Engine making tapping noise...

[dub be good to me]

Just completed my first engine conversion to a k-jet + 5spd (big thanks to stu & loon for helping my out), but engine is making tapping noise (worse with acceleration).

2 questions:
My guess is its the tappets or hydraulic lifters, is this right?
If it is the tappets or lifters, whats the easiest fix? (do I need to replace all 8 or can they be repaired/refurbished etc..)

[dub be good to me]

Found link to method of reconditioning tappets
http://www.clubgti.com/forum/showthr...hlight=tappets

(gotta start searching properly before I post )

Still, I'm not sure if it is the tappets etc. thoughts or experience appreciated!

[Jarred]

I think I'd would be a hydro lifter head. Which means the lifters would be at fault.

AFAIK it's a replacement job. I don't know how to do em, but I do need to get them done, or do them on my Audi. Also need a rocker cover gasket and cam seal as well as the lifters.

[dub be good to me]

Ok, I've done some more research.

Wikipedia has a nice little explanation of how lifters work:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_lifters

I'm pretty confident the noise is caused by a blockage in the oil galley hole (that allows fuel in and out of the tappet) or maybe a busted tappet piston spring. Either way, I'm diving into it this Sunday to clean it up, and replace if necessary.

Jarred - I'll keep you posted as to how I go.

What's the cheapest place to get a new tappet?

[roccodingo]

Rebuilding them is still hit and miss ( tried and tested) i managed to get a set of 8 from a UK e bay seller for $65 + freight.

e bay.co.uk, seller name is tierod 69 there down in maidstone kent. Good folks too.

[dub be good to me]

Rebuilding them is still hit and miss ( tried and tested) i managed to get a set of 8 from a UK e bay seller for $65 + freight.

e bay.co.uk, seller name is tierod 69 there down in maidstone kent. Good folks too.

I gave it a go.. but all miss and no hit! I couldn't even get the damn piston out! The best I could do was make sure all the oil galley holes (in tappet and in head) were clear and then submerge them in oil to release any trapped air (of which there was heaps).
Unfortunately, this made no difference. So I guess I'm up for some new tappets..
Is there anything else I should check before I buy some new ones (p.s - couldn't find 'tierod 69' on ebay.co.uk)?

Also, since putting it all back the engine is making a whirring noise. Could this be an over tightened cam belt?

[Jarred]

I had a whining noise once, which was an over tightened cam belt. sounded a bit like a supercharger actually.

Possibly the problem, if it doesn't make any metallic kinda of noises. [if that makes sense]

[roccodingo]

My fault, there's no space in the name..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-MK2-MK...1%7C240%3A1318

Give them a ring.

0011 44 1622 677662 or 0011 44 1622 685308.

[Golf Loon]

Are you sure its tapping, and not pinging.

Pinging is caused by timing issues and can be cured by adjusting the dissy.

Tappets make a sharp rapping noise and usually quiet if you hold the revs steady at 3000rpm.

[evorobin]

Tappets are usually noisy when cold and quieten down or mine did. Had them done under warranty on the VEGA 8v donk.

[dub be good to me]

I had a whining noise once, which was an over tightened cam belt. sounded a bit like a supercharger actually.

Possibly the problem, if it doesn't make any metallic kinda of noises. [if that makes sense]

That's it exactly. I almost typed that it sounded like a supercharger!

I'll loosen it off when I get a chance (have to take the damn belt guard off ). Sooner rather than later, as I've heard it can be damaging..

Thanks for the ebay link roccodingo, here is another one in Germany I found (for readers of this post) I think they are the same.. I'll see how cheap the UK guy is on postage
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=150314969327
Search: Hydrostößel or Ventilstößel in Germany ebay

Thank loon, that's the noise. They seem to be loudest upon acceleration, or when the motor is working hard. When the revs are steady they tend to go quiet. The noise is a consistent tapping, sounds mechanical.

Cheers guys

[GOLFBALLS]

If its a whining sound it might even be the alternator. It happened on my old k-jet.
My curent RV 8v has a horribly loud tapping noise though, like loon describes, definately lifters i reckon. Sounds like a little gremlin in there bangin with a little hammer, but not really a whining noise??

[dub be good to me]

If its a whining sound it might even be the alternator. It happened on my old k-jet.
My curent RV 8v has a horribly loud tapping noise though, like loon describes, definately lifters i reckon. Sounds like a little gremlin in there bangin with a little hammer, but not really a whining noise??

Nah, two noises happening here...
The tapping was the first, pretty confident its the lifters. I've got some lifters on the way from the UK as we speak ($99 delivered from an ebay seller - thanks for the tip rocco).
The second noise started after I tried to clean the lifters, reckon I over tightened something.

That's a good one for that thread
'You know you drive a Mk1 when...' you try to fix one noise and end up with two!

(I'll post success of tappet replacement)

Happy Easter all..

[dub be good to me]

Ok, replaced the tappets with new ones and set the correct tension on the cam belt.
Firstly, adjusting the cam belt fixed the whining, supercharger like noise.
Unfortunately, new tappets lessened the noise coming from the engine bay, but didn't get rid of it.
The tapping noise is upon acceleration and sounds light like its from the top etc.. could it be a blockage in an engine oil galley?

I'm thinking of flushing the engine to de-gunk it and replacing the oil.
I have been running 20W-50, is this too thick? (engine is mk2 gti 1.8L kjet)

Do you think this will help?
What oil should I be using?

[roccodingo]

20W - 50 should be fine, its what i run.

After i changed the lifters in my daily driver engine, there was still a bit of noise. Lifters were a ton quiet tho.

Possibly piston slap as I know when this engine was bored oversize, the guy who sold it to me said there one piston was a few hundredths more clearance than the rest. so even after new lifters, new oil pump it still rattles a bit. Doesnt seem to bother it as it sees the redline every now and then...