Do diesels suffer from tappet noise? (2 Viewers)

Sep 24, 2013
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Just been out in the MH to give the wife some experience driving it before our trip to France next week (I will make no comments about women drivers!). I noticed what I can only describe as a slight tappet noise when the engine was under load (I think she has a heavier right foot than I do!). This is not present at constant speed. Engine is a Peugeot 2.2 HDi (2006) with 18k on the clock . I've very little experience of diesel engines so just thought I'd throw this observation in for people's comments. It's not very pronounced, but is a sort of dull clicking sound when accelerating.
 

Mousy

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Hi Steve, we can't hear our engine over the noise of rattling crockery, but someone useful will be along in a sec.
 
Jan 22, 2014
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Check the oil level wen they are cold they can be a bit more noisy

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DJA

Mar 5, 2011
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Hi Stevec

I am reluctant to mention this but.

We had a 2008 Peugeot based van which developed a tappit noise at a similar mileage and no one could identify the problem. No drop in MPG or power noticed. We exchanged the van to our current one and the dealer was aware of the noise when we did it. Their mechanic had looked at it and thought it was air getting in as there appeared to be a leak on the diesel filter.

It turned out the Peugeot based van had a Ford Engine and when they took it to a diesel expert he said immediately on hearing it that it was a known fault with the Ford Engine and I was told it was a new lower Engine Block and cost them £3000. I believe when the engine was dismantled the bore of one of the cylinders was scored. The expert also said that the Peugeot agent we had asked about should have known what it was. The vehicle was only a few months out of warrantee and Peugeot did not want to know apparently

We traded it in in all innocence and I think they believe that is the case.

I really hope this is not your problem but they do make a lot more noise than Petrol cars. Some more than others.

Sorry Stevec I certainly don't expect a like from you with this one.
 
Last edited:

tonytange

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Hi stevec your noise sound may be disel detonation which is caused by fuel burning to soon like pinking on petrol engine this can have a detrimental effect on your engine, if it doesn't happen when you drive it may just be carbon build up with low load driving or have you changed you're disel supplyer its well worth getting vehicle checked on diagnostic computer as their are a number of sensor faults that could be causing this to happen
Hope this helps tony

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DBK

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If the noise comes and goes with load it isn't tappets. It could be something nasty like little ends but running the tank down and then trying a tankful of something like Shell Premium or whatever it is called might be worth it, and/or add a suitable fuel additive - your local garage should have a selection, just find something for cleaning carbon. Probably a wild goose chase but worth trying before you look for expensive solutions.

An experienced engine mechanic could put a stethoscope on it and give you a better diagnosis.
 

Scattycat

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Both vans that we have had somtimes do it under load and we get the same problem with our Megane.
The noise usually disapears if I change down a gear

I've been in a number of other vehicles, cars and vans owned by friends and they nearly all seem to have the same problem.

I just put it down to being a diesel.

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DuxDeluxe

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Sons car is a 55 plate focus with the 1.6 TDCI engine ( similar engine as also a Citroen Peugot joint venture) which has made a similar noise since we had it as a new car. It has now done 148,000 miles.

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Badknee

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I noticed what I can only describe as a slight tappet noise when the engine was under load

(I think she has a heavier right foot than I do!).

This is not present at constant speed.

It's not very pronounced, but is a sort of dull clicking sound when accelerating.

If it wasn't up to temp the engine internals would not have totally expanded.
Different metals expand with heat at slightly different rates, that's why you should never thrash a cold engine.

As has been said give it a fuel flush and see what happens when it's properly up to temp.
 

tambo

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I there's many different things that can cause this .... to be honest asking for advice on this on a forum probably won't give you much help as you will get a multitude of answers ranging from nothing to worry about -to your engines about to blow up.

My best advice would be to take it for another drive with yourself driving see if it makes the same noise , check oil levels , have a listen under the bonnet with the engine running see if you can identify which area the noise is coming from ie top of engine bottom left side both sides etc .....if you know a reliable trustworthy garage near by let them have a listen

It's very difficult to pinpoint without actually hearing it in person and some of the answers you'll get online will have you worrying needlessly till its properly checked

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stevec
Sep 24, 2013
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Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate that it is difficult to diagnose without actually hearing the noise. I have a particularly sensitive ear to anything abnormal but this is our first MH so don't know what abnormal is. I shall monitor the situation in our time away in the next few weeks. I shall also put in a dose of injector cleaner in the next tankful (any recommendations?).

Incidentally I changed the oil for the correct grade/make (I believe it was Total 9000 10W40) along with the oil filter very recently. I can't recall whether it made the noise before that.

Edit: Of course my wifes solution is by far the best.....turn the radio up!
 
Oct 29, 2008
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If your van has Ford injectors it is common for them to fail. Usual symptoms can be tapping noise when cold and sometimes black smoke on acceleration.
 

tambo

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Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate that it is difficult to diagnose without actually hearing the noise. I have a particularly sensitive ear to anything abnormal but this is our first MH so don't know what abnormal is. I shall monitor the situation in our time away in the next few weeks. I shall also put in a dose of injector cleaner in the next tankful (any recommendations?).

Incidentally I changed the oil for the correct grade/make (I believe it was Total 9000 10W40) along with the oil filter very recently. I can't recall whether it made the noise before that.

Edit: Of course my wifes solution is by far the best.....turn the radio up!
I use red ex diesel treatment and I do it every 3 months .....ebay is the cheapest I've found it and good for bulk buys :)

How much has the van been driven since you changed oil ?

Did you recheck levels and top up after the engine had been run a while as hydraulic tappets will have filled up after run and your level will have dropped

The fiat diesel is quite an aggressive sounding diesel to be honest and they do take a little longer to warm up than a car do maybe just let it idle for 10-15 mins before driving too ......won't do it any harm but will do it so much good .....i always warm my mh engine before driving off

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Oct 29, 2008
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I use red ex diesel treatment and I do it every 3 months .....ebay is the cheapest I've found it and good for bulk buys :)

How much has the van been driven since you changed oil ?

Did you recheck levels and top up after the engine had been run a while as hydraulic tappets will have filled up after run and your level will have dropped

The fiat diesel is quite an aggressive sounding diesel to be honest and they do take a little longer to warm up than a car do maybe just let it idle for 10-15 mins before driving too ......won't do it any harm but will do it so much good .....i always warm my mh engine before driving off
It's not a Fiat engine
 
Oct 29, 2008
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I'm not sure but AFAIK the 2.2 engine is a Ford unit basically the same in the transit, mondeo and x type jag. They all can suffer injector issues. The injectors need coding to the ecu and can sometimes lose their code so need recoding, this would need the van connecting to a computer at the main dealer or a specialist. Although it is more likely to be a duff injector/s.
My last transit had all four injectors go noisy at less than 20k. They were changed under fords warranty.

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DP+JAY

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Had a Peugeot car with the same noise, was convinced it was tappets.
Turned out it was the camshaft pulley, it has a rubber damper built in, which fails.
The noise was really noticable at low revs but disappeared at higher revs.
If you remove the auxiliary drive belt(easily done) and the noise goes away, then thats your problem.
Very difficult to detect any play until it is at the point of self destruction.

http://clubpeugeotuk.proboards.com/thread/1474/hdi-ticking-noise
 
Oct 29, 2008
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Had a Peugeot car with the same noise, was convinced it was tappets.
Turned out it was the camshaft pulley, it has a rubber damper built in, which fails.
The noise was really noticable at low revs but disappeared at higher revs.
If you remove the auxiliary drive belt(easily done) and the noise goes away, then thats your problem.
Very difficult to detect any play until it is at the point of self destruction.

http://clubpeugeotuk.proboards.com/thread/1474/hdi-ticking-noise
Camshaft pulley noise is more of a dull knock than a tap and would only be noticed at very low revs to start with and would gradually get worse over a long time. You can test this by putting your air con on at idle and if you don't have air con you can test it by putting the van in a higher gear and start to let the clutch up slowly and it will knock really loudly.
Can't say it could be confused with tapping noise though as it's a duller knock at a lower sound frequency.
 

DBK

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I think you mean crankshaft not camshaft. :)

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DP+JAY

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Camshaft pulley noise is more of a dull knock than a tap and would only be noticed at very low revs to start with and would gradually get worse over a long time. You can test this by putting your air con on at idle and if you don't have air con you can test it by putting the van in a higher gear and start to let the clutch up slowly and it will knock really loudly.
Can't say it could be confused with tapping noise though as it's a duller knock at a lower sound frequency.

Can only say that mine sounded exactly like tappet noise & also sounded to be from the top end.
 

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