Rover 25 Tappets issue

dude89

Hey everyone,

I have an issue with my Rover 25 impression (1.4l 53 plate 75,000 miles) I have a knocking sound when starting the engine and also when acclerating through the lower gears, it has only started in the last 2000 miles. I have spoken to one mechanic who has advised it is likely to be the tappets (or lifters if thats the correct term).

He is going to do a oil change and flush today and hopes that will help, but has advised me against getting the tappets changed as the cost of the job will almost be as much as the car is worth.

Has anyone got any advice on how much it would cost to change the tappets? (parts and labour)

If i dont get the tappets changed how long will the engine continue to run for (1,000 miles? 10,000 miles? 30,000miles?)

Any other ideas of what i can do?

Norman_Castle

Like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZoBepMYGxs

dude89

Yep... sounds very similar.

colino

They can be quite noisy up top from new, but at that age, I'd live with it as you really shouldn't throw any money at it.

motorguy

colino wrote: »

They can be quite noisy up top from new, but at that age, I'd live with it as you really shouldn't throw any money at it.

My dad has a 2003 R25 and it does the same. Its been doing it about 18 months now and hasnt got any worse.

I'd put something like Slick 50 in the engine, just to protect any parts that have drained of oil overnight.

Other than that, just drive away at it. As someone else said, you could easily spend £££'s sorting this and its not worth it.

dude89

Is it just the noise that will be an issue? if so i can live with that easily.
I know this may sound like a stupid question, but when they do go what will happen?

Joe_Horner

They're very unlikely to just "go". They may, or may not, get noisier over time but it'll be a relatively gradual change - not a sudden bang on the motorway.

Drive with it until the stereo isn't loud enough to drown them out

motorguy

dude89 wrote: »

Is it just the noise that will be an issue? if so i can live with that easily.
I know this may sound like a stupid question, but when they do go what will happen?

When you hear the rattle, its unlubricated metal against metal.

If you stick Slick 50 in your oil, it will protect the engine when thats happening. Its a one off treatment and should last the lifetime of your car.

fivetide

motorguy wrote: »

When you hear the rattle, its unlubricated metal against metal.

If you stick Slick 50 in your oil, it will protect the engine when thats happening. Its a one off treatment and should last the lifetime of your car.

It's good stuff but Slick50 themselves properly say 12,000 miles tops for the stuff to work properly not lifetime of the car.

http://www.slick50.com/ourProducts/highMileageEngineTreatment.shtml

Much better than the engine flush stuff places like mass market garages chuck in that can strip off stuff like this or move things to cause other blockages.

rev_henry

If its just noisy on start up they all do that. Mine sounded like a diesel on a cold start, quietened down when it was up to temp and was otherwise fine! Well, apart from the unrelated head gasket failure.

forgotmyname

How often do you service it and how often do you change the oil.. Is the big question.