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[marko2002]

Hi guys, wondering if anyone can help suggest what could be the cause of a slight annoyance I'm having at the moment.   Other than all the other nightmares I've now gotten over with my 2.2CD Auto, I'm finally driving proud again though I've noticed a slight tapping noise just immediately after start up from the engine(usually first start up, cold) which dissapears after about 30 seconds idling.   I recently checked the oil levels and noticed a slight top-up required so bought semi synthetic on advice from the book (in Halfords) and confirmed the correct grade from the tech there also and topped up the car.   I'm putting it in for a service at some point next month but wanted to make sure I wasn't running low on the ole black stuff anyway - and I did notice the car sounded a tad better after the top up of oil, seemed a bit smoother too but it really just could be my head!.  Anyways, before and after the top up I noticed the slight "tapping" noise and I'm still hearing it, but as I say only lasts for around 30 seconds or so and is usually only in the mornings from cold start.   Anyone suggest what I could be looking at?
Thanks in advance as always guys
Marko

[dispondent 1]

it will be one of the lifters (tappets) nothing to worry about, the oil is sitting at the bottom of the engine and with this very cold weather it takes its time to get up there ( the top of the engine ) when it does your tappet noise dissapears, i would have thought it would be no more than that ! ( my car does it as well )

[Elite Pete]

Hi Marko,

I would think it either the hydraulic cam followers which are possible draining of oil overnight. I would try a couple of short oil and filter changes say ever 1000 miles and if you know someone with a Vauxhall trade card this won't be to expensive. The other thing I can think of is a cracked exhaust manifold which is expanding once warn and thats why it quietens after a while.

[SP_3.2]

When i 1st got mine 2 years ago it did the same thing then moved over to short oil chances as Pete says and not had it back since even with the -6 starts and not runing days at a time.  

[marko2002]

Thanks for all your replies guys, very much appreciated as always and your comment Pete about the cracked manifold is quite interesting as I had major major problems with a matter early last year when I just bought the car.   Basically the exhaust required replacing after I scraped the underside over a vicious speed bump and since then it went from bad to worse.   Car sounded terrible, even with a new CAT (£400) and a few months later I couldn't take it anymore and returned to complain to find the rest of the exhaust was knackered, so another £300 later and I had a complete replacement exhaust but the car still sounded terrible.   A few weeks down the line I did some major bitching about it on the moneysavers forums and got a call from Kwik-Fit saying they wanted to fit a complete genuine system for me - they did and the car at last was back to norm although I still had a niggle in the back of my head that it still wasn't sounding as good as it did before the fiasco and this is where I think the manifold may come in to play.   I know the risks associated with trying to replace these damn things and as I don't intend on selling the car on or anything I am tempted to use PyroPutty2400 on the entire manifold, heard of a guy that did this and basically saved himself a fortune as his manifold bolt sheered when he tried taking the manifold off, so if it is the manifold I think it might be worth doing this and solving the issue.   As I say I'm intending on getting the car fully serviced next month so may ask the mechs to give it a good flushing too for a few pints (if u know what I mean!!)
Thanks again guys
Marko

[beemerdevil]

yup...as said...'sticky' / 'lazy' tappet/follower...mine does it, always has......  - but engine is sweet as.........actually, i am about to give it an OAF change  - you just reminded me