Engine Tick/Knock/Clack - HELP!

Ta me anseo

Hi everyone,

My engine has recently developed a bad case of the knocks. It sounds identical to any other case of valve lifter noise I have seen in the past except that it it gets worse when under load, more or less disappears when not loaded, and is evident at partial throttle also as in when maintaining about 45 mph in 4th or 5th gear - RPM about 1,600 to 1,800.

The sound is not deep or thuddy like a con rod, but is quite a thin but sharp tone. At idle when cold it is somewhat intermittent, coming and going every few seconds.

It is worse when cold and subsides somewhat when warm but never actually disappears altogether.

Anyone please give me any idea what could possibly be wrong!!!!!

I have stethoscoped (poor mans version - plastic tube) the engine and the noise is definitely coming from the upper block around one side of the valve cover near the exhaust valves but it is quite apparent also around the top of exhaust manifold. I cannot narrow it down to one single, ear deafening area.

My car is a Jag X-Type so the engine is basically a Ford 2.0 TDI. I expect the valve lifters are hydraulic and therefore self adjusting so:

Possible culprits:

Dirty or damaged valve lifter.
Exhaust Manifold leak.
PCV Valve perhaps?

Anyone possibly give me any other ideas??

The valve cover on this engine is a pain in the h**e to remove so I would prefer to narrow the possibilities down as much as possible before trying to take it off..

Cheers!

TMA

peasant

another possibility would be one or more dodgy injectors or that your injection timing is out

Ta me anseo

Thanks for the reply peasant.

My injectors are whisper quiet although dodgy timing is a possibility and would certainly explain why it only occurs under certain throttle positions.

I suppose an ECM re-flash or update would be the best way to rule this out?

Ta me anseo

Any other ideas anyone?

mickdw

You sure its not your dual mass flywheel? It does make a noise like a worrying engine knock when on the way out.

Steve

Obvious but I presume oil level is ok?

Could be lack of oil at the tappets - oil pump? blocked feed path?

If it's less when the oil warms up then I'd suspect a restriction somewhere that the thicker cold oil can't get through.

Ta me anseo

Thanks Steve.

I might try some valve lifter oil additive and maybe a flush later too and see if that cures it..... Oil level is good.

Henry Ford III

I'd pony up a wee bit and get it into A Ford garage tbh.

Ta me anseo

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I'd pony up a wee bit and get it into A Ford garage tbh.

That's kind of my problem. I've already spent stupid money in a garage trying to get it sorted, but each time they say they can't find anything wrong.

Thing is, it is getting worse. I might need to leave it with them overnight so they can run it from cold soaked which is when the noise is at it's worst. The sound it makes then could never be taken as normal!