My 3L TF Magna rattles in the top end a lot when not started for a couple of days.
It then quitens down after about 5 seconds.
Overnight starting is OK and not noisy.
What can the problem be..and will it get worse??

Describe the rattle mate.

For example. I've had a few rattles over the time i've had mine. one was a tinny rattle only when the car was cold as the RPM was up and it was vibrating the 'Y' piece in my exhaust, and when ever the car was at that RPM when it was warm you could just hear it. Or i had a plastic clip that had popped off and was rattling against the engine bay which was a plastic rattle noise (duh lol)

Any more descriptions? Have you popped your head under the bonnet when its making the noise and tried to isolate it? Even get a small piece of garden hose and use that if the noise is coming from a hard to reach area.

PS: If its like a tapping it could be your oil is low. Quick and easy check

It's common with older Mitsu V6's to rattle a bit when left standing for a while. The hydraulic tappets leak down and need pumping up with oil. It does no harm, if its just at start up, but a thinner oil and a high oil level may help. The noise from the exhaust "Y" section is more a buzz, loudest when you accelerate with a cold engine.

Lets try and assist the member and read what he has stated before we tell him not to worry about something that he may indeed need to worry about

The other and more concerning issue may actualyl be the timing belt pre tensionor, you say it rattles for about 5 seconds, is it a tap or a rattle to begin with, if tappets I doubt would only tap for 5 seconds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC9jUTCuhMM

Watch this, if its like this, its most likely the hydraulic tensioner. Replaced mine myself late last year, and I havent had any issues with it!

Thanks....No just when cold and only after a day of so...sounds more like tappets but a bit louder than what I'm used to.
I does go away fairly quickly.
Not the exhaust....Coming from top of motor. Oil is full

Yeah sounds a bit like it... but mine is has a higher pitch and disappears after a few seconds.

From my limited knowledge, hydraulic/no lash tappets can drain down completely after "X" number of hours depending on how well they hold pressure....and will cause the noise described till oil flow/pressure refills the tappets again. I've had this problem in VG/VF/CL/CM Valiants, VS Commodore and a XF Falcon. Usually takes about 5 seconds. Generally, the older the car, the more common it is. No big drama.

Hi Alice

To stop rattle after a couple of days idle, try a Ryco oil filter which has an anti drain-back valve and fresh Magnatec engine oil

Cheers, Barry

Hi Alice

To stop rattle after a couple of days idle, try a Ryco oil filter which has an anti drain-back valve and fresh Magnatec engine oil

Cheers, Barry

Ok, Pray tell, why the hell would you replace a GENUINE filter with a crap Ryco and also why would you use an oil that a lot of manga owners have had trouble with in their cars when it comes to lifter noise

Also, could be lash adjusters or hydrolci tensioner, a Ryco filter will not fix this and given that the filter is installed with the top up, the only way oil is going is down, back into the filter? Have you removed a filter from a Magna, you will get covered in Oil even after several months of not being run

OP, one thing to test as a 5sec rattle will generally not be the top end. Disc your Crank Angle Sensor wire on the drivers side of the upper inlet manifold. Get in car, cranks for a few seconds, re connect and start car, if no rattle then is most likely the hydrolic tensioner

if is top end, get a good flush like Wynns, give it a 30 minute flush at idle, dont drive it, then drain, new genuine filter, some HPR10 Penrite with some Wynns Tune Up, take for a 15 or so minute drive and then see if this helps, if this does not fix then you need to do the lash adjusters

did what above post said, rattle is gone now only occurs on days where its not very hot/cold days! yay, would still like to get rid of the rattle altogether though, but im guessing it could be a loose part somewhere that stops rattling when heated due to expansion

Sorry what worked the Magnatec or the Penrite? It would be good to know.

penrite! i did basically what mad said