knocking in 1.6 gsi

[nov4801]

for the past 2 days i have heard a lil knocking sound coming from the engine. its ok on tick over but as soon as u put your foot down u can hear it, its comin from the left side of the head, any ideas what it can be?

[Karl M]

welcome to the big bad world of worn shells :cry: same as mine do it quick to save crank Karl

[nov4801]

worn shells explain please lol

[Adam]

Low oil.
Dead lifter.

Worn cam/rockers etc.

Worn shells wont cause a top end tap, they will cause deep knocking under load etc.

[ANDYRACER]

My nova sr did the same, 5 days later it blew up.

[nyabinghi]

Hi,
How a dead lifter can cause knocking? thx
I'm french and i don't know what is a shell, can I have some explaination please (or a pic) ?

nov4801 (http://www.novaload.net/forum/member.php?u=14163) : in order to prevent your engine from break, waiting for the new parts, you can turn your distributor a little bit to reduce the ingition timig late (don't know what is the english words for this).
But it is a provisional solution

[Adam]

The liftet not taking up clearence, causing a "slack" between the follower and cam lobe....?

The shells he's referring to are the bearing shells(small metal parts that sit inbetween the bearings caps and the crank journal.

[nov4801]

its got an uprated cam but as i brought the engine with it in i aint sure what kind, been told it could be the tappet as i had me grandad take a look (ex mechanic) but i would rather hear it off some one with a nova and experience

[Stuart]

sounds like noisy tappets. either get new ones, or strip the current oens down and clean them... easy job in the haynes

[Asa-James]

DONT GET A NEW SET i did and a few are noisey, so my old ones are going back in this weekend (at leats they were quiet!!)

[nov4801]

sorry if i sound thick but here goes, i got a spare head sitting in the shed if i swap them over that will that solve the problem? so then i can get me other head looked at

[Stuart]

no it wointnsort it... well i say that, the act of removing and refitting the lifters would probably shut them up lol

[nyabinghi]

The liftet not taking up clearence, causing a "slack" between the follower and cam lobe....?

The shells he's referring to are the bearing shells(small metal parts that sit inbetween the bearings caps and the crank journal.

I don't understand what you say.

You say that bad lifter can cause knocking?? When you say knockin you talk about the noise caused by the "detonation" due to a bad ingnition timing??

[Stuart]

no he means the "knocking" noise is a cam lobe hitting a follower that is sat far lower than it should be due to a stuck lifter (since they are supposed to take up the free space between the flollower and cam)

[Adam]

DONT GET A NEW SET i did and a few are noisey, so my old ones are going back in this weekend (at leats they were quiet!!)
Why did you swap the old ones then? Lol

[london_chris]

isnt there a possibility that its the alternator belt tensioner

[Will F]

I would say no.

There isnt an alternator belt tensioner.

[nov4801]

i been told if i add some engine cleaner to my oil run it for about 10 minutes then drain the oil and add some fresh oil it will sort the problem out but i aint to sure what u lot think.thats what my mechanic said to do???

[Stuart]

id suggest learning how not to text type first :p

yes the oil flush "might" help, but if they still make a noise then you really need to get them out and strip/clean them etc...

[nov4801]

sorry stu for using u itstead of you, i also been told it is the hydrolic lifters and they need changing but would help if someone who knew about novas could come and have a look

[Adam]

Cleaning the lifters would probably sort them.

An oil flush would help, but you can clean the lifters much better when there removed from the head.

You can use Diesel as an oil flush if i remember rightly.

[nov4801]

had the lifters changed tappits changed and cam changed and its still knocking so any more ideas

[Paul]

dnt sound as thought its top end knocking then.

If you need something replacing in the bottom end, you may aswell just fit a new engine, much easier and probably cheaper.

[Adam]

Is it a deep thumping?
Mostly under load?

Top end noises are light tapping.

[chimp007_uk]

is it not just pinking under load? try retadring the ignition?!?

[nov4801]

it sounds like its coming from the top. its ok wen u not reving but as soon as u start driving is makin the tapping noise but as soon as you let of the gas a little bit the noise vertually goes

[chimp007_uk]

sounds like pinking, if you drive along at a steady speed on half throttle does it make the noise?

just try retarding the dizzy, 13mm nut underneath and twist to the left

[nov4801]

if its on half throttle u can harldy hear it

[chimp007_uk]

and then if it's off throttle there isn't a sound? right?

then on full throttle you can hear it really loud?

it'll be pinking, just reatard the ignition a small amount, you wont do any harm, try it. do it and drive it.

[nov4801]

tried that chimp007 but still makin the noise so i think its ready for nova heaven lol, got a spare gsi engine anyway so think i might jus put that in

[Lucky Luke!]

I have the same problem with my corsa sri, how do i retard the timing on that?