Lifter / Tappet noise on VXNA.....

wazzavx220

Car has done 50k miles, mainly on track, city and weekend trips.

Shortly after a recent trackday at Zolder, a tappety noise appeared on cold starts, and warm restarts.
Oil is fresh, and up to full level.

The car has had superb maintenance (mobil 1 oil every 1500-2000 miles) and is always warmed before setting off. However it is driven with much gusto on track (nitrons, 48's etc) so i can accept that components will ultimately fail, as this is not a high precision engine such as a Honda V-tec, and not dry-sumped.

Apparently it is very uncommon for lifters to fail on Z22se engines though...
I have checked the plugs, which are not loose.

Will carry out an oil flush, to see if that cures it. Otherwise, lifters to be changed i guess.

Any experience / advice with this type of issue would be welcomed.

Car is otherwise working perfectly, no loss of power or MPG.

Thanks.

vocky

it might be the oil pump pressure relief valve is stuck slightly open, giving lower oil pressure than it should at tickover

wazzavx220

vocky said:
it might be the oil pump pressure relief valve is stuck slightly open, giving lower oil pressure than it should at tickover

Thanks Vocky,

Will get Steffen at BOT to check that on saturday before an engine flush.
Otherwise might be giving you a ring soon for some head work!!!

Are you around for the next few weeks?

Fingers x'd......

wazzavx220

Did an engine flush and installed new Ex. manifold Gasket months ago and the noise went away.
Very few miles since.

Unfortunately, the Tappety Lifter/Follower noise has returned, and it is getting worse and worse....
Running fresh quality oil as always.

The noise occasionally goes away completely (for 1-2 mins perhaps) but is otherwise pretty constant.

I really don't think that it is from the exhaust anymore. Sounds purely mechanical, and from inside the Head i reckon.
Noise at all rpm's, and is rev related. Sounds like a "1 Cylinder Diesel" is hanging out in the engine bay!

Sad because engine is otherwise running perfectly! Need to get it sorted for much needed Track time.

If head needs to come off, would make sense to have it checked, ported and better quality springs installed i reckon.

Was running great with Courtenay RR mapping. 2" Full Milltek and Viper Induction.

Your thoughts Vocky! Would Love to meet you and discuss options.

Thanks :-))

vocky

have you got a video of the noise ?

wazzavx220

Actually Yes, but from back in the Summer. Will dig it out!
Thanks

corsaZ22se

Have you had the oil pressure checked yet as vocky said? also have you had a new cam chain kit / new oil pump? with the older engines oil spray jets and oil pumps are now changed. If you have spent alot of time on track wear will be increased. you say the engine is warm before going on track, do you idle the car at tick over to warm up? this also increases wear on cam train components due to peak load pressures as the cam lobes go over full lift.
i used to use mobile 1 oil but now use shell helix 10w40 semi synthetic as recomended by a race engine builder as mine is only ever used for road driving and its running alot quieter with the new oil, which gets changed every 3/4k miles.

wazzavx220

Thanks Corsa,

I will try to get a video / audio of the noise posted here asap.

The car is a 52 plate, and has done 57000 miles.
Mainly used for weekends away and Track Days. I don't "hang about" in corners, so presume that's why this premature wear has occurred.

Car does get used occasionally for short trips around central london, but is always idled for 3-4 mins before setting off, and until this year was never used in winter months, only dry heated storage.

Engine was all checked at Courtenays not that long ago and all was well. BHP on RR was just fine.

wazzavx220

vocky said:
it might be the oil pump pressure relief valve is stuck slightly open, giving lower oil pressure than it should at tickover

Big Respect Vocky! You absolutely nailed the diagnosis of my intermittent engine noise problem!!

Got up to Courtenay's a few weeks ago for a service, and after showing them the video (which i finally found) they agreed that it must be oil pressure related.
Of course Sods Law, the noise did not express itself on the way to, or at the workshop!!!!!!
Since the fitting of a new oil pump, there has been no re-occurence of the noise whatsoever. Plenty of Miles and a Trackday, so it is GONE!

Interestingly, Vauxhall do not sell the pressure relief valve separately...... which is a (financial) shame!

There was no sign of any gauging from physical debris going through the Valve, to have cause the failure.

It had been recommended to me that i run 15w50 Mobil 1 Motorsport oil some years ago for trackdays, to maintain constant oil pressure during hard cornering, which i had strictly adhered to. However, that initial decision came about as a result of experience with (non dry-sumped?) K-series race engines which had suffered from those types of oil pressure problems, and not from direct VX engine experience.

Coutenay's reckon that perhaps from using that thicker oil for an extended period, i had exhausted the relief valve "prematurely" (as they very rarely fail)

Fortunately, there is no other engine damage evident, and performance is as it always was, Phew!

I am now using the Posh Valvoline 10w40 synthetic and it is fantastic! Warms up faster, seems to rev easier and better MPG too.
I guess the lesson is, don't be seduced by overly fancy race oils for trackdays.

(I'm sure you know all about this Vocky, just thought it might be of interest to others on the Forum for future reference)

Many Thanks for your extremely accurate prediction, which saved me a potential extra trip all the way to Courtenay's from London.

I owe you several cold Beers Mate :-)))