Cleaned out carb chamber but now engine noisy???

Post by **kefty** » 06 Jul 2007, 15:57

I have had some fuelling problems, very rich and cutting out with chamber flooding. Took wiki advice and split carb to clean out from under float and needle. ( It had a layer of silt at the bottom. New in line filter defo for starters). Put carb back together and now engine is sweet but has a strange noise like metal on metal on startup - very noticable. What is this? I put the top half of carb back as I found it....

My 86 DG panel van has a 2.1 DJ (single carb 2E3). Very recently back from Elite VW recon ie 400 miles.

This noise sounds mechanical, im not looking forward to the response with ideas on what it can be, hopefully... Advice sought please? Confused

Kefty

Post by **Rozzo** » 06 Jul 2007, 17:55

probably a stuck tappet. you can't make a rattle by cleaning the carbs unless you dropped something down the hole? take it for a drive and it will stop

Post by **T3teedub** » 06 Jul 2007, 18:30

Rozzo is probably right. These engines can make some frightening noises and it's often one tappet (valve lifter).
It needs a twenty minute run at some speed to get the oil pumped into the corners. Perhaps even use a slightly heavier oil at your next change.

Post by **kefty** » 07 Jul 2007, 02:37

ok say so worse case scenario it will go away if I keep driving? My actions are a direct cause of the noise not tappets etc surely?

Post by **T3teedub** » 07 Jul 2007, 03:34

With engine running, hold a long screwdriver or piece of wood against the cylinder heads and the other end flat against your ear. You will hear where the noise is coming from.

Post by **kefty** » 07 Jul 2007, 10:51

OK T3. Will the noise go away if I drive it? Or is it an expensive engine apart job?

Post by **edmundator** » 07 Jul 2007, 11:17

How long's it been since you last drove it? My van makes some fairly worrying noises (which I believe to be the tappets) if I don't drive it for a while (maybe only a couple of weeks). As suggested, the noise goes away after a bit of driving.

Post by **kefty** » 07 Jul 2007, 11:21

This noise wasnt there before I split the carb to clean it then put back together. Noisy tappets is from wear not all of a sudden (I mean very big coincidence?)

Post by **T3teedub** » 07 Jul 2007, 12:47

Noisy tappets in these engines (and certain other VWs with hydraulic tappets) is quite common. It isn't necessarily wear but simply the oil draining out of the buckets if parked for a few days/weeks. Sometimes it can happen overnight.
An oil change often cures it for a while.

Post by **kefty** » 07 Jul 2007, 14:01

Engine now running sweetly. Thanks Guys