03 Vectra SRi cold start tapping noise

Ed_

I was directed to this forum after somebody mentioned my motor could be suffering from imminent chain failure. The symptoms are on overnight cold start when there's a tapping noise for around 30 seconds or so. Once warmed up the engine is silent, strong and pulls well. Someone mentioned there were hydraulic tappets on this engine and low oil level can contribute to this. It's defintely a clear and clean tap noise and not so much a rattle. I'm assuming the engine escapes the problems of earlier models such as small oil nozzle but the wind is definitely up me. It's nearing 90,000 miles now.

Thanks for any wisdom.

Mark_Dj

I think you have the Vectra C and it should have the right oil nozzle for the car. My 2.2 used to tap on start up but go away quick and I knew it was just the oil getting around the engine and not my chain. Vocky should be able to help you out a little more on this issue. I just think it's lack of oil at the top of your engine til you start your car up.

Ed_

Now that sounds comforting. It is a Vec C and I've posted a couple of pics I took 10 mins ago in the intro forum. I've also just nipped over the garage and dropped in a litre of Castrol GTX to top it up as it was on minimum. I'll see what difference that makes tomorrow morning.

Mark_Dj

Cool. I think it will be fine mate 🙂

vocky

could be a hydraulic tappet with 90k on the clock, but the life of the timing chain is 100k 🙂

Ed_

vocky said:
could be a hydraulic tappet with 90k on the clock, but the life of the timing chain is 100k 🙂

Well if the head has to come off within the next 10k miles I better gen up in the tuning forum to see what goodies I can supply it with.

vocky

you can change the followers with the head in place, but the cams need to come out.

a good time to fit pipercams and a new timing chain 😃

Ed_

vocky said:
you can change the followers with the head in place, but the cams need to come out.

a good time to fit pipercams and a new timing chain 😃

Sounds like sensible advice. I'll point to this thread when my girlfriend asks why I haven't booked that weekend trip to Paris. 😃

Ed_

Just a brief update on the matter.

Yesterday I topped up with some Castrol GTX and this morning the car started without any tapping whatsoever. I'm assuming if chain is failing it's fairly consistent with it's symptoms. As MarkDj mentioned, it's probably oil not circulating right away, particularly as the level was low. I'll see how it goes over the next few days and keep an eye on the oil level. Unfortunaly the car has been doing too many short runs and most days hasn't even warmed up so I'm sure that's not helping.

A good excuse to take it for a blast somewhere this weekend I think.

vocky

the z22se does like it's oil level topped up, it lets you know if it gets low :lol: