Hi, in the past few days I've started to hear a slight tapping noise from the engine of my Fabia VRS with a BLT engine. I wouldn't say it's very loud but I can definitely hear it and after taking the engine cover off and trying to pinpoint the source of the noise it seems to be originating from around the top of the engine. You can't hear it when reving and the car drives as normal.

The car has only done 60,000 miles and seems to have been serviced regularly, whether the right oil has always been used though I don't know. After reading a few posts on here and hearing some people say that the camshaft, bearings, and lifters can wear prematurely and cause a tapping sound at idle I thought I'd remove the rocker cover when I got home and check the lobes of the camshaft. I'm not sure I'm any the wiser to be honest, they look ok from what I can tell but there are a few light marks (which look like small scratches) on the lobes of the far left and far right cylinder, does anyone know if that sounds normal? I've included a few pictures, they aren't that clear but might help, thanks.

Get a video up!

any update on this problem? mines doing the same?

could it be the tappets need adjusting?

Correct me if I'm wrong thisday but I'm sure the vrs has hydraulic lifters and there not adjustable sounds possibly like a lifter may be being starved of oil is it constantly or intermittent

Happy to be corrected, sure i read to adjust tappets on here / in haynes after cam belt change but that could of course be referring to a non-vrs.

Common issue on all pd engines

A lot of people think its the arl pd150 thats affect but its an issue on all pd engines.

Think mine is starting to go, smokes a little bit and sounds rattly at idle

I think a lot of people also expect the pd engine to sound like a petrol, they do make a bit of a

Noise so unless its horrendous I think it's normal. Mine sounds a 100 times better than 98% of the other 1.9s that I hear driving about lol

If a hydraulic lifter is being starved of oil on start up until it's warmed up, what can be done about it ?

DB.

I wish I could say I got to the bottom of this but the engine is still making the same noise, it's got no worse after another 1,000 miles and the car continues to drive well so I've decided to live with it until it gets to a point where it needs attention.

As jase said, it could well be the camshaft that is causing the noise.

I had this problem recently and after changing the camshaft and tappets it's no better, I'm looking into whether oil pressure can be the problem behind this.

That's interesting Sharpyy. When I took my rocker cover off, mine had the black hardened lifters and although I know it's hard to tell for sure, the camshaft didn't look that worn. I'd be interested to hear if you get any closer to finding out what your issue is.