XC Barina Tappets

[sambo]

The wifes Barina has been tapping for some time now and I was always pretty sure it was tappets, it only does it when it is warm and when you lift the revs the noise goes away, I have also had the injectors checked and they are fine.

I pulled out the tappets today to try to figure out which one/s are stuffed expecting to see either extra or uneven wear on some of them. But to me they all look the same.

I can get the two parts of the tappet to turn but won't move either in or out. all 16 feel the same.

Should the two parts of the tappet come apart easily.

any advice to prevent me from having to replace all 16 of them would be great.

[dogbreath_48]

Maybe a silly question but you're sure it's not pinging rather than rattling?

[351ciofgrunt]

An exhaust leak at the header can also sound like tappets

[DamTriton]

it only does it when it is warm and when you lift the revs the noise goes away

Most vehicle use HLA's (Hydraulic Lash Adjusters) rather than billet tappets under the cam onto the valve and these require a certain amount of oil pressure to run effectively.

The fact that your problem does not happen when cold or at high revs when hot is pretty much a dead giveaway to low oil pressure. May need a new oil pump.

Leaks in the manifold will be heard hot or cold and at all revs.

Pinging only occurs under load, not at idle.

[sambo]

The fact that your problem does not happen when cold or at high revs when hot is pretty much a dead giveaway to low oil pressure. May need a new oil pump.

I had been thinking the same thing, could even be a sticky oil pressure regulator. As I agree that would explain the symptoms. Shouldn't the engine light turn on on the dash if the oil pressure was that low.

[DamTriton]

Might be borderline condition. Oil pressure lamps usually are set pretty low.