Help, Info on knocking/tapping when cold!

[RetroMk1]

Hi there, basically i went to see a car today and it is spot on in every way except when the engine is started at cold there is a slight intermitent knocking/tapping noises coming from the top of the engine. After a few revs or a 30 second drive it goes away. Almost as though oil isnt getting to the cams quick enough, Could this be something serious?

Thanks for any help!

[Joe-Tait]

Probably lifters, common on the best of cars or maybe piston slap

[BUSYBOY]

i dont think so , mine can do that every now & then if not started from oone month to another

[RetroMk1]

it hasnt really been used since october either. So you dont think it would be an engine out job to sort out?

What worried me was it was a little more than a tappin noise and more a knock, not very loud though, the engine is modded but not the internals.

[Ginge]

Sounds like the lifters from what you have described, easy to do if you half handy with the spanners quite cheap aswell £80 or there abouts for a set of INA ones.

[RetroMk1]

Sounds like the lifters from what you have described, easy to do if you half handy with the spanners quite cheap aswell £80 or there abouts for a set of INA ones.

Yeah pretty handy, well i'll pick it up
I was hoping to hear this anyway, cause i dont wanna let the car slip

[BUSYBOY]

it hasnt really been used since october either. So you dont think it would be an engine out job to sort out?

What worried me was it was a little more than a tappin noise and more a knock, not very loud though, the engine is modded but not the internals.

if it hasnt been started since oct id say defo a tappet mate , if you use it a bit more it might go if ioled more often

[RetroMk1]

Probably lifters, common on the best of cars or maybe piston slap

Fingers crossed its lifters.

how is piston slap cured?

[BUSYBOY]

Fingers crossed its lifters.

how is piston slap cured?

lots of ££ will fix it

[RetroMk1]

lots of ££ will fix it

I could be breaking a car within a week of buying it now, if i do buy it!

[BUSYBOY]

I could be breaking a car within a week of buying it now, if i do buy it!

havent you got a mate near you that knows cossies or at least engines that you could take with you

[RetroMk1]

Yeah i have mate, i'll have a word tomorrow, i do feel satisfied its from under the cam cover anyway but better to be safe than sorry.

[Ginge]

One thing to check first is that the cam caps are all torqued correctly, 18-23nm for the main cam caps I have had to helicoil quite a few where they have been over tightned and started to pull the stud out of the head, this can also give a bit of a knock/tap if they are loose or pulling out and can lead to snapped cam if left.

[RetroMk1]

One thing to check first is that the cam caps are all torqued correctly, 18-23nm for the main cam caps I have had to helicoil quite a few where they have been over tightned and started to pull the stud out of the head, this can also give a bit of a knock/tap if they are loose or pulling out and can lead to snapped cam if left.

Guess i'll have to take a risk, and get it apart when its home, gamble but i like living life on the edge

[dom123]

an engine with piston slap isnt an engine thats on its last legs by anymeans people who worry abit to much will say it is, i put 30k miles at 400bhp easy on my old saph that had piston slap and as far as i know that eninge is still going today, and i sold it 3 years ago, and that had piston slap when warmed up too its just a noise... i reacon a good 40% of yb's will have it from cold