for the last 1000ks or so my engine has started to make a tapping noise, and when it is cold, it sometime runs on three cylinders. Any help identifying the problem would be helpfull

check all spark leads are good and connected properley, as for the tapping, there is a bottle you can buy that should help with that, repco or places like that should have it,
http://www.nulon.com.au/products.php?productId=lftu

whats in the bottle oil or something

whats in the bottle oil or something

chemicals that dislogde carbon deposits that may be on the tappets and lifters, which can cause the noise, if that doesnt fix it there is a problem with the tappets themselves, damaged or watever and may need replacing

the tapping is from the tappets

that should go away once the engine is warming up and oil has reached the tappets

if not replace the tappets or have them cleaned then try again

i had the same problem.
i had my tappits replaced today. car is running quiet now

Our is doing the same thing, but i'm fairly certain those lifters were replaced recently. Have to get some of that next week and see how it goes.

Otherwise it'll have to be done when the engine mounts are changed... at least a few months away.

Our is doing the same thing, but i'm fairly certain those lifters were replaced recently. Have to get some of that next week and see how it goes.

Otherwise it'll have to be done when the engine mounts are changed... at least a few months away.

Yours being a 2.6 not a V6, you may want to get the timing chain checked as this is by far the major culprit of rattling in these engines.

thanks for all the help guys ill tell you how it goes

Yours being a 2.6 not a V6, you may want to get the timing chain checked as this is by far the major culprit of rattling in these engines.
The chains don't really cause the same noise as "tapping" though ;)

I would still follow this advice though, since when the significant rattling starts up and is pretty much consistent, it's a bit risky to keep running with old chains, as it's likely the balance shaft chain is worn or stretched (which also drives the oil pump), or the guides are all worn out. Usually replace the chains every 200,000km or so, and it should be OK.

As for the tapping, that is common on startup with these engines, as they tend to take a bit to get the oil pressure up when you start the car. If the tapping is very consistent while idling, or sounds like there are only a couple of tapping noises, it's likely some tappets are worn.

If the oil hasn't been done in a while, try doing a change and replace the oil filter. If the engine is in reasonable condition (ie. running ok and not blowing blue smoke), then you could even try some slightly thinner oil, like 15W-40 or 15W-50, which will take a little less time to build up pressure when you first cold-start the engine.

Once you have the car started and warm, in idle, slowly rev the engine smoothly up to about 3000 RPM, then back down to idle over about 30 seconds. This will help prime the air from the tappets. Then leave it idling for a little while and see if the tapping comes back. If it is still tapping, you will likely need to get some new tappets.

mines the v6 but it had a quite loud tapping, got a bottle of oil flush and sat it at around 3000 revs for bout half an hour, dumped the oil, put some fresh stuff in and it was like new again

Seriously half an hour? Did u sit in the car and accelerate for half an hour?

I want to try some oil flush, as my lifters can be a little bit noisy, specially when cold, but im a bit hesistant using oil flushes. Also, I thought it says to idle for 10 minutes, so this could be over doing it??? People have also said 30 second intervals though, so hopefully you could get the same result from a few minutes revving. Be interesting to see if it actually stays quite for a long time, some poeple have said it helps for a few days but then comes back...

Ollie

no jammed the throttle cable into position with a bit of cardboard, 3000 doesnt rev it too hard and after 20 mintes it was still ticking so we kept it going. this was done with a mechanic by the way

Yours being a 2.6 not a V6, you may want to get the timing chain checked as this is by far the major culprit of rattling in these engines.

Cheers for the tip, but it's definitely from the opposite side of the engine along the head, so i'm certain it's just a noisy lifter. Stops tapping after it's warmed up.

If it's the V6, it will have a timing belt, rather than chains - obviously no rattling then. Tappets commonly get noisy in the V6's, and may just require replacement.

I wouldn't suggest holding the car at 3000 RPM for half an hour though... with no movement of the car while holding that kind of RPM isn't good for the engine, as typically it relies on natural airflow to keep everything cool (fans on the radiator only do so much).

New tappets are about $10 each usually from Bursons, and being a V6 there will be a fair few of them... might wanna try and isolate which side of the engine the noise is coming from ;)

ok well my mechanic advised me to which 100% fixed the problem, may sound strange but he knows his stuff,wasnt a hot day by the way

If it's the V6, it will have a timing belt, rather than chains - obviously no rattling then. Tappets commonly get noisy in the V6's, and may just require replacement.

I wouldn't suggest holding the car at 3000 RPM for half an hour though... with no movement of the car while holding that kind of RPM isn't good for the engine, as typically it relies on natural airflow to keep everything cool (fans on the radiator only do so much).

New tappets are about $10 each usually from Bursons, and being a V6 there will be a fair few of them... might wanna try and isolate which side of the engine the noise is coming from ;)

I think i paid something like $12-14 a tappet. and when you need 12 of the pricks it gets expensive.

']I think i paid something like $12-14 a tappet. and when you need 12 of the pricks it gets expensive.
yeah it may be a little more for the v6.. i was just going on price from the 4 cyl models, which are supposably the same tappets. I get trade prices usually though hehe

mines the v6 but it had a quite loud tapping, got a bottle of oil flush and sat it at around 3000 revs for bout half an hour, dumped the oil, put some fresh stuff in and it was like new again

Well I took your advice, even though I thought my engine would be pretty clean with 7,500km oil changed with shell helix plus. I also tried some lifter free up and tune which was in there for a few 1000km and if anything it got louder.

The noise was really only when cold, where someone who didnt know anything about cars would think it was a bit 'noisy'. After it was really completely warmed up it was silent though.

Anyway was changing the oil today so got some Nulon engien flush, but it in, started revving to 3000rpm and stopped after about 10 seconds coz I didnt want my neighbour to clob me over the head with a baseball bat because of the noise, so I drove along some quite streets in 1st gear at 3000rpm for abou 15 minutes. Drained the oil. Started the engine with no oil for about 5-10 seconds to get everything out. Then put some new oil in (Shell Helix Plus 15-50)

I just started the car after just over 3 hours sitting there, so it would be pretty cold, and it was quite as a mouse!!! I will post back tomorrow mornign to be sure, but im pretty confident this has completely quitened up the engine! Cant recommend this enough!!!

Ollie

Yep, use only good oils and change regularly (~5000 km). If that doesn't help, then proceed with lifter replacements.