E85 3.0si rough idle / “thwacking” noise?

georgekitchen7 · Post by **georgekitchen7** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:27 pm

Hi everyone,

Just this weekend I’m sure my e85 3.0si engine is making a strange “thwacking” noise / rough idle.

There’s no engine light or any power loss, and oil/filter was changed 3k miles ago. I did have to top the oil up +1L at weekend as the “+1L” oil message was displayed, but used Castrol Fully Synthetic 5w30 as recommended, and oil reading is “OK”.

I have uploaded a recording of the sound here - is this normal? If not, any ideas?

https://youtu.be/6Ta49UZSKaE

Thanks so much for your help, hugely appreciated.

George

thecookie125 · Post by **thecookie125** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:49 pm

Does it go away with the clutch in?

georgekitchen7 · Post by **georgekitchen7** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:58 pm

Hi,

No it doesn’t, unfortunately. Tried that after investigating the “rattle on engine turn off” on these forums - such a wealth of knowledge on here.

George

skelters · Post by **skelters** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:15 pm

Has it had an "Italian Tune Up" recently?

Is it only short journeys the car is getting?

Sounds as if it needs a good run to quieten down the Hydraulic Valve Adjusters.

georgekitchen7 · Post by **georgekitchen7** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:18 pm

Hi Skelters,

Thanks for your reply! Did a 2 hour motorway journey a couple of weeks ago but only short ones since then - does this often happen with just short journeys!?

Thanks,

George

wonkydonkey · Post by **wonkydonkey** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:35 pm

Sounds like lifters. My 3.0 M54 started sounding a little like this. I topped the oil up slightly and it went away. Perhaps yours needs a little more oil? Not having a dipstick doesn't help!

georgekitchen7 · Post by **georgekitchen7** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:50 pm

Brill, thank you! Might try some Wynn’s Oil Treatment too... that and giving it a good blast and a long journey! Hopefully nothing more serious than that... thanks guys.

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:16 pm

Yeh, doesn’t sound like anything particularly wrong to my ears.

georgekitchen7 · Post by **georgekitchen7** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:19 pm

Helps put my mind at rest thanks - only had it a couple of weeks (but loving it!)

Migizi · Post by **Migizi** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:33 pm

disa valve?

scarlet-jester · Post by **scarlet-jester** » Thu Sep 05, 2019 3:05 am

georgekitchen7 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:18 pm Hi Skelters,

Thanks for your reply! Did a 2 hour motorway journey a couple of weeks ago but only short ones since then - does this often happen with just short journeys!?

Thanks,

George

For all the research I did before I bought mine, one of the main reoccurring issue with the earlier N52s was the lifters - you can google it or search this forum, there is plenty of info about to read up on it. One thing I learnt is that this often occurs or is exacerbated by short journeys where the engine does not get to temperature. I only ever run my Zed if I know the engine will get to full operating temperature, and my mechanic also recommended the same

georgekitchen7 · Post by **georgekitchen7** » Thu Sep 05, 2019 6:51 am

Hi Scarlet-Jester,

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. As I’m using it as my daily drive over the summer months, don’t have that option unfortunately, but the lifters issue is just an annoying noise rather than anything serious? Is that right?

Thanks!

George

skelters · Post by **skelters** » Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:21 am

Here's the worst, worst case....

viewtopic.php?t=10937

What's the mileage on the car?

Which oil is in the car?

georgekitchen7 · Post by **georgekitchen7** » Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:44 am

74,000, 5w-30 fully synthetic, changed a year/4000 miles ago. Got some Wynn’s Oil Treatment, might that help?

Thanks for your help!

JamieZ4C · Post by **JamieZ4C** » Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:50 am

georgekitchen7 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:44 am 74,000, 5w-30 fully synthetic, changed a year/4000 miles ago. Got some Wynn’s Oil Treatment, might that help?

Thanks for your help!

Is it LL04 spec oil? That's the important bit

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com