Greetings fellow TDI owners! I just recently picked up a 06 jetta with 280000kms. When I got the car it needed a motor mount repair, typical TDI engine mount shearing off the block. I repaired it using the VanGrogh bracket along with the updated engine mount. While I was in there I did the timing belt, waterpump, tensioners, and an oil change using Total Ineos 5w-40 synthetic oil.
All is well I couldn't be happier with the car in general. The previous owners just did the radiator, brakes, and clutch. It looks to be a very well kept car and drives/shows like new.
I decided to do the VC gasket as well since it was leaking. I took a peak at the cam and didn't notice any unusual wear. I didn't remove the cam to thoroughly inspect the lifters. The car shows no telltale signs of worn cam, no bupping, power is excellent and MPG are perfect.
My problem is a slight tapping noise coming from the valve cover area. The noise is very faint but if I turn off the radio I can just barely hear it. It seem to be most prominent at around 2000-2500rpms. Higher revs it tends to disappear. It wont do it on idle, and it only does it when the engine is fully warm. If I let the motor idle for 30 seconds and rev it, the tapping disappears. If I hold the revs long enough the tapping returns. I notice it more during engine deceleration. Sometimes it'll get more faint, other times it'll be noticeable. I flogged the engine multiple times and the noise doesn't appear to be getting worse after 1000kms of driving. With the windows up and radio on, you cannot hear it at all, which leads me to believe the previous owner didn't care for the issue at all.
Any ideas or clues? Could it be a rocker adjustment for the Injectors? Fuel pump? (the car is a bit hard to start, nothing terrible just doesn't start instantly). Could it be a lifter about to blow? Should I just drive it until it gets worse? Everyone tells me to leave it alone but I am picky when it comes to strange sounds, especially from a engine with known issues.
It almost seems to me like the idling of the engine "pumps" something up, whether it'd be an injector or a lifter. It definitely doesn't sound like a loose con rod bearing, very obvious it is coming from the top end of the engine. Any help would be greatly appreciated before I start digging further with a stethoscope.
Thanks!
All is well I couldn't be happier with the car in general. The previous owners just did the radiator, brakes, and clutch. It looks to be a very well kept car and drives/shows like new.
I decided to do the VC gasket as well since it was leaking. I took a peak at the cam and didn't notice any unusual wear. I didn't remove the cam to thoroughly inspect the lifters. The car shows no telltale signs of worn cam, no bupping, power is excellent and MPG are perfect.
My problem is a slight tapping noise coming from the valve cover area. The noise is very faint but if I turn off the radio I can just barely hear it. It seem to be most prominent at around 2000-2500rpms. Higher revs it tends to disappear. It wont do it on idle, and it only does it when the engine is fully warm. If I let the motor idle for 30 seconds and rev it, the tapping disappears. If I hold the revs long enough the tapping returns. I notice it more during engine deceleration. Sometimes it'll get more faint, other times it'll be noticeable. I flogged the engine multiple times and the noise doesn't appear to be getting worse after 1000kms of driving. With the windows up and radio on, you cannot hear it at all, which leads me to believe the previous owner didn't care for the issue at all.
Any ideas or clues? Could it be a rocker adjustment for the Injectors? Fuel pump? (the car is a bit hard to start, nothing terrible just doesn't start instantly). Could it be a lifter about to blow? Should I just drive it until it gets worse? Everyone tells me to leave it alone but I am picky when it comes to strange sounds, especially from a engine with known issues.
It almost seems to me like the idling of the engine "pumps" something up, whether it'd be an injector or a lifter. It definitely doesn't sound like a loose con rod bearing, very obvious it is coming from the top end of the engine. Any help would be greatly appreciated before I start digging further with a stethoscope.
Thanks!
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