Griff 500: light rattling engine noise

[gerjo]

Since a few months I've had a light rattling noise (high pitch) coming from my engine. It's only hearable at low revs (1500 - 2500 rpm) and gets worse when the engine is warm. Dealer replaced the fingerfollowers and axes (I hope this is correct English). Result: noise has diminished but certainly not vanished.

Dealer says this is normal and yes, Ive heard it in several other 500's but I've also heard 500 which were absolutely silent (apart from the dark howl of course) and that's what my car was like before.

Someone suggested that it could be that there is too much room between the followers and the valves.

Any ideas?

thanks!

[P7ULG]

Might be showing my ignorrance but didn't think the old V*s had finger followers and these only appeared on the speed six engine.

[gerjo]

it's a bit hard to translate technical Dutch into technical English.

I'm talking about the things that push the valves down
how do you call these?

[SGirl]

Gerjo, what are they called in Dutch? I might be able to help if I know...

[thegamekeeper]

rockers?

[gerjo]

in Dutch: "tuimelaars"

[gerjo]

quote:
rockers?

yes, probably rockers!

[SGirl]

quote:
in Dutch: "tuimelaars"

Rockers, definitely.

Or bottlenose dolphins.

>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 30th August 10:09

[gerjo]

quote:

quote:
in Dutch: "tuimelaars"

Rockers, definitely.

Or bottlenose dolphins.

that must be it: 340 TVR horses and a couple of dolphins under the hood


>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 30th August 10:09

---

[SGirl]

quote:
that must be it: 340 TVR horses and a couple of dolphins under the hood

Aha, that explains why TVRs let in water, then...

[RichB]

quote:Dealer replaced the fingerfollowers and axes (I hope this is correct English).

Which I imagine is the rockers and the rocker shaft, however as the Griff V8 has hydralic valve lifters I would not have thought the noise would be related to the valves/tappets etc. Are you sure it's coming from the rockers/Valves? Might it be alternator or something else? Rich...

[thegamekeeper]

Most likely to be a worn cam and followers. Lubrication to the cam takes along time from cold start and people rev the engine before it is warm. VERY common on Griffs/Chims, especialy the low mileage ones that do lots of cold starts and not many miles.

[gerjo]

quote:
Most likely to be a worn cam and followers. Lubrication to the cam takes along time from cold start and people rev the engine before it is warm. VERY common on Griffs/Chims, especialy the low mileage ones that do lots of cold starts and not many miles.

nope, it's not the cam or followers, dealer checked these and all was as good as new (Castrol RS 10W60 remember)

is it true what I mentioned before that it can be the setting up of the rockers/valves?
I understood that too much room could give the noise I'm describing.

[thegamekeeper]

How did you check the cam?Pitted lobes,chips or worn away case hardening can only be inspected visually and are all caused by lack of lubrication. Castrol rs is no better a lubricant than olive oil until it gets to the camshaft from cold.(see the Magnatec advert). Hydraulic camfollowers will rattle from cold till they fill with oil but once full should be silent. Theyre is therefore no possibility of a "too large a gap"

[BLUETHUNDER]

Gerjo im not an expert but every car ive owned has had the rover v8 and ive had this problem on 3 occasions,if your descrptions right its more than likely the push rods between lifters and rockers,they wear at the ends which normally wears the rocker and lifter, its probably only one causing the problem but you will have to replace all to eradicate the problem.its expensive to start with but cheaper in the long run as if you do it the cheap way just replacing the one or two that are worn nine times out of ten the problem will come back with one of the others.

[gerjo]

thanks Bluethunder, I'll have the pushrods checked

thing is dealer checked everything while the engine was apart for a new cylinder lining; they said everything was in fine condition

also, the noise changes when they do something to the rockers/shaft, at one time it even disappeared when they just turned the shafts; however,the noise returned the next day.

[RUF 3]

Mine did the same. I was convinced it was small ends. Turned out to be minute cracks in the exhaust manifolds. Worth checking before tearing the engine to bits. the manifolds are (thin) stainless and the constant heating and cooling eventually causes cracks at the welds. take them off and get a skilled man to cut them apart and reweld them - £100 job done !!

[BLUETHUNDER]

Gerjo if you or a mechanic strip the rocker shafts,inspect the push rods individualy they should all look the same,if one or more have a cone shape to them this is where your problem lies,there will also be wear on there respective rocker snd lifter.If you say that when they (the dealer) tamper with the rockers the noise dissapears then returns the next day then this sounds like this is the problem

[gerjo]

thanks again Bluethunder!
I'll take it up with the dealer and report back