Bit tappety even when warm

Tristanspeed · 28-03-16, 01:40 PM

Hello - my 1986 90 with the 115bhp 5cyl engine is a bit tappety even when warm. On a cold start it isn't especially noisy, but when I'm cruising along and the engine is at normal temperature I do hear a tappety noisy bouncing off walls when I'm driving along with the windows are down.

Is there an additive I can put in there that someone has had good experiences with to clean things out? Or should I get get my indie specialist to have a look if things need replacing?

Car has 97,000kms from new, and has had a recent oil change, and generally always well looked after, but not sure if oil changes have happened on a yearly basis in the last 5 years or so, as there's a bit of a blank spot in its near complete service history for that period.

lefthooker · 28-03-16, 02:17 PM

Seems like a relatively low mileage to be giving tappet problems.

It might be worth checking to see you have an exhaust manifold leak. This can give you a persistent ticking sound similar to a problem tappet, the cause of which is usually a blown gasket and/or stud issues at one end or the other of the manifold.

andya · 28-03-16, 05:23 PM

I change my oil 2-3 times a year on my 85' cq. When I first got it a couple of years ago, it was also a bit tappety even when warm. One weekend I changed the tappets amoung many other things and they've been fine ever since. Their readily available from tps.

6 months ago I thought oh no the tappets again, like what lefthooker said, it turned out to be the gasket had blown on the exhaust manifold..

Good luck.
Andy

Tristanspeed · 28-03-16, 06:38 PM

Thanks for the messages and tips. I'm no mechanic, how would I check for the gasket on the exhaust manifold?

andya · 28-03-16, 06:43 PM

Get your hand in! Check for rushing air around the manifold. Might be better on ramps

28-03-16, 05:23 PM	#3
andya Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,149	I change my oil 2-3 times a year on my 85' cq. When I first got it a couple of years ago, it was also a bit tappety even when warm. One weekend I changed the tappets amoung many other things and they've been fine ever since. Their readily available from tps. 6 months ago I thought oh no the tappets again, like what lefthooker said, it turned out to be the gasket had blown on the exhaust manifold.. Good luck. Andy __________________ 1985 Coupe Quattro 1986 Coupe 1.8 weber carb 1987 Coupe 2.2 GT

28-03-16, 06:43 PM	#5
andya Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,149	Get your hand in! Check for rushing air around the manifold. Might be better on ramps __________________ 1985 Coupe Quattro 1986 Coupe 1.8 weber carb 1987 Coupe 2.2 GT

28-03-16, 02:17 PM	#2
lefthooker Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,655	Seems like a relatively low mileage to be giving tappet problems. It might be worth checking to see you have an exhaust manifold leak. This can give you a persistent ticking sound similar to a problem tappet, the cause of which is usually a blown gasket and/or stud issues at one end or the other of the manifold.

28-03-16, 06:38 PM	#4
Tristanspeed Grown up member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Lyon, France Posts: 20	Thanks for the messages and tips. I'm no mechanic, how would I check for the gasket on the exhaust manifold?