How does this happen?

[Beginner]

Nels,

I thought I had answered this; however, I must not have pressed submit. :D Sorry for the delay.

The only sound that I have heard is a light tapping sound. I actually thought it might be the rocker arms. The dealership never commented on that either way. They never commented on the sound they heard, only to say that they heard it and from their experience I needed a new motor.

The sound I have heard does not happen all the time, or at least I do not hear it all the time.

I was think about putting in mobil 1 5w-50. I think that will at least deaden the sound if nothing else. Any thoughs on that?

Craig

[Nels996]

If it's light tapping sound. It may be a lifter tab. There isn't any rocker arms on NS engines. Is the noise there when the engine is cold? Or is the noise there when the engine is hot? Or both? You should alway use Mobil I oil in those enignes.

Nels

[Beginner]

Nels,

LOL. I find that funny - there are no rocker arms on the NS. I specipicall y asked if engines still had rocker arms and was told no. Anyway, so much for their knowledge. I will check when I hear the noise. I never thought about it before; however, I believe the engine was always warm. I will check today when I start the car - it is cold today.

Are the lifters at the top or the bottom of the engine?

This is just excellent knowledge you have.

Craig

[Beginner]

Originally Posted by Beginner

Nels,

LOL. I find that funny - there are no rocker arms on the NS. I specipicall y asked if engines still had rocker arms and was told no. Anyway, so much for their knowledge. I will check when I hear the noise. I never thought about it before; however, I believe the engine was always warm. I will check today when I start the car - it is cold today.

Are the lifters at the top or the bottom of the engine?

This is just excellent knowledge you have.

Craig

Nels,
Ooops, that should have been "specifically asked if engines still had rocker arms and was told yes".

Craig

[Nels996]

Yes engines still have rocker arms, but not yours. There are OHC engines with rocker arms and some with out. The lifter tabs are in your cylinder heads just below the camshafts.

Nels

[Beginner]

Nels,

When I started the car - the coolant temp was 16. I could hear the tapping. When I returned home, the engine was around 200 and I could not hear the tapping.

Craig

[Nels996]

Craig,

It sounds like top end. It's possible that the lifter tabs are bad. But it's hard to say with out listening to it. Usually if there was a bottom end knock the noise doesn’t diminish when engine temperature increases, as well the noise gets louder the more you drive it. Hope this helped.

Nels

[Beginner]

Nels,

Thank you so much. Yes, it helps. I am taking the belief that when the head gaskets are removed, the heads have to come off and thereby showing the lifter tabs, and they will be easy to replace. Is that true?

Craig

[Nels996]

Once the heads are out, the cams will have to be removed in order to replace the lifter tabs. Once you have the heads out, have them pressure tested.

Nels

[Beginner]

Nels,

Thank you again. I have to think about this. It sounds like there 'could' be a lot more wrong with it once they open it up. I am still fighting the dealership in Vienna. At least now I know the most likely senerio that would have produced the results that the damaged MAF sensor caused when they busted it.

Again, thank you.

Craig

[Nels996]

No Problem. Good luck with the car. Hope it works out for you.

Nels