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[Malcolm_D]

Not sure of the spelling and I know fun will be made but I do have a problem. The beast is a 1998 2.5 Elite with 130K on the clock

The noise is worse when the engine is cold, gets better as the engine warms but does not disappear. I know that it will most likely be either sticky valve lifters or a leaking exhaust manifod (hopefully not cracked) but I cannot decide which. I am in the process of doing a few short oil changes and have put some Wynns in with the last lot of oil, no obvious improvement. What I do have is an increasing smell in the cabin, thought it was just because I had been doing lots of work on the beast but it seems to be getting worse - could the manifold be the problem and exhaust gases getting into the cabin?

On the up side at least it wasn't going 'dugga, dugga, dugga' 

[amba]

I had a very similar problem with my 1998 Elite.It was the exhaust manifold gasket..well actual both..got local very trusted garage to do n/s for me and found the original gasket was a thin peice of single gauge ali which was next to useless but it obviously sealed up enough when hot.

Have put off having or maybe doing o/s till funds permit but have a similar noise from that side aswell.

You may be able to see or atleast feel escaping exhaust if you can get under and have a good look.

I went into local exhaust /tyre place on a quite afternoon on the pretex of needing a new exhaust.Guy was only too keen to get it up in the air but then found out exhaust was nearly new.He then called me out and I spent the next 20 mins under the car also trying to find the non existant exhaust leak,but it gave me plenty of time to have a thorough look and listen to manifold area.

I did give the guy a drink he for his trouble as by the end he realised I knew more about the car than he ever was going to.

[Malcolm_D]

She would kill me if I spent any more money on it, how big a job is to DIY? I do not need it on the road day to day and have a reasonable level of ability. 

[harpersimon]

Chuck some lifter treatment in it - if that makes it quiet, then its lifter related. If not, exhaust manifild time :-)

[fiend61]

it really isnt that hard to do if you are spanner minded 
the only thing to wacth for is snapping the studs 
small hands help aswell 

[Malcolm_D]

I will try to feel for escaping exhaust gas first and then give it a go, I am becoming more certain that it is the exhaust manifold. Will obviously soak the studs in penetrating fluid before I snap then off! 
Thanks for the advice and opinions. 

[fiend61]

whereabouts in york are you ?? 

[Malcolm_D]

Over at Rawcliffe, not far from the Mitre pub.

[fiend61]

if i shout loud enough you should hear me 
i live in clifton by clifton pub 
small world 

[Malcolm_D]

It is indeed, if I rev the beast hard enough you will certainly hear me 

[amba]

The n/s manifold gasket is the nasty side as you need to lift the engine off the mounts to get the clearance needed to remove the stud nuts.If you apply lots of "plusgas" to the studs you should be ok ,but do go carefully.

Access is the biggest problem and you will find it is much easier from below.Heat sheilds are ackward to get out and with the little retaining bolts they also have a tendancy to shear off.

Cat requires removing from exhaust and manifold,but from my experience it is just ackward.Guy who did mine managed it without removing coolant transfer pipework,and total time was 4 hours labour.

I intend getting same guy to do o/s later in year when funds permit as would like to have a car that doesn,t sound like bag of nails every morning when starting from cold.I tend to leave car ticking over on drive for about 5 mins in the morning to warm things up and is a lot more pleasant on the ears.

I wish you the best of luck with it,and it is well documented on the forum as a diy job.Others, only will attempt this, with the heads being removed.