Noisy whistling engine - oil filter troubles!

[Street]

This N52 engine on this breaker only has 87k miles but it has a strange sound from the front. Any keen ears recognise the tone??

It starts as a mechanical whine but depends to clunk as the engine gets to temp.

Any guesses before I take the lid off?

Part 1 cold start
[youtube]wyYx5VudiNY[/youtube]

part 2 warmed up
[youtube]Ka3ke6b48LE[/youtube]

 

[Pkrs1]

Sounds like it could be the cam shaft

 

[smorris_12]

The second one makes me want to say "marbles in a tin" from some half forgotten memory which I've a feeling stems back to the earliest VANOS systems.....

 

[Roberltd2]

It's not something I've come across on my N52 but it doesn't sound very healthy.

 

[j3nks79]

The second one makes me want to say "marbles in a tin" from some half forgotten memory which I've a feeling stems back to the earliest VANOS systems.....

The “marbles in a can” noise is often described when the head gasket fails on the S54 engine. Which is detonation between the two cylinders where the gasket has failed.

OP I would advise you carry out a compression check

 

[enuff_zed]

The second one makes me want to say "marbles in a tin" from some half forgotten memory which I've a feeling stems back to the earliest VANOS systems.....

The “marbles in a can” noise is often described when the head gasket fails on the S54 engine. Which is detonation between the two cylinders where the gasket has failed.

OP I would advise you carry out a compression check

That doesn't explain the cold noise though?
Sounds like a dry rubbing sound.
Couldn't tell from the video, does it change suddenly or gradually? Is it related to something that changes in the engine at a certain temperature? Thermostat opening for example.

 

[Pkrs1]

Hence why I suggested camshaft as this warms up will sound different

 

[j3nks79]

The second one makes me want to say "marbles in a tin" from some half forgotten memory which I've a feeling stems back to the earliest VANOS systems.....

The “marbles in a can” noise is often described when the head gasket fails on the S54 engine. Which is detonation between the two cylinders where the gasket has failed.

OP I would advise you carry out a compression check

That doesn't explain the cold noise though?
Sounds like a dry rubbing sound.
Couldn't tell from the video, does it change suddenly or gradually? Is it related to something that changes in the engine at a certain temperature? Thermostat opening for example.

It’s always difficult to hear exactly what’s happening with a recording from a mobile phone. Picks up all the noises together.

 

[Pkrs1]

Have you looked in you tube to see if others have had similar experiences

 

[deltasierra]

Sorry to be simplistic that noise sounds external, alternator checked, what about belt idler and tensioner bearings, take belt off and eliminate that. Maybe even a foreign object wedged against a pulley

If it’s internal there is going to be a lot of metal floating round

 

[deltasierra]

Sorry to be simplistic that noise sounds external, alternator checked, what about belt idler and tensioner bearings, take belt off and eliminate that. Maybe even a foreign object wedged against a pulley

If it’s internal there is going to be a lot of metal floating round

 

[smorris_12]

The second one makes me want to say "marbles in a tin" from some half forgotten memory which I've a feeling stems back to the earliest VANOS systems.....

The “marbles in a can” noise is often described when the head gasket fails on the S54 engine. Which is detonation between the two cylinders where the gasket has failed.

OP I would advise you carry out a compression check

That certainly seems to be an S engine speciality but, and I had a quick Google to check my memory, it is also signs of VANOS seal failure on cooking engines. Admittedly my knowledge does go back to the days of the M52/54, but another search turned up similar for the N52. And the sound does appear to be coming from the end of the camshafts.

 

[Street]

Some great ideas there. I didn’t mention that the car had a ruptured expansion tank when I picked it up so there’s a good chance it’s overheated. The Vanos seals could be a great shout.

The sound changes slowly as it warms up.

I’ve had to abandon for a few hours while I go to save a fellow zedder. I’ll keep you posted on what I find as I start to unpick it

 

[Street]

Quick update I’m confident I’ve found a problem.. if not THE problem! A very unloved oil filter.

I’ve never seen a filter in this state. It’s rock solid. Not only that it’s the wrong size so it’s been squashed and the centre filter has broken away from the cap. I had to cut the thing off! :-x


The top of the engine looks dirty but not terminally. Hopefully a few good flushes will keep her going for a while longer. I’ll do a quick gasket change while here and I’ll see how it goes.


It’s a breaker so I have nothing to complain about. It’s disappointing to see a good piece of kit treated in this way though.

I’ll report back when it’s back together and change the thread title for people searching in the future.

 

[deltasierra]

Speculation. The whining and rubbing was the filter bypass valve operating??.

 

[colb]

Have seen mention of a collapsed oil filter causing a swishing noise before on the Forum, if I had seen your thread earlier would have suggested this as a possible cause. Any idea of the Brand of that filter, I tend to use MAN filters when I do oil changes.

 

[Street]

Speculation. The whining and rubbing was the filter bypass valve operating??.

Is was fixed firm in the down position.