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Brit01 · Gold Cloverleaf Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 665

Not sure if my hydraulic tappets are a little noisy or normal. Just done a recent premature oil change to smooth things out a little as I changed from semi to full syn and it seemed to clean out the sludge somewhat.

YouTube - MOV07640.MPG

YouTube - MOV07639

YouTube - MOV07638.MPG

paulhide · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:59 pm Post subject:

Everything looks nice and clean. Will have to listen to my cars to compare.
What oil are you using?
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Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

Brit01 · Gold Cloverleaf Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 665

last year, before summer I had been using Motul semi 15w/50.

I decided to swtich to full syn Motul 300v 15w/50.
This was about 3200 kms ago.
I expected the syn oil to clean out some gunge and need a change, but the other morning I heard a large tappet noise when I arrive to work thinking one of the passages had got blocked or something.

That exact day (last Friday) I got an oil change and filter, Havoline 5W/40 full syn again, thinner oil for winter arrival (southern hermisphere remember).

The rear tappet stopped clinking and these videos were taken today. I think it's running fine but wanted a second opinion.

I'll change the oil again after winter probably back to the 300v (still got 2 litres of it.
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S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

Ian M · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:35 pm Post subject:

My thinking is that the engine is from the 1980's so was designed to run oil from that period, so as oils evolve with modern engines so they forget about the old girls.
My point being was the oil your using available when the engine was designed or built?
If not, use something that is cos that dont sound right to me and sounds nothing like my engine which is the same as yours and if anything not as well loved.
And that brings me on to my next point, from the look of your engine bay you are a man with too much time on his hands Laughing

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Brit01 · Gold Cloverleaf Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 665

Now you've got me really worried Crying or Very sad

It was rebuilt, hence the clean engine bay, aboout 14,000kms ago.

Motul semi 15W/50 was used after the rebuild.
After I decided to go for syn 15/50 Motul.

What sounds wrong to you? Tappets?

It drives great.

Now I'm thinking when they put a new crankshaft pulley on a few months ago, they used a pneumatic wrench to get the stubborn nut off. Hoping they didn't damage anything with that.
_________________
S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

Brit01 · Gold Cloverleaf Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 665

Listening to a lot of youtubes they all sound a little different.

Maybe due to the microphone used, filters, plugs etc. not sure.

The microphone does make it sound a little different though.

Confused

Quick question Ian:

What oil are you using? You have an 8v engine right? Hydraulic tappets?
Any rebuild in it's history? Filters? Ignition cables?
I noticed differences in engine sounds when I changed the air filters and ignition cables a year ago.
Maybe due to the rebuild it sounds different - size and make of pistons/valves? I'm just guessing here Ian.
_________________
S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

john 33_16v · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject:

Looks wonderful, and sounds fine to me.

I'm comparing to minari 8v 1.7 with mechanical heads.

My brother had an s2 like yours, black 1.7 with hydraulic tappets many moons ago and that was really clanky, but it never got worse over about 4 or 5 years (and probably about 40,000 miles) that he owned the car.

John
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Brit01 · Gold Cloverleaf Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 665

RFlower · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 6:44 pm Post subject:

I don't know what the EP additive level is in the oil you are using. If it comes from the US it may be very low. Oils with the same names are not necessarily the same in different countries.

Since my bad experience a couple of years ago http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5972&highlight= I am using Shell Helix, which has as high a content of EP additive I can find listed for any easily available oil, with half a bottle of ZDDPlus per oil change for the non-cat engines - despite what ZeNiTh-PbArM said about it mixing http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5992&highlight=
I don't think the problem he cited of the distribution of a small quantity of additive in a huge amount of oil is really relevant when putting half a bottle of additive in a sump of oil.

Edit: ZDDPlus only used in non-cat engines
_________________
Dick Flower, Nr. Carcassonne. '94 Trofeo 1.4 ie (F), '93 Imola 1.3/1.4 ie (now for breaking) (F), '91 1.7 ie (GB)(spare car), '86 Sprint 1.5 QV (F). '87 VW Syncro camper (F), '73 NSU Ro80 (F), '99 Fiat Seicento (F)

Brit01 · Gold Cloverleaf Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 665

Thanks for your advice guys.

Well I added some Liqui Moly tappet additive last night. I'll run it for a week or so and take another video (possibly in the garage with less background noise).

I've heard various opinions, the majority good, but also a couple of negative ones, some bearings may be bad, tappets a little noisy etc.

The additive is supposed to reveal worn tappets.
If they are just dirty/clogged it should clean them, if the noise does not disappear or reduce then it's probably time to inspect them visually.
_________________
S2 33 1988 1.7 QV
Dellorto DRLA40 (32mm venturi)

RFlower · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:11 pm Post subject:

The Imola on which I changed camshafts and installed all new tappets was sadly written off shortly afterwards. All wheels, tyres, and suspension were irreparably damaged, body slightly twisted, but I have kept it for the engine and other parts. The engine has done 140,000km (nearly 90,000 miles)

The Trofeo I now have had less than 80,000 km (50,000 miles) from new when I bought it. I changed all fluids, and belts, and have done almost exactly 10,000 km in the year since then.

The tappets still make no sound whatsoever. The loudest sound from the engine with the bonnet open is the hiss of the induction.

I fitted the same oil pressure gauge and sender I had on the Imola, in the same position, on the main gallery on top of the engine. At 130 km/hr (81mph) on the motorway, the oil pressure is 80psi, compared with 40 psi at best on the Imola.

The Imola tappets clicked slightly when I bought it, but I waited until they were quite noisy before I pulled the heads to look at them, and then wished I had done so earlier, as by then I had to find 2 camshafts, which are not so easily come by as tappets.

I now know that the tappets should make no noise at all. They were totally silent on the Imola after the engine rebuild, but with half the oil pressure of the Trofeo I wonder how long they would have lasted?

I guess that if correct oil changes have not been done, there will be a lot more damage than immediately evident from noisy tappets etc., such as severe wear of the oil pump.

Incidentally, the (non-hydraulic) tappets on the Sprint are, and have always been, completely silent. I have owned it since it was 3 years old, it had been clocked when I bought it in Spain, sdo I don't know the mileage, but I have done only 80,000km since then. The oil pressure on the installed gauge runs at 40psi, a bit lower when it is thrashed.
_________________
Dick Flower, Nr. Carcassonne. '94 Trofeo 1.4 ie (F), '93 Imola 1.3/1.4 ie (now for breaking) (F), '91 1.7 ie (GB)(spare car), '86 Sprint 1.5 QV (F). '87 VW Syncro camper (F), '73 NSU Ro80 (F), '99 Fiat Seicento (F)

Brit01 · Gold Cloverleaf Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 665