Hi, I've gotta 2002 Octy 110bhp TDI, its covered 32,000 miles and is on variable servicing. My question is this, when started from cold (the car stands for a week at a time, only used weekends mainly) the engines sounds really tappety for the first 5 to 10 mins, is this normal ?

If its only for the first 5 minutes or so until the oil gets round the engine/hydrualic lifters etc then I'm sure its fine. Surprised you can hear the 'tappets' over the clatter of the oil burner anyhow

Many thanks, it might just be the clatter, this being my first oil burner, I'm used to petrol engines when you can hear the hydraulic lifters when first started up