Engine noise

Sean d

Zorg Expert (I)
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British Zeds
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Points
201
Location
Lincolnshire
Model of Z
Z3 2.8
Guys as you are aware My Z3 is standing around a lot doing nothing, I started it up today (not been run for a few days) and it sounds like a tapit is noisy, I normally get this for the first few seconds and when the oil gets up it stops, however today I let it run for about 5 mins and it kept going, do they have hydraulic lifters. thanks, its 2.0 l
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
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British Zeds
#ZedShed
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Dec 31, 2013
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Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
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E89 Z4 23i Auto
Yes they do Sean, my Z3 2.0 had a tappet noise when I first got it but after an engine flush with new oil and filter it's gone. You can get Wynns oil treatment specifically for hydraulic lifter treatment which I used, one application at oil change is enough.

Tony.
 

hacker

Zorg Addict
American Zeds
Joined
Dec 23, 2015
Points
45
Location
Boulder, Colorado
Model of Z
M Roadster
Lifter clearances are tight! Any varnish can hang them up. There are many products out there but ( :nailbiting:, I know!) one that certainly works is Marvel Mystery Oil. We use it in aircraft piston engines to alleviate valve sticking. Older Audi's seemed to be really prone (lifter's sticking) but again Marvel's did the trick. Here in the U.S. the dealer will say your crazy but then the mechanic's will use it in the back!
 
Z

zedonist

Guest
It could be the belt tensioner, mine sounded like a tappet noise and had been left standing for a while, the bearings dry up and corrode. New tensioner fitted no more noise. Failing that, then yes a sticking tappet...
 

Eddie Zedder

Zorg Guru (III)
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British Zeds
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Jun 10, 2015
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148
Location
Megawatt Valley, Notts.
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Z3 2.0
Yes they do Sean, my Z3 2.0 had a tappet noise when I first got it but after an engine flush with new oil and filter it's gone. You can get Wynns oil treatment specifically for hydraulic lifter treatment which I used, one application at oil change is enough.

Tony.
Thanks for that info Tony, I will get some when I change mine. :thumbsup:
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
@Sean d - Have you used any Wynnes yet?
Had any effect?

Long story but....

I put some Wynnes in my N52 engined Z4 a couple of months ago. It has made a difference, but, its not permanently eradicated the noise. :(
If left for three or fours days, the noise returns and needs a run of at least 10 minutes before it goes.:(---> :)

This was beginning to cause me a little concern as I didn't really want to run it so often during the winter - but needs must and all that.:):)

The two Zed-sheds are just too far away without a half day trip:( as are most of the serious techies on the forum but I didn;t want to keep leaving it.

Had thought about dropping into an Indy somewhere to get some further advice on how much it would be to fix that (new bits?? - ouch) and to check other noises from under the bonnet - was thinking I possibly had a tensioner issue - I couldn't tell exactly where the noise was coming from (not help by being partially deaf at the moment - another story). The nearest 'BMW' Indy I found was in Leicester which is a bit of a pain to get to unless I take some time off work. But, I found a place near work in Daventry mentioned on a forum some time ago called Gugliemi Motorsport, so I call in a few days ago. Their raison d'être is preparation for motorsport, but they also do servicing and tuning of road cars including BMW and TVRs. Top end stuff.

The place is run by Steve Gugliemi (twice winner of the TVR Tuscan challenge) and he came over while I was talking to one of the lads from the workshop we had a good talk and a listen to the engine. Steve is ex BMW trained, His brother is at BMW now and he has contacts with people at BMW too - so he sounds a good guy.

On the Valve Lifter noise his view is that the oil spec'd for the car is great when the cars are new but it needs some modification as engine wear sets in. A simple change in grade of oil from 5W30 to 10W30 is likely to solve the problems. The noise itself he says is, as long as it clears after after a run really is nothing to worry about, but deal with it with different oil at the next service. Sage advice?

As to the other noise - simply fuel injectors opening and closing. Phew.

The other good news is that Steve is relocating his workshop from across town where I work to just 1/4 mile away from the office.
My thoughts are, if these guys don't know how to service a car, does anybody? Will the loss of a dealer stamp be a problem if I use him to service the car (especially as I have no intention of selling anytime soon)?
 

Sean d

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Points
201
Location
Lincolnshire
Model of Z
Z3 2.8
@Sean d - Have you used any Wynnes yet?
Had any effect?

Long story but....

I put some Wynnes in my N52 engined Z4 a couple of months ago. It has made a difference, but, its not permanently eradicated the noise. :(
If left for three or fours days, the noise returns and needs a run of at least 10 minutes before it goes.:(---> :)

This was beginning to cause me a little concern as I didn't really want to run it so often during the winter - but needs must and all that.:):)

The two Zed-sheds are just too far away without a half day trip:( as are most of the serious techies on the forum but I didn;t want to keep leaving it.

Had thought about dropping into an Indy somewhere to get some further advice on how much it would be to fix that (new bits?? - ouch) and to check other noises from under the bonnet - was thinking I possibly had a tensioner issue - I couldn't tell exactly where the noise was coming from (not help by being partially deaf at the moment - another story). The nearest 'BMW' Indy I found was in Leicester which is a bit of a pain to get to unless I take some time off work. But, I found a place near work in Daventry mentioned on a forum some time ago called Gugliemi Motorsport, so I call in a few days ago. Their raison d'être is preparation for motorsport, but they also do servicing and tuning of road cars including BMW and TVRs. Top end stuff.

The place is run by Steve Gugliemi (twice winner of the TVR Tuscan challenge) and he came over while I was talking to one of the lads from the workshop we had a good talk and a listen to the engine. Steve is ex BMW trained, His brother is at BMW now and he has contacts with people at BMW too - so he sounds a good guy.

On the Valve Lifter noise his view is that the oil spec'd for the car is great when the cars are new but it needs some modification as engine wear sets in. A simple change in grade of oil from 5W30 to 10W30 is likely to solve the problems. The noise itself he says is, as long as it clears after after a run really is nothing to worry about, but deal with it with different oil at the next service. Sage advice?

As to the other noise - simply fuel injectors opening and closing. Phew.

The other good news is that Steve is relocating his workshop from across town where I work to just 1/4 mile away from the office.
My thoughts are, if these guys don't know how to service a car, does anybody? Will the loss of a dealer stamp be a problem if I use him to service the car (especially as I have no intention of selling anytime soon)?
Thanks very much for the detailed post but my zed has sorted itself out now its been run, apparently the lifter can drain of oil when sat around doing nothing as some of them will be under pressure, just needed a good run to sort it.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Thanks very much for the detailed post but my zed has sorted itself out now its been run, apparently the lifter can drain of oil when sat around doing nothing as some of them will be under pressure, just needed a good run to sort it.
A point I raised earlier in the thread, these cars need to be used, standing around idle does nothing any good.

Tony.
 
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