Reet, I shall start at the beginning...

 

When I rebuilt my engine, I bought several tubes of, apparently, the best liquid gasket there is, from the company that re-bored my block. Turns out this stuff is utter pants, goes on great, but turns to dust after a couple of months. So, after monumental failure of it in various places, (including the water hard pipes at the front of the engine), it failed on both VTC solenoids, but the drivers side being the worse, in a short time, without knowing, it pissed most of it's oil out, all over everything (my shiny and brand new SS exhaust looks like it has been tarmacked). I only knew, after booting it, I would leave a motorway full of smoke as it hit the turbo, exhaust, bulkhead, everything really. So, I ordered new cam cover gaskets and plenum gasket to repair it. So, I kept my eye on the oil level etc. but just before I got chance to do these repairs, whilst doing a 'steady' cruise back from a gig late at night, just before I got home (about 3/4 of a mile), I noticed steam and both temp gauges shot up. Got her home within a minute or 2, checked her a few days later and discovered a burst turbo water feed pipe. Have replaced the pipe, and all parts fitted, no oil/coolant leaks, runs perfect, but.......

 

I have a (I hope) lifter noise. Quiet at idle, but if your rev her, quiet until around 3K, then sounds like a diesel, then fades out as you rev it higher. I'm sure it isn't a journal knock, as it only does it when you want it to. The noise is definitely coming from above the driver's VTC solenoid, so, my questions are....

 

Is it possible that the oil leak has starved the nearest lifter of oil and it is goosed? (I've bunged some Wynn's lifter treatment in, only done about 20-30 miles yet though, still the same).

 

Could this noise be from damage caused by overheating? And if so, what? The engine is coming out over the winter for engine bay spraying etc. so I don't mind working on it, but I need to correctly diagnose it before I remove it, or it may well be the same when re-fitted).

 

I'll do my best to get a video of it today, so it can be heard, also I have unplugged the VTC solenoid and it still does it, but, is this correct way to test the VTC, or should I ground the green/black wire as I have read? (I haven't really pursued this, as the noise is without a doubt coming from above the VTC, so I kind of ruled out the sprocket spring).

 

ANY help, is greatly appreciated.....

 

Many thanks, Tudor...

Get a video up before we start telling you the things you do not want to hear m8 ..

vtc springs make more of a twangy/click sound not tap ...

 

Fast/rapid tap ... top end ( cam )

Slow/fast Knock bottem end ( Conrod/bearings )