Cayman engine makes "clacking" noise

[mef]

I just started up my Cayman (2006 2.7, 38,000 miles) for the first time since mid December. It's been stood outside in the cold and the battery was very low so it wouldn't crank properly. I put it on charge for a couple of hours then it started up OK but it's making a "clacking" noise from the engine, sounds like a hydraulic follower that has failed to pump up. It was perfectly OK when I parked it up in my back yard back in December, I think it often makes a similar noise for a few seconds when it hasn't been started for several weeks but it usually goes away in a second or two but now it's doing it all the time. I tried revving it up a couple of times but to no avail, then I left it idling for 10 minutes to warm up properly, expecting the noise to quieten down but it's still the same.

Does anyone know if these engines do have hydraulic followers and if this might be the cause of the noise or might it be something more serious?

Thanks,

Martin

 

[Nick_USA]

ORIGINAL: mef I just started up my Cayman (2006 2.7, 38,000 miles) for the first time since mid December. It's been stood outside in the cold and the battery was very low so it wouldn't crank properly. I put it on charge for a couple of hours then it started up OK but it's making a "clacking" noise from the engine, sounds like a hydraulic follower that has failed to pump up. It was perfectly OK when I parked it up in my back yard back in December, I think it often makes a similar noise for a few seconds when it hasn't been started for several weeks but it usually goes away in a second or two but now it's doing it all the time. I tried revving it a couple of time to no avail, then I left it idling for 10 minutes to warm up properly, expecting the noise to quieten down but it's still the same. Does anyone know if these engines do have hydraulic followers and if this might be the cause of the noise or might it be something more serious? Thanks, Martin

Firstly don't run it any more!!! Does it sound like someone has thrown a brick in the engine or does it sound like a noisy metallic tick?

 

[mef]

It's only a "lightweight" ticking noise, not knocking like bearings etc

 

[Nick_USA]

ORIGINAL: mef It's only a "lightweight" ticking noise, not knocking like bearings etc

The 'Ting Ting' noise you describe is 'normal'. Some have managed to cure it by changing the grade of oil but most leave it alone and it disappears with a normal run.

 

[mef]

I left it standing for an hour or so then I just went and started it again, it's perfect now! As quiet as ever! Maybe it was a drained hydraulic follower, I've had that sometimes on other engines. Phew, panic over....I hope! Martin

 

[mef]

ORIGINAL: Nick_USA

ORIGINAL: mef It's only a "lightweight" ticking noise, not knocking like bearings etc

The 'Ting Ting' noise you describe is 'normal'. Some have managed to cure it by changing the grade of oil but most leave it alone and it disappears with a normal run.

No, it wasn't normal, it was more "clacky" than "ting ting" and certainly louder than the normal noises, anyway, as I said it's OK now, maybe I'll change the oil in the near future. thanks, Martin

 

[chrisH]

Sounds like injectors to me, quite normal as the front ones are close to the side intakes if you put your ear near them.

 

[mef]

Yes but the sounds of injectors clicking doesn't usually change or go away, this was a lot louder than an injector, as I said, it sounded like a hydraulic cam follower not pumping up with oil. The thing is I havn't been able to find out if these engines actually have hydraulic followers or wether they have solid shimmed lifters, I was hoping someone on here would know. Martin

 

[POSHCAY]

Looking at this Boxster 3.4, it does not appear that hydraulic followers are part of the build.

 

[Motorhead]

Your 2006 Cayman engine incorporates hydraulic cam followers and Variocam variable inlet valve timing and lift Martin. The cam follower and variable lift mechanism is a rather complex hydraulic device, one element of which could have become seized temporarily by the engine's inactivity. It sounds like a sticking tappet to me which has become "unstuck" now that you've given the engine a run. Hope that all's OK now - just keep an eye on things for a while. Jeff

 

[mef]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead Your 2006 Cayman engine incorporates hydraulic cam followers and Variocam variable inlet valve timing and lift Martin. The cam follower and variable lift mechanism is a rather complex hydraulic device, one element of which could have become seized temporarily by the engine's inactivity. It sounds like a sticking tappet to me which has become "unstuck" now that you've given the engine a run. Hope that all's OK now - just keep an eye on things for a while. Jeff

Thanks Jeff, that was exactly my feelings on the noise, I think in future I'll start it up regularly as it's not getting used at this time of year. I have noticed that it usually does this after standing for a few weeks but goes away within seconds, this time it was more permanent for a bit which sort of frightened me! Although not a motor engineer I do understand the operation of this stuff, I build my own engines for motorsport use. Cheers, Martin

 

[Motorhead]

Take a look at this video Martin. It shows the Variocam lift mechanism in operation - and on top of that there are the hydraulic cam follower and variable valve timing mechanisms too, so there are a lot of things to rattle around..!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwWp5TLGMVk&feature=related I try to give my Cayman a weekly run to keep everything well-oil but it's not so easy at this time of the year. Jeff

 

[mef]

Thanks jeff, thats a useful video explanation of the system. I'm currently playing with a BMW M3 Vanos system with a DTA aftermarket ecu on my rally car, it works the same way, hydraulic pressure moves the cam wheel via electric solenoids controlled by the ecu. Cheers, Martin

 

[gmcraib]

I was also going to suggest tappets.

 

[mef]

I've started it a few times since it happened and it's been fine, silent. Martin