Hello all, need some help diagnosing this noise. Sounds a bit deep do be tappets but i'm not 100% sure. Any suggestions?  

Exhaust leak?. Check exhaust manifold for cracks and around the gasket for any black soot 

I hadn't considered that. The car has only done 55k miles. Piston slap from that kind of mileage seems a touch extreme. Ill have a poke around the exhaust manifold and report back.

It's lifter tick, my 1.4 had it when I bought it in 2009 and it's still got it, it really isn't anything to worry about, the 1.4 has roller rockers so the cams can't get damaged and it doesn't affect performance.

Turn up the radio if it bothers you.

Drive it like you stole it. I have a feeling the good old Italian tune-up would do some favours.

Could find an exhaust leak. I went ahead and replaced the hydraulic lifters. For the first few minutes after the initial start up the tapping had gone but it eventually came back. I'm still not convinced it's piston slap as the sound is more like ticking and a higher pitch. The video makes it sound deeper than it is in person.

Im wonder if there's a oil feed issue to the lifters themselves? 

Couldn't*

Oil pressure is fine. Galleries look clear. I've found a rocker that doesn't clip very well onto the tappet. The clip itself is loose compared to others. Going to swap rockers around and see off the tapping moves form one side to the other.

Ended up replacing the rockers and the tapping still remains. I have done a compression test and that was fine. My next thought is to remove the sump and check the bottom end. I'm still convinced it's the top end tho, but I'm running out of ideas haha. Any suggestions on what else could be causing that noise? 

What engine is it? Petrol or Diesel? If its cambelt, might be a broken or loose tensioner. If its a camchain could stretched chain or faulty tensioner.

On 18/03/2021 at 06:37, sepulchrave said:

It's lifter tick, my 1.4 had it when I bought it in 2009 and it's still got it, it really isn't anything to worry about, the 1.4 has roller rockers so the cams can't get damaged and it doesn't affect performance.

Turn up the radio if it bothers you.

Ditto.

Well, if sounds like tappets to me @SeanB321 . So:-

 

1. Is it due an oil change?
2. Does it get quieter when the engine warms up?

It's a petrol 1.4 bky. The cambelt was changed 11k ago and I've had it off twice now to work on the top end. I've inspected the cams and they look fine. The engine has had regular servicing and is only on 52k

1 minute ago, KenONeill said:

Well, if sounds like tappets to me @SeanB321 . So:-

 

1. Is it due an oil change?
2. Does it get quieter when the engine warms up?

The oils been changed and the noise remains when the engine is warm

Googling other VAG forums seems to indicate this is an extremely common problem with many just saying its normal and a characteristic. No definitive fix or success stories to be found, many people have tried changing the hydraulic lifters etc with no or very little success.

 

One guy with the 8V 1.4 version said his turned out to be a faulty distributor,

 

You could try running without the aux belt attached to check alternator/tensioner or loose crankshaft pulley. I assume the crankshaft pulley hasn't got a damper built in or attached?

 

Did you check for play in the camshaft bridge bearings? Did you check for broken valve springs?

 

Could be a oilway blockage restricting oil flow to the lifters.

 

Could be a very noisy injector? (Surely not that loud)

 

Other than that it maybe piston slap (but that usually quietens as the engine heats up), conrod little/big end wear, crank bearings shagged (deep knock)

 

You may have to accept that's just the way these engines are.

 

2 minutes ago, xman said:

One guy with the 8V 1.4 version said his turned out to be a faulty distributor,

 

They don't have a distributor.

Not sure if there's any direct relevance, but if you haven't already, have a look at the breather module on the back of the engine block.  It may be gunged up. 

The below thread contains some gruesome pictures of the one from an 85k mile somewhat neglected Polo with a BKY engine.

 

Bored during lockdown and own a 1.4/16v? - Skoda Fabia Mk I - BRISKODA

 

 

17 hours ago, SeanB321 said:

the noise remains when the engine is warm

I think you have an undiagnosed sticky tappet then. A general "quietly tappety" sound on a hydraulic tappet engine usually means you need an oil change, and piston slap pretty much always quietens down on a hot engine. Piston slap is also more of a whoosh whoosh whoosh noise than a tacka tacka tacka.

Understood, but the tappets and rockers have all been replaced. I've had the cam housing off three times now so I'm trying to explore other options before taking it off again. 

Is it common to receive faulty new tappets? 

1 hour ago, SeanB321 said:

Understood, but the tappets and rockers have all been replaced. I've had the cam housing off three times now so I'm trying to explore other options before taking it off again. 

Is it common to receive faulty new tappets? 

 

The tappets aren't faulty, it's the design that's flawed, as these engines age they develop lifter tick and there appears to be no cure, it maybe due to reduction in oil pressure caused by gradual flow restriction in the cylinder head casting or a localised drop in oil pressure from wearing cam bearings.

As I very clearly stated right at the top, it doesn't affect reliability or performance so there's really no need to worry about it.

When I pulled the spark plugs I noticed a difference between cylinders. 1,2, and 3 looked the same but cylinder 4 looks 'wet' and gummy. It's not coolant, and combustion is definitely happening. Any idea what can be cause this and if its linked? 

 

The 2 marks in the photo of cylinder 3 are from a screw driver.

On 07/04/2021 at 16:49, SeanB321 said:

I have done a compression test and that was fine

What were the numbers, and was cyl 4 any different to the other 3?

 

Valve stem seals, it's age related not mileage, the seals go crispy and you get slight oil fouling of the spark plug, again nothing really to worry about.

Apparently cylinder 4 is notorious for oil leakage in these engines. At least that's the case in my BBZ as well. I plan on changing valve stem seals at 150000 km (car at 139k currently)

 

That shouldn't make a difference in the tapping though. Just use good oil and give it hell. Nothing to worry about. 

Edited 9 April, 20215 yr by juanse_2691
My big fat thumb

I decided to whip the sump off last night. Things got very interesting to say the least! Have a look at the attached photos.

 

When I first bought this car I had a flick through the service history. In there was a invoice for a thread repair on the sump. Turns out the ****ers left this lovely mess behind. 

 

Whilst I was down there I checked for play in the end bearings and piston head. There was a fair bit of side to side play on the big and small end. How ever I'm unsure of how much is okay, I can't seem to find any reference. There was no other play in any direction. Also on cylinders 2,3 and 4 there was noticeably more movement from the piston head.