Valve rattle on cold startup

[Wheelybin]

Do the fix, for 20 quid or so plus and hour or two at a decent local garage or indy, all done for well under a ton.

Kudos to the OP for this one if it works (if it doesn't, it's a stoning even if he didn't say Jehovah...)

Thanks, but think mine is a wet sump, not dry. I think I’ve just been getting paranoid reading all these threads and the sound I’ve heard from inside is more exhaust related from starting from cold this morning so mild panic over. Checking the old threads, my engine number is 162069 which is way in excess of the at risk range

 

[agrassick]

The valve is a ball bearing on a spring, it would appear on mine the spring is not as strong as it was. the photos below show it before and after pushing in the ball bearing with a small screwdriver. The spring in the new one was noticeably stronger.

 

[TimR]

Cool.... Weak spring indicates oil drain down....but not necessarily the noise...

 

[agrassick]

My guess is this allows the oil to drain out from the hydraulic tappets and then they rattle against the cam until they are full of oil again on startup. But that may be completely wrong

That said whatever it does seems to have stopped the rattle I had so fingers crossed it stays the same.

 

[TimR]

Hydraulic lifters are great but they could possibly hide potential issues. Arguably non issues as they self adjust...
I have hydraulic lifters in a bike. They can go bad. A distinctive “tic” is a good indicator. It will usually clear as oil pressure increases... Having put them in during an engine rebuild, I seem to recall trying to avoid having them cavitate.
Glad to hear it stops the rattle....
I m hoping it’ll do the same for mine. What with plumes of smoke and top end rattles, I’m starting to find problems where there none !

 

[safrane]

So what part does the oil accumulator play in this as this valve is only one part of the system?
There must also be an exit for the oil from the holding tank (accumulator) in the V of the engine and if that emptied over time you would get a similar issue/noise.

 

[Mr K]

I've been getting the start-up rattle over the last year or so, when starting from cold after not using the car for several days. When I bought the car in 2016, at 30k miles it was fine, even after a winter lay-up, but now at 38k miles and 13.5 years old it has the issue.

I have my new non-return valve and crush washer, from Eurospares, and am about to tackle the job of fitting it.

I'll see if I can produce a guide, because as agrassick said, with the QPV you have to take out a few bits for access. Looks to be much easier on the 4200.

 

[FDAGT]

I've been getting the start-up rattle over the last year or so, when starting from cold after not using the car for several days. When I bought the car in 2016, at 30k miles it was fine, even after a winter lay-up, but now at 38k miles and 13.5 years old it has the issue.

I have my new non-return valve and crush washer, from Eurospares, and am about to tackle the job of fitting it.

I'll see if I can produce a guide, because as agrassick said, with the QPV you have to take out a few bits for access. Looks to be much easier on the 4200.

Hi Mr K, I am having the same issue at the exactly the same mileage. Did you manage to solve the issue? If so, how? Thanks!

 

[rs48635]

I will add one of these to my bulging stocking list. Good work!

 

[Mr K]

Hi Mr K, I am having the same issue at the exactly the same mileage. Did you manage to solve the issue? If so, how? Thanks!

Hi, mine was never really an issue, only noticeable after standing unused for more than a couple of days. I replaced the check valve, as detailed in various posts, and there's virtually no rattle in regular use, though there is some if you leave it standing a long time. The rattle is completely normal and not a sign of wear, so long as it dissappears in a couple of seconds. When I changed the valve, I compared the spring tensions by hand between the new and old and and couldn't detect any difference. Fresh oil reduces the rattle as it's more viscous and drains slower. Hope that helps!

 

[FDAGT]

Hi, mine was never really an issue, only noticeable after standing unused for more than a couple of days. I replaced the check valve, as detailed in various posts, and there's virtually no rattle in regular use, though there is some if you leave it standing a long time. The rattle is completely normal and not a sign of wear, so long as it dissappears in a couple of seconds. When I changed the valve, I compared the spring tensions by hand between the new and old and and couldn't detect any difference. Fresh oil reduces the rattle as it's more viscous and drains slower. Hope that helps!

Thanks! So considering the issue a 5w-40 would be better than a 0w-40? Correct?

 

[Zep]

Thanks! So considering the issue a 5w-40 would be better than a 0w-40? Correct?

5W40 is the recommended oil - so yes - use that.