Tappets...more info

[foxy600]

I think my tappets need adjusting, as the engine sounds very 'tappety', especially when cold. It gets a little better when the engine has warmed up. I have checked the bible and haynes manual, and have also been searching the forums for past posts. There seems to be some confusion about hydraulic tappets, if you look at this link (don't quote me!), it looks like they started fitting hydraulic ones in 1992. As mine is an 89 S2, I think mine can be adjusted.

www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Advice;action=display;num=1125867979

>> Edited by foxy600 on Monday 26th September 09:48

[tvrgit]

Rule 1. Don't believe everything you read on the internet, not everybody knows what they are talking about.

Rule 2. See rule 1. It's worth repeating.

I have a 1990 S3C with original engine and hydraulic tappets. The advice on that forum that they started fitting them in 1992 is wrong. Fact.

The advice that they started fitting them on vehicles with cats, appears to be correct. I believe that in the case of the TVR S, this means that the S3C (and even then, maybe not all of them) has hydraulic tappets, and none of the rest (or maybe some) has them.

The advice that you can't tell by looking is also correct - the cylinder heads, valves and rockers are identical. The hydraulic bits are deep in the V of the engine against the camshaft.

Having (mistakenly) adjusted mine, they didn't "feel" right when adjusting - I would now know the difference, and I wouldn't do it again because getting them back to the right settings is a total pain.

Oh and Rule 3. See rules 1 and 2. Advice on the internet might be wrong. Act on it at your own risk!

[foxy600]

I am guessing that as mine is an S2, none were ever fitted with cats from the factory? So I should be able to adjust them

[heyiga]

As Haggis says, Foxy don't go by everything you read on the net! However, if it helps, I have an '89 S2 and that does have adjustadble tappets (Just had them done by my local Ford garage)

I was not sure, so took the car into a long serving ford garage and they checked it out for me.

Maybe worth trying?

If it sounds 'tappety' when cold, maybe think about changing the oil and putting some 'good stuff' in. I am not sure if that is a very technical answer, but am convinced mine sounds smoother with the best type of oil!

Hope these ramblings help!

[dern]

When I had mine I adjusted the tappets every time I serviced it which will be better for your engine that waiting until you could hear it making the noise.

Regards,

Mark

[foxy600]

Interesting point about the oil, I recently had it serviced and they didn't use top quality. The car had always had Mobil 1 synthetic, but normal oil was used this time. Tappets have been noisier since

What would the recomendation be - semi synthetic? Mobil 1 or just a good normal oil?

Any help would be appreciated

[F908 Tim]

My S2 1989 definately manual tappets.
Use Magnatec oil and get tappets adjusted annually.
Mine still a bit clattery when cold but not really noticable after a few minutes driving.

[dougc]

Just to confirm the points made above, there doesn't seem to be any hard and fast rules. My 1991 S3c has been at Tower View today for a service and despite the cats and 'C' designation, the tappets are not hydraulic.

Also, new exhausts are expensive but stainless and sporty

Edited to add year

>> Edited by dougc on Tuesday 27th September 19:44