[V8] Sticky Tappets and marbles?

[Kent McLean]

gbmarc at cox.net wrote:
> I've changed the timing belt on my car but never touched the tappets or the heads.
> Right now, when I start up from cold, I have this clacking noise, or sometimes it sounds a bit like a couple of marbles are knocking around the front RHS of the engine.
> Once the engine gets warm, the sound disappears and the noises seem fairly normal.
> Has anyone got some input on what a bad tappet sounds like and does this sound like it?

The 5-cylinder turbos are known for a slight ticking noise
on start-up that goes away in a minute or two. On them it's
the tappets. It usually indicates low oil, too thin oil
(0W something instead of 10W30 or 40), or dirty old oil.
If it hasn't been done in a while, change the oil and filter.
It can't hurt.

-- 
Kent McLean
'99 A4 Avant, V6 Tiptronic
'91 200 TQA #3, gray, UFOs, chipped, Euro headlights
'91 200 TQA #2 blue, up in smoke 2
'91 200 TQA #1 black, recycled
'94 100 S Avant, "Moody", sold
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy", up in smoke