impending doom ?
- Thread starter 75pno
- Start date
IMO nothing to worry about. The tapping is a hydraulic tappet that has drained, and took a few seconds to pump up. Occasional puff of blue smoke for a few seconds is also common at startup. Especially if you ran the car for a very short time immediately before you put it away.
adrian996
New member
+1. Hardly use my 996 and as such it sits idle for sometimes weeks on end attached to a battery conditioner. I sometimes get the occasional tappet tick on start up but it soon fades after the oil has refilled it.
An engine with flat cylinders is bound to get the odd bit of engine oil seeping through the piston rings and in to the combustion chamber and this will undoubtedly be the cause of the smoke that you saw (burning oil).
It might well be my imagination but I do seem to get it less since I stated using a 10/40 oil.
Adrian.
An engine with flat cylinders is bound to get the odd bit of engine oil seeping through the piston rings and in to the combustion chamber and this will undoubtedly be the cause of the smoke that you saw (burning oil).
It might well be my imagination but I do seem to get it less since I stated using a 10/40 oil.
Adrian.
uknick
New member
Sorry to be a repeat but, +1. Happened to my Cayman many months ago, tappet noise for about 5 minutes or so after not using the car for a week. It went away and nothing since. Advice from OPC; go for a burn up the motorway and let high revs clear it.
With regard to the smoke on start up, as this is a common question can it be made a sticky e.g. in the "Mechanical" forum?
With regard to the smoke on start up, as this is a common question can it be made a sticky e.g. in the "Mechanical" forum?
I think the smoke is a Porsche thing - not all flat engines do it. At least, my Scooby never did it. The Turbo is worse than the Carrera. A sure fire way for mine to do it is to reverse the car out of the garage to wash it, and then drive it straight back in afterwards. Next morning there will be a big puff of blue smoke.
On the Carrera, I found that using a 5W-40 oil helped almost eliminate it, so I would agree with Adrian. On the Turbo I also use a 5W40, but I think I will try a 10W-50 when I have used up my stock of 5W-40.
On the Carrera, I found that using a 5W-40 oil helped almost eliminate it, so I would agree with Adrian. On the Turbo I also use a 5W40, but I think I will try a 10W-50 when I have used up my stock of 5W-40.
Paul James
New member
[&:] On idle my C4 has a tapping sound. After warmed up, and after being driven, the tapping sound stays - it's always been like this for the 1.5 years I've had it. Never, ever had any blue smoke though. Something to worry about?
adrian996
New member
Hi Paul. The blue smoke and the tappet sound aren't necessarily related. You may have a 'dry' tappet but are you sure that it's not just the inherent sound of your flat six? How loud is the tapping? Can you hear it while you're driving the car?
If you are in any doubt I would go and check it out with you local indi. That should reassure you.
Adrian.
If you are in any doubt I would go and check it out with you local indi. That should reassure you.
Adrian.
Paul James
New member
Not very loud, easily heard when round the back of the car, can barely be heard around the front of the car and past about 1500 revs can't be heard at all. Just curious as to what it is. Sounds more to the right side of the car than the left.
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