Oil recommendations....

[Last S4]

I have mentioned on this forum before that my S4C sounds tappety. I lifted the rocker covers today and the tappets are not hydraulic.
I adjusted them as per the Heath book and bolted it all back together quite confident because most of the tappets needed some adjustment.
Started the car and its much the same though! Only sounds like one tappet off.
I have gone back to basics and looked at the Mobil 1 fully synthetic I had put in the car. I noticed that its 5W30 grade. I know I did not intend to buy that grade and can only assume that it was not on the correct shelf - I am not stupid enough to choose it, just stupid enough not to notice.
I think that 5W30 will be a poor choice and think 15W50 would be better. Any thoughts?

[steve j]

I think 15W50 is fine, maybe a few more opinions might help, I use good ole Castrol magnatec, as for your tappets, a leaking manifold can give you a similar sound.

[Last S4]

steve j said:

I think 15W50 is fine, maybe a few more opinions might help, I use good ole Castrol magnatec, as for your tappets, a leaking manifold can give you a similar sound.

I will check the manifold, but its quite a distinctive tappety noise.

[steve j]

Last S4 said:

steve j said:

I think 15W50 is fine, maybe a few more opinions might help, I use good ole Castrol magnatec, as for your tappets, a leaking manifold can give you a similar sound.

I will check the manifold, but its quite a distinctive tappety noise.

hope you get it sorted.

[Last S4]

steve j said:

hope you get it sorted.

So do I, its driving my mad.

[NTEL]

I run a 2.9L in my Tasmin racer. My engine builder, John Toovey, recommends Millers CSS20w50 semi Synthethic motorsport oil for mine. I used to use Q8 10w50 but noticed I got a lot of vapour from the engine breather pipe.

[Wiz]

Give these guys a ring http://www.opieoils.co.uk/frmcontact.aspx

I'm running the Silkolene Pro S 10/50 fine, think they have new Gulf racing stuff as well might be worth a look. Mention the club discount as well.

[Barkychoc]

Last S4 said:

I have mentioned on this forum before that my S4C sounds tappety.
I lifted the rocker covers today and the tappets are not hydraulic.

I don't believe that you can tell under the rocker covers whether you have hydraulic lifters or not - you need to remove the inlet manifold and get down into the 'V' to access them - I believe the tappet arrangement in the heads is the same for all 2.9 V6 cars ( me if I'm wrong)
The lifter sits below the bottom of the pushrod - its a silver cylinder - it will either be a solid lump of metal or a hydraulic lifter in which case you should be able to see a small circlip type arrangement sitting in the top, there is one cylinder inside another which gets pumped up with oil to take up the slack.

Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 8th June 09:14

[Last S4]

Barkychoc said:

I don't believe that you can tell under the rocker covers whether you have hydraulic lifters or not - you need to remove the inlet manifold and get down into the 'V' to access them - I believe the tappet arrangement in the heads is the same for all 2.9 V6 cars.
The lifter sits below the bottom of the pushrod - its a silver cylinder - it will either be a solid lump of metal or a hydraulic lifter in which case you should be able to see a small circlip type arrangement sitting in the top, there is one cylinder inside another which gets pumped up with oil to take up the slack.

I worked on the principle that hydraulic lifters would have a pre-load. All the rockers were free and the feeler guage fitted without restriction. The arrangement looked identical to the drawing of the adjustable type in the Heath book.
I have made the assumption that hydraulic lifters would offer some resistance to feeler guages slipping in - but if you know better I am all ears. I dont like the TVR sounding not right.
I am going to get some thicker oil ordered today.

[Barkychoc]

Last S4 said:

I worked on the principle that hydraulic lifters would have a pre-load.

Good point there - though you're assuming everything else is in order - it might be worth trying to find out via your engine number if its hydraulic or not.

[Last S4]

I spoke to TVRGIT about it. He had adjusted tappets on an S4 recently and indicated that the one he worked on had an "F" stamped near plug 4 for flat profile plugs. His S3 is taper profile plugs (cannot remember what letter that was) and his is hydraulic.
Its not that conclusive but the engine number route seems to be the same.

[Last S4]

NTEL said:

I run a 2.9L in my Tasmin racer. My engine builder, John Toovey, recommends Millers CSS20w50 semi Synthethic motorsport oil for mine. I used to use Q8 10w50 but noticed I got a lot of vapour from the engine breather pipe.

Hi, Thanks for the info. I called Millers who recommended there Classic Sport 20W50. The first thing I noticed is that it is thicker.
I changed the oil today and the oil pressure is higher for longer.
I reset the tappets again, this time a little tighter by pushing the rocker with my thumb (opening the gap for the feeler guage). It was just thumb pressure to take up the slack and it worked a treat. The engine sounds more like it should.