Strange Engine Noise

[TD2015]

Guys,

After my long drive back to Crete I checked the engine oil level and surprisingly seemed to have used very little. I read the manual on how to check and can confirm that the levels on the dials seemed to match the book and the oil pressure sat around 4.5 when driving. The book says 3.5 but since it sat at 4.5 all the way through Europe I'm assuming this is okay?

Anyway, went out last night for a twenty minute spin - okay, to pose a bit by the beach - and then back to the house. When I switched off the engine and got out I immediately noticed a crackling noise coming from under the engine. I also thought the engine felt hot, although to be honest it's the first time I've opened the cowling after I've stopped.

The noise can best be described as getting some baconfoil and rubbing it together in your hands i.e. a scrunching, tinny, not nice noise. It went on for about ten minutes and then faded away to nothing. I came back to the car about 90 minutes later and the engine was still hot to touch - which really did concern me although I'm used to water cooled engines so am not sure if this should be a major concern.

I checked the dip stick and it seemed there was oil in the right place i.e. halfway between the spirals although since it was recently changed, filter etc. it was hard to tell.

I turned her over again this morning for a minute or two and again, once switched off, that scrunching baconfoil noise was evident. It only last a couple of minutes this time so is obviously related to the heat of the engine.

I'm worried I'm low on oil but the oil pressure gauge showed 3.5 when idling. I don't want to leave it running too long or take it out just in case it's really low on oil and I do some long term damage. Then again, if I assume that it is low on oil and it's not and over fill it then that's also not a good thing.

Has anyone some advice they can give me to get me out of this quandry?

Cheers,

Jon

 

[2Ferraris]

It's only the heat deflectors / exhaust systaem cooling down. All supercars do this Ferraris Lamborghinis etc. Not a problem at all Happy motoring Michael

 

[TD2015]

Michael,

Many thanks for the reply, it certainly was reassuring. My only question now is why did I not hear anything before i.e. why has it only begun sounding like baconfoil being scrunched now?

But again, much reassured by your comments.

Jon

 

[gresley]

Ambient temperature?

AndrewW.

 

[TD2015]

Andrew,

The car only drove around 7 miles at most and not at great speed. The outside temperature (night time) at present is not that warm ie around 15C.

Jon

 

[TD2015]

Lads,

Just to follow up on this. I emailed the mechanic who checked over the car - a really nice guy called Andy - and he came back with the following reply which seems to hit the nail right on the head.

"Had you washed it and then parked it as water hangs around the engine etc, and sits in the under tray until it evaporates away with the heat?. Has it done it again our was it just with in the first 10 mins of running, Check the oil when the temp is to about a third on temp gauge"

I had washed it a couple of hours earlier and left it parked so I'm going to take her out today for a run and will check the oil temperature / level and also report back on whether or not it is still making the bacon foil crackling noise.

Jon

ps I'm really not always this anal but being so far away from help this forum is a life line.

 

[TD2015]

Don't you just love a good Porsche mechanic?

Took her out this morning - ending up down to the beach - and the oil levels were perfect. Turned off the engine and no bacon foil sound.

So, the lesson to be learned from this is don't panic like a girl and instead trust in good old Porsche engineering.

Jon

ps did I mention it was 24C here today?