noisey engine when accelerating

[commerdan]

I'm really trying to love this car but now it has developed a noise that I can only describe as a lazy lifter rattle when accelerating hard from 60, then it goes away. and comes back usually after a bit of overrun/light throttle. I'm thinking its oil supply/starvation as it seems as though the oil pump is slow to catch up/build pressure. every thing else seems fine ie no warning light on the dash etc. Oil level is just above the full mark after sitting over night. Has anyone else encountered similar probs with these engines? and is there a port that I can connect an oil pressure gauge to? It runs fine and have just returned from a trip to Adelaide from Canberra and apart from the above issue all went well. it has done 161,000 kms and fuel consumption on the trip was between 7.4 and 8.1 l/100.
thanks

[Dr HaxZaw]

What oil are you using?

Also i think you can get an adaptor plate that sits between the oil filter and the block which allows you to run a pressure gauge although im not 100% sure of that

[commerdan]

I'm using a castrol 10/30, I had considered using a different grade, like 20/50,I 'm going to do an oil change anyway so might give that a go. any idea what thread for the pressure port?
cheers.

[VYMAD]

I use Castrol Magnatec 10W40.\nI installed an oil pressure gauge, and fitted the sender where the factory sender is, using a brass T piece, so I could still have the factory sender functioning.
Oh and I have 150,000 on the clock, so you may want to go to a slihtly thicker oil.

[Dr HaxZaw]

Hey VYMAD where is the factory sender as i wouldnt mind installing one myself just didnt realise you could piggy back it off the factory one

[VYMAD]

Hey VYMAD where is the factory sender as i wouldnt mind installing one myself just didnt realise you could piggy back it off the factory one

Yeah, Doc it's sort of under the oil filter. It should be the only sender type looking thing there, with a wire or two coming out of it.
T pieces are available from Supercheap, etc, so when you buy a gauge, get a T piece that fits it. When I fitted my T piece, the threads were slightly dfferent, but after a little bit of filing, swearing and patience, I got it to fit nicely.
Cheers.

[commerdan]

So I changed the oil to 20/50 and it seems to happen less often but the noise still comes and goes. I'm going to fit a gauge this weekend just to see whats going on in there.

[VL ALL THE WAY]

Try an additive for varnished lifters. Put through before oil change i think(Can't remember). It works well if thats the problem and it's an easy fix. I have a mechanic friend that done it to a nissan primera that sounded like crap with good results. I think it's a wynns or wurth product and might not be available over the counter but workshops get it.
I'm going to try some in my rb30e before next oil change as my lifters chatter every now and again without a drop in oil pressure according to pressure gauge.

[commerdan]

so I fitted a gauge and oil pressure is good, I'll give the additive a go but now i'm starting to think it could be something else like cam chain/tensioner, but then again the noise would be their more often? i'm not that familiar with these engines, what type of tensioner do they run and is it a big job to replace everything?

[commerdan]

never mind, this thing is a load of shite, i thought these things were bullet proof, what a crap product.

[ephect]

Did the noise quiet down after an oil change?

[Dr HaxZaw]

never mind, this thing is a load of shite, i thought these things were bullet proof, what a crap product.

a Hilux may be bullet proof but i dunno where you got the idea the commodore was as well??

[commerdan]

I figured there were so many of them on the road that they must be pretty reliable...
It just annoys me when I can't put my finger onr the problem. Yes, the noise kind of went away after the oil change but only comes back after flooring it, say coasting up to a roundabout (Canberra) and then accelerating out, so now I just gas it/back off/ gas it till the noise stops and it behaves like a v6 should..till the next roundabout! it doesnt happen all the time and not on light throttle. I'm not sure its a lifter either as there is no noise(tik tik tik) on start up. I've checked the serp belt/pulleys and found some play in the water pump and a bit of end float in the P/S pump. I'm now thinking a dodgey injector?
Oh lordy, if this keeps up I just might trade it on for my ideal ride, VZ Calais with all the fruit.
cheers and happy Alcohol day!

[VYMAD]

How old is the serp belt? Mine looked ok, but I'd put up with an acceleration noise for quite a while before fitting a new belt, which cured the noise.

[Dr HaxZaw]

i have had a tik tik noise coming from my engine when i got a tiny crack in the exhaust manifold... i used to get the noise when driving up hills and so forth cause when they got hot enough the crack would open and make the noise

[commerdan]

Hey, thanks for the suggestions, going to replace the belt tomorrow as i have no idea of its age, DrhaxZaw, how did you find that it was the manifold and where should i look for the crack?
cheers

[Dr HaxZaw]

The only way i found out was the mechanic found it... im not 100% sure where it was as i only saw it when it was cold and couldnt see it

it was really noticeable driving up hills so if you've got one just try and get the engine under load and see what its like

[Fletch_QLD]

I had a sort of rattly noise under revs - it was a bit more noticeable if i listened at ground level. I took it to an exhaust shop and asked them to check for leaks - they diagnosed a couple of leaky welds, quoted $50 to repair and all good.

[commerdan]

got a bit side tracked and couldn't get to do the belt. the really puzzling thing is I can make the noise go away by flooring it quickly, backing off then when I floor it again all is quite, it must be a lifter, oil pressure goes up to 80 psi, is that normal?, and 60 at idle. found temporary solution by turning up the stereo (when that decides to work) and just nailing it everywhere!
the honemoon is nearly over.
got a few more stabs in the dark to try so I'll keep posting.
cheers all

[hN!]

Have you tried some lifter free or similar product? I tried the nulon one but it lasted 2 days Then i got another one was in a grey can with blue and red forget the name It has now gone. They are not hard to change if you have to just need time...

[ephect]

Checking for an exhaust leak

If u have a laser handy, at dusk or just after, open the bonnet, start engine point laser around the manifolds. If there is a leak u will see the middle of the laser beam around where the exhaust gases escape. TheN u just have to pinpoint the spot and get it fixed.

Will rule out exhaust leakage issues.

Happy hunting!

[RiCeY]

You sure its not pinging? What fuel you running?

[Calaber]

never mind, this thing is a load of shite, i thought these things were bullet proof, what a crap product.

Cars generally serve you as well as you treat them. I've had my VY for over four years, travelled over 130k in it and the only part which has failed in that time was the air-con modulator, a common VY fault. Any other replacements have been normal wear and tear items.

Treat 'em right and they'll treat you right.

[SavVYute]

noisey engine when accelerating
I'm really trying to love this car but now it has developed a noise that I can only describe as a lazy lifter rattle when accelerating hard from 60, then it goes away. and comes back usually after a bit of overrun/light throttle. I'm thinking its oil supply/starvation as it seems as though the oil pump is slow to catch up/build pressure. every thing else seems fine ie no warning light on the dash etc. Oil level is just above the full mark after sitting over night. Has anyone else encountered similar probs with these engines? and is there a port that I can connect an oil pressure gauge to? It runs fine and have just returned from a trip to Adelaide from Canberra and apart from the above issue all went well. it has done 161,000 kms and fuel consumption on the trip was between 7.4 and 8.1 l/100.
thanks

+ 1 for could be pinging/pinking.
Possible causes?
Wrong spark plug range fitted
Dodgy fuel
carbon build up
coolant temp sensor covered in cr*p insulating it and giving wrong reading - or its faulty
faulty air temp sensor.

[commerdan]

Oh for F**k sake, I logged on, just replied and now it dissapeared!, As I was saying, thanks to all for your suggestions. Im working throught he list.
I'm running the bosch equivalent of the GM plugs and Ryco oil filter instead of the GM one. I alternate between 98 and 95 fuel, this engine has had three oil changes in the three thousand kms since I bought it. did a flush on the weekend and doesn't seem to have made much difference. I can still get rid ot the noise by backing off and gassing it again so I'm starting to think it coiuld be timing chain. I did some surfing ang the opinions seem to run between lifters(lots) timing chains and balance shaft bearings. The colourr of the oil that came out after the flush (Wynns) was like chocolate sauce! so I'm going to give it another flush/filter/ oil and then maybe look to the timing. it idles smooth when hot, and there is no rattle on start up either. the pizzling thing is I can control the noise so maybe by revving it the 'slack' in the timing chain it taken up. its defintely a mechanical tapping and about half engine speed, and is comes in at about 2000rpm

keep you posted!
Its crazy, I found one guy even had a blocked oil pickup.