Noisy Tappets

[mick.burgess]

Hi i am new to hear can anyone help me out i have own my mgf 1.8i for just over a month and the hydraulic tappets are rather noisy is there any easy repair
Regards
Mick

[Rob Bell]

Hi Mick,

Your signature indicates that you've got a 1.8i - and unlike VVCs, these engines tend not to be inherently noisy. Does the noise subside when the engine's warm, or persist? What's the oil level (if low, the tappets tend to be noisier).

If one of the tappets is sticking, then a flush and oil change might just do the trick, otherwise you're looking at stripping down the cam ladder and either cleaning or replacing the hydraulic followers...

[MG Marko]

I had a similar thing following a major service. The noise would go away after it really, really warmed up but then became somewhat constant in about a week of very sensible low mileage. It turned out to be an oil pressure sensor that had gone abit funny (technical term ). The noise followed the revving of the engine and at speeds above 40/50mph you couldn't hear it. I don't know if this helps but it may be worth a try. I just had a second hand one fitted no problem and very cheap.

Regards, Mark

MGF Trophy 160 (in Mellow Yellow)

[Tipper]

I understand the K-series can suffer a bit from piston slap due to wear after a lot of miles.

Is it high mileage?

[mick.burgess]

yes it is high mileage just over 105.000 and i have just done a full service with gtx oil
Regards
Mick

[Charless]

Unless it has been brutalised, I wouldn't call 105k high mileage for an MPi - you would be getting emissions probs at the MOT if piston slap was the cause? Was the GTX 10/40? In which case the correct grade oil should sort it out quite cheaply - 10/40 semi synthetic eg Castrol Magnatec, Mobil Super S etc.

[mick.burgess]

sorry my mistake it was castrol magnatec oil i used
Regards
Mick

[Charless]

Magnatec semi synth 10W/40?

[mick.burgess]

it says 10w40 and further down the can part syntheetic

[Reckless Rat]

I have a similarly high mileage 1.8mpi (well not quite as high - 87K) and mine runs as sweet as a nut. I see from your original post that you've not had the car long - have you been able (given the weather) to take it out on a reasonably long run and get it up to full operating temperature? Normally the hydraulic tappets will remain properly adjusted with regular use but I did notice on one occasion when mine hadn't been used for a while that there was a bit of tappet noise on start-up, which disappeared very quickly afterwards. However if one is sticking you may need to intervene in order to free it up. Are you sure that your car is a 1.8mpi? The VVC engines are notorious for noisy tappets - if it's a VVC there'll be a second cam belt cover on the N/S of the head.

[mick.burgess]

yes it is just the standard 1.8i i have taken it for a 20 mile round trip and it was still noisy