Tappet noise/advice please.

454 Views 16 Replies 7 Participants Last post by ISSIShooter, 5 d ago

Chef Paul

Discussion Starter · 12 d ago

VIN No SCBLC32EXYCH05029

My car Bertie the Bentley Arnage Red Label dates from October 2000 and has done a fairly high mileage for the model of 106,000 miles. There is a decent service history from various specialists and main dealers.

On a cold start-up he suffers from a short period of what I believe to be tappet noise. There is no smoke and the car uses no oil. It lasts between 2 and 4 seconds.

Now comes the stupid questions so please forgive me.

1. Just how serious is the problem and will it get worse or continue as it is?
2. Is it 'just' the tappets that are at fault?
3. Does it reflect a problem with, or automatically mean that there is a problem with the camshaft(s) as well?
4. How big a job would it be to change/repair?
5. Could the problem be dissipated with different oil?

Any feedback, very much appreciated. Have a great week my fellow motorists.

Paulus the nervous.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

rx12382

· #2 · 12 d ago

How long does it sit before cold starts? What type of oil are you using? What is your oil pressure when hot? (I know it is not a real oil gauge as it only gets pressures in a range from the ecu and does not vary with the real pressure) You might be able to get the real oil pressure with an obdII checker from the ECU. May not be a problem. My 2002 does that if it sits a long time. Cams and tappets with real problems noise would be present at all times if they make noise (noise not required for defects in bearings). Normal for tappets to pump up and bleed down. The cold start noise is while the hydraulic tappets pump up to length and close the clearance gaps.
Name Bertie is great. Mine is named Bessie for the Queen.
Carey

AlanD

· #3 · 12 d ago

If it has the "normal" hydraulic pumps at front and rear of camshaft, the ticking is normal while the hydraulic pressure is refreshed. These pumps, it seems, ALWAYS tick when they are in action.

If 2000 cars don't have the pumps then....

Alan D.

Chef Paul

Discussion Starter · #4 · 12 d ago (Edited by Moderator)

I have taken the liberty of filling in the answers in red ink for clarity
How long does it sit before cold starts? A couple of days or sometimes a week.
What type of oil are you using? Sorry, I cannot recall but it would have been the specified correct oil of a very good quality.
What is your oil pressure when hot? It only gets to about half way when cold.
Normal for tappets to pump up and bleed down. The cold start noise is while the hydraulic tappets pump up to length and close the clearance gaps. That is really interesting and I was not aware. Could it be that there is no real problem or does the half way oil pressure guage indicate a worn engine? What do you think please?

rx12382

· #5 · 11 d ago

Sounds normal to me. What is the oil pressure when hot? My gauge reads at half all the time, hot or cold. If it goes real low when hot, like 1/8 guage it might be a problem, but if it stays around half you are good. Sounds like noise is normal.
Carey

Chef Paul

Discussion Starter · #6 · 11 d ago

Apologies. I mistyped my earlier answer. The oil pressure only gets half way up on the gauge when hot, not as I typed, cold.
Does that make a difference?
Where should it be when hot please?

Wraithman

· #7 · 11 d ago

Have you checked your owner's manual?

Chef Paul

Discussion Starter · #8 · 11 d ago

Err, but for what?

rx12382

· #9 · 11 d ago

Halfway up is perfect. At least on the OP gauge. My wife says standing straight up is better. But that is halfway up on the gauge.

Carey

rx12382

· #10 · 11 d ago

When it is hot.

FLYER34

· #11 · 11 d ago

My advice : leave this "issue" alone as long as the engine is silent when hot, the oil pressure is half way up and no brake pressure warning shows.

Reactions: 1

AlanD

· #12 · 11 d ago

Re my earlier post - if my Bentley T didn't tick for a few seconds on a cold start I would assume the pumps had failed.

Alan D.

Chef Paul

Discussion Starter · #13 · 10 d ago

Well thanks to all for your input. I have to say that I feel very much better.
It is kind of so many people to respond.
I shall go and give the old boy a well deserved pat on the bonnet.
Paulus

luxurycars

· #14 · 6 d ago (Edited)

Chef Paul said:
VIN No SCBLC32EXYCH05029

My car Bertie the Bentley Arnage Red Label dates from October 2000 and has done a fairly high mileage for the model of 106,000 miles. There is a decent service history from various specialists and main dealers.

On a cold start-up he suffers from a short period of what I believe to be tappet noise. There is no smoke and the car uses no oil. It lasts between 2 and 4 seconds.

Now comes the stupid questions so please forgive me.

1. Just how serious is the problem and will it get worse or continue as it is?
2. Is it 'just' the tappets that are at fault?
3. Does it reflect a problem with, or automatically mean that there is a problem with the camshaft(s) as well?
4. How big a job would rent rolls royce it be to change/repair?
5. Could the problem be dissipated with different oil?

Any feedback, very much appreciated. Have a great week my fellow motorists.

Paulus the nervous.

Facing Similar issue, is your issue is resolved or not yet?

Moderator note:
As a new member, please take a few minutes to read through "Instructions for navigating the site" and "How to reply to a discussion thread"in the FAQ section, link here: FAQ. There are other topics there that you may find informative. Please note also that it is not necessary to quote a previous post in your reply if you are following the train of thought in the thread, it just clutters up the thread unnecessarily. Simply start typing your reply in the dialogue box below the last post where it says "write your reply" , do not click on "reply"(which adds the previous post as a quote) unless it is absolutely necessary to maintain continuity in the thread. Thanks, Jim.

Chef Paul

Discussion Starter · #15 · 6 d ago

Hi
No, it is the same but the information and responses above have very much assured me.
How bad is your problem? If it is worse it may be worth posting a new question, or continue with more detail here. It is a helpful forum. Nobody said what would happen if the problem was worse and how big a challenge it would be to sort out.
If you post more details of your model and issues it would help with responses.
Paulus

luxurycars

· #16 · 6 d ago (Edited)

Chef Paul said:
Hi
No, it is the same but the information and responses above have very much assured me.
How bad is your problem? If it is worse it may be worth posting a new question, or continue with more detail here. It is a helpful forum. Nobody said what would happen if the problem was worse and how big a challenge it would be to sort out.
If you post more details rent rolls royce of your model and issues it would help with responses.
Paulus

Thanks for the reply, i will make new topic with all details there for sure.

Moderator note:
As a new member, please take a few minutes to read through "Instructions for navigating the site" and "How to reply to a discussion thread"in the FAQ section, link here: FAQ. There are other topics there that you may find informative. Please note also that it is not necessary to quote a previous post in your reply if you are following the train of thought in the thread, it just clutters up the thread unnecessarily. Simply start typing your reply in the dialogue box below the last post where it says "write your reply" , do not click on "reply"(which adds the previous post as a quote) unless it is absolutely necessary to maintain continuity in the thread. Thanks, Jim.

ISSIShooter

· #17 · 5 d ago

My 1993 Brooklands does exactly the same thing if it has been sitting. It's normal.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts