when i first drove this engine i loved the sound it makes but i don't seem to notice the sound i makes anymore.

Maybe its just that somebody lost their watch and you picked up on the underside of the car Other than that, has anyone else got a ticking sound on theirs as I certainly haven't on mine.

I would liken my engine to look more like a sewing machine as it's so small, but it's certainly got similar engines from the competition stitched up when it comes to performance!

My old 1.2 HTP never ticked throughout its 96,000 miles of life. Maybe it was busted

Ticked a bit when cold.......just the hydraulic tappets. Maybe thats what people were hearing

Yeah it's the tappets i would think. Haver had several of them as loaners and, although the idle is a bit uneven being a three, I do love the noise on acceleration. I found the 1.4 TDI Diesel triple a cracking little engine too.

Mine Ticks whilst accelrating! Love it though!

I was always told that cos the engines only have 3 cylinders, they are unbalanced in the engine bay so they have to add weights onto them so that they balance properly. so when you are running they make a little rattle noise which is what you can hear. weather this is true or not im not sure!

I was always told that cos the engines only have 3 cylinders, they are unbalanced in the engine bay so they have to add weights onto them so that they balance properly. so when you are running they make a little rattle noise which is what you can hear. weather this is true or not im not sure!

if it is true then the same applies to other 3 cylinder engines and 1 piston engines

I believe the 120 degree 3 cylinder engine has perfect primary balance. However it suffers quite badly from secondary balance issues causing it to 'rock' back and forth. This is usually conteracted by a contra-rotating balance shaft but this only part cures the problem

Having had loan 1.2 500 when my previous 500 went in for servicing & warranty work, & had a 1.2 htp over xmas while waiting for my Octy to arrive, I found the Fabia to be a lot more responsive when pulling out of junctions, & was well able to maintain NSL on the A2 a lot better than the 500.

I believe the 120 degree 3 cylinder engine has perfect primary balance. However it suffers quite badly from secondary balance issues causing it to 'rock' back and forth. This is usually conteracted by a contra-rotating balance shaft but this only part cures the problem

could u explain primary balance please

The crankpins are spaced 120 degrees apart so if you have one piston at TDC the others are 120 degress apart in either direction, looking along the crankshaft, one on the way up, one on the way down so they all balance each other out. The secondary balance issue creates a vibration along the crankshaft rocking the engina back and forth. In a straight six cylinder engine the two threes balance each other from a secondary point of view which is why they are so smooth.

Edited 26 January, 201115 yr by Fatbloke