and diminished greatly thanks to the dealers hard work!
Cheers
DC
and £13K! Holes in the block! It sounds like by the time all those bits have been replaced, it would be easier just to drop in another engine. Nightmare.
Doesn't sound like any amount of oil or maintenance was going to prevent that one. At least warranty companies need to see broken components before allowing claims - should have not been too much of a problem doin that, startet motor and all!
There was certainly no lack of mechanical sympathy and love and care with my Tusc so I'm not sure whether there is that much mileage in that claim though it is something I heard before...
It just think some cars were dodgy some weren't and I'm pleased to say that the problems seem to be sorted now for Tuscan owners.
Cheers
DC
It just think some cars were dodgy some weren't and I'm pleased to say that the problems seem to be sorted now for Tuscan owners.
Cheers
DC
peteh said:
I drove the tuscan with the roof off today and noticed that there is a strange rattle that increases with the revs. I suspect that this could be tappets or worse valve wear.
When the car is idling, with the exception of when the engine is cold, you cannot detect the rattle....I hadn't noticed this noise before, so I guess that when the roof is on it was insulating me from the noise of the engine???
Is this a sympton of a 'top end' failure or normal for the SP6 engine??
(If you want to know what the sound is like, imagine shaking a bag of spanners quickly!)
Back to the original question!
If this is a new noise then get it checked out, just because you are not using oil DOES NOT mean there is no problem with finger followers, trust me!
It may be the timing chain that needs adjusting, it may have thrown out or flattened a shim, it may be "normal" and just new to you, or it may be the finger followers wearing - in any case it is best to be sure (hence you asking on here) but engine noises are very difficult to diagnose on a web site, what sounds rattly to one person may sound fine to a mechanic or vice verca
Get it down to a dealer, ask them to have a quick listen and see what they think - better to have wasted a few hours getting it checked than to risk a terminal engine failure
Graham
My Saab is in having a new timing chain at the moment and has set me thinking about the Tuscan. Does the S6 chain tensioner not adjust automatically hydraulically until the chain has stretched - then it needs a new chain? No experience of these on Tuscans and never heard anyone mention them before. I hope that is a cheaper job to do than on my 9-5 (About a grand!). Wonder when they need changing as a service item - or just wait till they go rattley?
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