Tapping sound

[Darren]

I was convinced the tappets needed adjusting on my surf as there's a ticking/tapping sound in line with the revs thats obvious at start and almost dissapears when fully warmed up and has got slowly louder for last 4 months or so,
I've ordered a new rocker gasket, read the relevant pages in Haynes and thought I would look on here before tackling on saturday but I've just done alot of searching and am now confused.
Haynes says I have tappets I can adjust but theres alot of talk of changing shims and loosening the cam belt to get to them and special tools on here, that sounds a bit too complicated for my mechanical skills (it took me over 2 days to change the cam belt, don't really want to get that indepth for another 100k,km), others also say it can't be the shims because they won't wear down. I've also read it could be injectors, are these possible to check by an amateur mechanic. Could I have put the belt on slightly wrong (although it's done <15,000km since), there is a bit of smoke when accelerating but not whilst cruising (needed some injector cleaner to pass MOT), Any ideas welcomed (especially if they're easy)

[NiftyNev]

Speaking of shims I was thinking of getting mine checked so called into a diesel mechanic and asked the question.He asked if the Surf had a silver or black rocker cover.I said silver and he had a listen while engine was running and said forget about them.Apparently they can go for 300,000Ks without adjustment as he said they just don't wear.The earlier black top rocker cover models had a roller setup and he said these sometimes need adjusting every 5,000Ks.One less thing to worry about if you have a silver rocker cover providing regular oil changs are done to prevent wear.

Neville

[NiftyNev]

I think injectors that are sticking can cause a ticking sound.I'm sure I read somehere that to diagnose this you crack the fuel line to each injector in turn to see if there is a change in engine operation.If there is then that injector is ok.If not then the injector is sticking.Maybe someone else can confirm this.

Neville

[TonyN]

Yeah, you can do this, to find total failures, but injectors can really knackered and the truck will still run OK.

Best to pull them and a specialist to check them. Linda's injectors where pretty knackered, but it still ran fine, but on the test machine they sort of dripped, instead of spraying properly.

The shims in the 3.0's should be OK for 100,000's of miles, I've not had to adjust any yet (just as well, cos I don't have the gadget to get them out! ) But unsure of your motor.

Not sure what sort you have, 2L motors have old style adjustable tappets, but 2LT/E's seem different as Nev said.

[Darren]

Thanks for the advice guys, I have a silver rocker cover so I guess that means shims that shouldn't need work, I will read up more on checking injectors, mine does go alot better after some injector cleaner but maybe thats not fixing them completely. Tony, where did you get yours checked, I'm not far from you and could probably go to the same. I like your avantar a friend gave me the toy in the picture and it lives on the dash of my surf
Thanks again
Darren

[TonyN]

I took them to a place who I know were reliable in Hertfordshire (Wade Deisels) as we go up there a lot ATM. But that doesn't help you much.

Need to find a place locally myself. I'll try and find out in the next few days and let you know.

[Djandco]

I have had my 2lte smurf back from steve for a few days, when I drove it the next day I heard a tapping noise, sounded like my good old escort cvh engine, just after it had run out of oil!
I phoned steve and he said it ran ok when he tested it, and suggested that it could be the injectors blocked, what with having the head in bits etc.
I went and got a bottle of lemon fairy liquid, well, thats what it looked like! and stuck it in, have to admitt, I only did this this morning, but the noise is not so bad this afternoon.
Optamistic?
Well, I should be!
I will update in a day or two

[Djandco]

also found turning the radio up to max sorts out the tapping noise!

[Cody]

mine taps as well

had injectors checked and had the whole engine apart .new big ends little ends shells on cam. had cam checked and shimned and still taps like an escort. i think mine might be the timer controle valve not working properly,knocking the timing out slightly so you get a bit of a diesel knock
i am going to take it off tomorrow to check it propely
would like to know if you solved yours and what it was as the tapping sends me crazy

[da SLUG man]

rayner engineering in newbury are good... they're a diesel specialist.
speak to rob (the quiet one) (i think he's rob?)... he's relly good.

[Cody]

just done the diognostic check with the paperclip the dashboard light flashes 12 times so it seems the timer controle valve is dodgy and thats whats making the engine tap

[Djandco]

just done the diognostic check with the paperclip the dashboard light flashes 12 times so it seems the timer controle valve is dodgy and thats whats making the engine tap

that sounds like fun, if only I knew what the ell you were on about!
After 300 miles with addative in the fuel I can honestly say my engine does not sound like an escort anymore, now evolved into a volvo diesel!
Need to find out what the tapping is, and soon.
Dont want to destroy stevo's handywork with the head!

[Conquering Lion]

Ive got a tapping/ticking noise too on a 2L. Had the valves checked and they were all adjusted OK. The mechanic said it sounded like a bit of a rough surface on a cam follower which is responsible, but wouldn't do any harm. But it is annoying and it makes me wonder if an injector could be at fault. BTW the noise is much louder in the cab than out and I only noticed it once the glowplugs had been changed. Could that be a clue?

[lizardinc]

damn tapping noise

well i have a black cover , and just to confuse things more , i just rebuilt the head using original valves shims springs etc wich ran super quiet on the cracked old head , plus i have tappet cups '' no adjusters on them so how do you set them ? do u buy new ones ? i am an ex rover mechanic and most rovers well older ones had shims u can slip in or out to adjust ? so brand new head using original parts in same sequence as they came off valves ground in of course'' and blooming tappet noise like an old ford ohv '' any suggestions cos its rattling my head and the noise is irritating ''