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I've got a prominent tappet sound from the rear of the driver-side bank, on cold starts. Coinciding with the car not running for 2 months. I'm suspecting I have a sticky tappet, it disappears once the oil gets warm.

I am thinking about bunging in Wynn's hydraulic lifter treatment or something equivalent, running it for a tank or 2 and then replacing the oil. Just wondering before I do, if anyone knows if this is a good idea or not? Or any recommendations? My concern with any oil additive would be the turbo but it says 'suitable for turbo engines' on the Wynn website.

Mine is quite tappetty when I don't run it for a while. Disappears once the engine warms up fully.

I personally don't believe in snake oil additive fixes.

Changing the tappets is a proper headache, though. Or just use your car more often.

Rear drivers side bank, could be the cam chain tensioner. Been there done that:)

bilko1 wrote:Rear drivers side bank, could be the cam chain tensioner. Been there done that:)

+1, I had the same symptoms although only for a about 20-30 seconds on cold start up, the noise was definitely more of a rattle than tappetty, as Bilko1 says cam chain tensioner, the real biatch to get at one, osr as opposed to easy nsf

Yeah, it's easy to tell the difference between tappets and cam chain.

Shoppinit wrote:Yeah, it's easy to tell the difference between tappets and cam chain.

Exactly, if it sounds like a rattly chain chances are it's a rattly chain

Pretty certain it's not the cam chain rattle - I've heard that for 2-3s on very cold starts when it's been stood before. It's very distinct.

My RS2 can get a bit tappety if the oil gets a bit low and having listened again I'm pretty certain that is the cause. It's very quiet after 5mins idling and gone after a quick drive. Only other time I've heard similar was a 'ticking' exhaust manifold that was blowing a little when cold.

I might give it a go for 8 quid as there's quite a number of folk that swear by it. I intend on getting the oil changed anyway, she needs a good servicing, my concern was regarding any risk to the motor by putting this stuff in.

I do tend to agree with the 'snake oil' mindset, generally reserved for nutters and conspiracists along with the 100mpg carburettors that the oil industry is hiding etc etc.

What oil are you running?

An auto stethoscope is what you need - or a long screwdriver strategically placed to find the place where the noise is coming from.

I'd still avoid the snake oil stuff. Get the oil changed and see if it makes a difference. Other than that pull the airbox and rocker covers off to inspect things.

Boobies.

Shoppinit wrote:What oil are you running?

Probably Mobil 1 5w30...

Not sure actually - it was serviced just before I bought it and only came round for the next service before I took it off the road before christmas.

What's the preference round here, I've got lots of Silkolene 10W40 in stock for the RS2 but suspecting something a bit thinner is more suited to the RS6? I'll get something on order for when it next stops raining...

Mine makes the tappet noise especially when cold and being left for a long time standing. Unavoidable due to working offshore like you say it's very distinct timed clack which is nothing like the cam chain tensioner rattle.

It's not cam tensioners or oil that changes anything, had them all replaced 4 months ago and it still makes a tappet sound for a min or so when things start to warm up. I'm not unduly worried about it but it would probably benefit getting Mrs gripper to start it up every week or so in my absence.

I'd be a little concerned about my oil viscosity/pressure/hydraulic tappets if the "noise" was carrying on after 3 seconds on start up, never mind a "min or so" of tappet sound. Obviously, there's a lot of tappets under the lid but I'd expect them all to be oil-filled and running quiet after a few seconds even on the coldest of starts.

Anyone else get this noise for a minute or more?

Yup. Me. Not particularly concerned about it.

There's also a separate pressure reservoir for the tappets IIRC. This would need to fill up and pressurise before the tappets so maybe that's why. Although if I'm inventing this reservoir we'll need a better explanation.