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MG MGF Technical - Engine Ticking?

Hi

Haven't been around for ages, but my F has developed quite a loud fast ticking sound from the engine, so the first thing I thought was 'They'll know on the BBS'!

I actually got to drive it the other day and noticed it (cause the GF usually 'nicks' it!), when I asked her whether she had noticed it before she said, oh yes, it's been doing that for a while now! D'oh!

It seems to diminish a little as the engine warms up.


Any ideas anyone?


Chris
Chris George

Yep, you have sticky tappets, this is caused by the oil level being a bit low, or by the oil getting clogged in the tappets/feed, as the oil heats up it gets thinner and reaches more places.

Check your oil reaches max, top up with somthing thin like mobile 1 : 0/40. If this doesn't cure the problem after a few miles then change the oil using an oil flush like wynns (available from halfords and all good garages) and refill changing the filter as you go.

Or it might be dead tappets, one by one they are not that expensive, but really you canty tell which one is causing the problem, so you have to change all 16, and that gets costly.
Will Munns

As a cheaper alternative try some 'tappet free' available from all good stockists ;-)
This will free off any sticking tappets. If it is a VVC then check the cam bolts have not 'relaxed'
Mike.
mike

thnx mike (non-member) that is a good tip - do you know any good stockists who may have it available mail order :-)
John Ponting

<do you know any good stockists who may have it available mail order ?>
Err..well funnily enough we keep it on the shelf,lol.
About £7.00 a bottle.
Mike
mike

Cheers guys, I'll check the oil (something I really should do more regularly... like more than once a year at it's service !!) etc.

If all else fails, Brown and Gammons are 5 mins down the road from me ... :-), very useful with the speedo cable snapped a couple of weeks ago, loosing the power steering!


Chris
Chris George

okay, I've been a prat. I checked the oil level and it was a 'tad' low. So started to top her up and lost my concentration. Next thing I know, the oil filler has overflowed... D'OH!!

It has gone down a bit, but it was getting dark by this point so reading the dipstick wasn't all that easy, but I think it was still very high (like over half the way up the dipstick!

Will it seriously damage the engine driving like this?


Chris
Chris George

Chris,

The oil filler tub constricts considerably where it enters the engine and so is really designed just for topping up, I suspect you poured a little too quickly for the tube to cope. Just check the oil level again (on the flat and when cold). If the level is much above the maximum drain a little off through the drain plug (accessible just in front of the rear offide wheel). If you drive with the oil too high you can run into problems with seals.

Tim
tim woolcott

Chris,

Sorry.... the other tip is to remove the dipstick before pouring .....
tim woolcott

okay, I checked this morning and it was just above min.... phew!! :-)

To be honest, I think the old girl needs a service anyway, cause the GF does rag the wotsits of her!!

Thanks for your replies Tim.


Chris
Chris George

Has the ticking noise gone now Chris?

Who needs a low-oil level indicator when the valve train gives such a reliable audible warning? ;o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2003 and 04/09/2003

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