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I have a 94 model Sri 16V Ecotec, that has covered 85K miles and has full Vaux S/H, last service at 79K (inc new water pump & cam belt). It hasn't been used much in the last few years but after recently starting it up I noticed the top end is very noisy, sounds a bit like a diesel! I have changed the oil & filter (Sae 15/40) but this has made little difference. The engine mgmt light also sometime comes on when first started, but by quickly flicking the ignition off/on it goes away. I have shorted out the pins on the diag plug but no fault code shows up according to the flashing mgmt light sequence. I assume that there might be a problem with the hydraulic tappets, is this a common fault, is it a big job, is the mgmt light related, does it really matter???. The car goes fine and accelerates well, it's just that I am about to sell it, so want to make sure I can make it as tip top as possible
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>>I am about to sell it, so want to makesure I can make it as tip top as possible
A statement that does you credit.
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If you can find a supplier, you could try some Forté Top End Treatment. It's not generally available to joe public, but places like ATS used to stock it (no idea if they still do), but you *should* be able to get some from a Vauxhall dealer.
The hydraulic tappets shouldn't cause the fault light to come on though. Are you following the correct proceedure to check the fault code?
www.topbuzz.co.uk/info/fault_codes/fault_codes.htm
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Someone(possibly STP?)used to make an additive for quietening noisy hydraulic tappets.
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>>The hydraulic tappets shouldn't cause the fault light to come on though.
99 times out of 100 you are right Dave. (And I suspect you are right in this case too!)
However, I did once have a 24valve Carlton in the workshop with knackered tappets which did put the light on. The reason was, the knock sensor was picking it up, retarding the ignition as far as it could, but the knocking didn't stop, so, on came the light. The engine was badly worn, and new cams and tappets were fitted, and the light stayed off.
Number_Cruncher
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15W/40 sounds a bit thick for a 2lite ECOTEC, I use 10W/40 in my high mileage ones. I'd try the top end treament and run it on thinner oil, at least it should help when the engine is cold.
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It did have 10/40 Semi-Synth in it, but I just changed it to 15/40 as per the Haynes book of lies (and my local auto factor's) recommendation, as I hoped that a thicker lube might have quitened the tappets down. Hope I haven't wasted my dosh and my time!
As it is such low milage (relatively) and has FVSH can anyone tell me why they are tapping so loudly?
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If the car has been run with lower quality oil, nothing to do with viscosity, the hydraulic tappets will become restricted with gum, particularly at the low annual mileage this Cavalier has done. To some extent this is a problem which can affect any engine with hydraulic tappets.
I always use the thinnest cold oil recommended by the manufacturer, currently 0W-40 ACEA A3/B3 in a '00 Astra 1.8 16v, and add oil flush at each alternate oil change, from new, to keep all the oilways clear from blockage but if you try this as a cure on an older engine it can make things worse by just moving the crud/debris around.
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>>I always use the thinnest cold oil recommended by the manufacturer, currently 0W-40 ACEA A3/B3 in a '00 Astra 1.8 16v,
i'd like to use that strategy with my high mileage ECTOECs but given that they 'lose' about a gallon of 10W/40 between oil changes at the moment, I think anything thinner would be leaking / burning away faster than I put it in ;-). This is on a '95 Omega with 162K on the clock mind you.
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0W-40 is only thinner than 5W-40, 10W-40 and 15W-40 at startup temperatures. Once the oil has warmed up they're all the same viscosity. This would make a difference if you do a lot of short journeys but no difference on long runs.
The bottom line is that wide range multigrades are more expensive than narrow range. 0W-40 is £30-35 for 4 litres. If your engine is consuming oil, 0W-40 would cost you a fortune. I can afford to use it because my '00 Astra 1.8 hasn't needed topping up between oil changes so far, at 86k. Once the oil consumption gets above that point, 1 litre per 10k, I'll change to 5W-40 to keep the costs contained.
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>>0W-40 is only thinner than 5W-40, 10W-40 and 15W-40 at startup temperatures
Sorry! somehow I read your 0W-40 as 0W-30. Must've left my reading head at home today.
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Car was always serviced by Vauxhall main dealer (Parkside, BArnstaple), so I assume they would have used the most appropriate grade of oil. Service records indicate SL/CF Semi synth, no grade shown. Bottom line is will the tapping tappets(!) be of any concern, or do I just leave it as it is and let buyer beware. Apart from using the top end treatment is there anything else I can do?
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>>Bottom line is will the tapping tappets(!) be of any concern, or do I just leave it as it is and let buyer beware
Well I'm a serial old Vauxhall buyer, and no, I wouldn't personally be put off by noisy tappets on a car over 10 years old. It's not like it's going to be a massive financial commitment that will be hanging over my head for years if it turns out ot be a lemon. Of course it may well prove to be a bargaining point for a potentail buyer to haggle the price down....
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