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Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:46 pm

so whats happening is when i rev the engine at around 1900-2100 rpms i get this tapping sound. i just noticed it so i havent actually gone down to see if there is something loose on the engine.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:32 am

Prob your lifters. Usually they tick at start ups and idle though. Make sure you have oil and oil pressure.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:20 am

im waiting for my haynes to come in. but how would you sudjest troubleshooting this problem? and how much of a problem is it?

i read the thread:

"t's possible to have a bad cam follower('lifter'), but rare; after a dozen years in the VW parts business, I'd lay odds it's the classic wrong oil and filter syndrome that's causing the noise. I'll hazard a guess that the filter is an orange one, and the oil is either 10w30 or 10w40....Jessevw72 can confirm or deny these guesses.

Many people run the wrong filter and oil that's far too thin, and spend gobs of money on parts and repair they don't need. VW's watercooled engines(especially those with higher mileage) thrive on thicker oil, and most aftermarket filters have either the wrong pressure relief spring, or no spring at all.

The dealership I worked at had 15w40 in their bulk tank for standard 4-cylinder oil changes when the A3 cars were new. All of my A2 chassis Golfs and Jettas have been 150K+ mile cars, and I ran 15w40 in the winter/20w50 in the summer.

Change the oil to at least 15w40 or 20w50, and install a filter from Mann, Mahle or Hengst(the three primary OE suppliers to VW)...the results may be surprising."

Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:22 am

also the ticking doesnt go away. ill be checking today when i get around to going out to my car. it doesnt exist before or after 2000rpms either. once its past 2000rpms it goes away... or atleast becomes un-audible.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:07 am

That information is truthful but I'm not sure I agree with the uncommonness of lifters ticking. Now it could be the wrong oil causing the lifters to tick.
I'd change the oil and definitely run a Mann filter. See what happens.

FYI. Bentley is 100times better then the Haynes manual. Also, check vwvortex for Gobbs of information.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/search.php?searchid=16052085

Just for starters.

Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:17 am

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5037308-Noise-Lifters&highlight=Lifters

Not a uncommon problem. And I don't believe putting a heavier oil will help

Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:09 pm

the ticking doesnt stop once warmed up. it also ticks at 3500rpms. i checked the oil, the oil seems fine, clean and clear (and under control har har har)

Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:12 pm

also i know, in hind site i should have gotten a bentley and not a haynes ... but i forgot about bentley ;) honestly

Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:14 pm

Most all 15w40 oils are rated as diesel use...theres no way I'd put that in a vehicle prepping for canadian winter. 20w50...more of the same flawed logic. Run 5w50 full synthetic no matter what the weather and you'll be fine. I've had 5 of these aba cars and they all rattle a bit, it's incredibly annoying those few times I cheaped out and used whatever crap oil I had laying around.

Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:39 pm

i havent changed the oil cause it looks fairly new. what im planing is after this whole holiday crap, in the early new year, take it to a vw dealer, run a diagnostic, if its nothing major ( say oil change or what not) then ill do it. something major, sell the car lol. i also need to fix the horn, which is another reason i wanna have them look at it

Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:39 pm

86vwgti8v wrote: That information is truthful but I'm not sure I agree with the uncommonness of lifters ticking. Now it could be the wrong oil causing the lifters to tick.
I'd change the oil and definitely run a Mann filter. See what happens.

Just had to log in and clarify: It was my info that was quoted from the previous thread, and I did NOT say that cam follower ticking was uncommon....in fact, it's quite common. What I said was that a bad/failed follower is the uncommon thing.

The dealer where I worked here in upstate NY**(from 1996 to late 1999) had 15w40 in their shop tanks for standard 4-cylinder changes. All of my A2-chassis VWs were 150K+ mile cars, and the senior VW tech in the shop recommended that I run 20w50 in the warmer months on my higher-mile cars.

**we're only about 2-1/2 hours south of the Canadian border, so our winters are not too much nicer than theirs.

I would recommend very highly that the OP change the oil and filter before having it looked at by anyone - it could save you a bunch of money on diagnostic time and/or unnecessary parts costs(like an oil pump)

Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:48 pm

im going to try changing the oil before anything. does the putting half a quart of ATF into the oil have any merit in fixing the lifter issue ?

Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:08 pm

plasticman1432 wrote: 86vwgti8v wrote: That information is truthful but I'm not sure I agree with the uncommonness of lifters ticking. Now it could be the wrong oil causing the lifters to tick.
I'd change the oil and definitely run a Mann filter. See what happens.

Just had to log in and clarify: It was my info that was quoted from the previous thread, and I did NOT say that cam follower ticking was uncommon....in fact, it's quite common. What I said was that a bad/failed follower is the uncommon thing.

The dealer where I worked here in upstate NY**(from 1996 to late 1999) had 15w40 in their shop tanks for standard 4-cylinder changes. All of my A2-chassis VWs were 150K+ mile cars, and the senior VW tech in the shop recommended that I run 20w50 in the warmer months on my higher-mile cars.

**we're only about 2-1/2 hours south of the Canadian border, so our winters are not too much nicer than theirs.

I would recommend very highly that the OP change the oil and filter before having it looked at by anyone - it could save you a bunch of money on diagnostic time and/or unnecessary parts costs(like an oil pump)

I don't remember exact specs but bentleys and similar manuals state to take a object and attempt to press the lifter downward. If it moves .xxx" it's bad. I don't remember what that number was but I do remember it being very small. I haven't personally changed a lot of lifters but going by the book almost every one I have ever seen was bad. They didn't necassarily tick or need to be replaced but where out of spec.
I defiantly agree, try some simple stuff.

Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:47 pm

nurotek wrote: im going to try changing the oil before anything. does the putting half a quart of ATF into the oil have any merit in fixing the lifter issue ?

I would just change the oil, and use an OEM filter....I've never heard of adding ATF, so I can't comment on the merit.

Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:45 pm

You are correct in recommending 20w50 in an a2......completely different head design on an aba 2.0. The 5w50 synthetic would be correct for you application. I too was an oil boy back in 1995 an and nothing required 15w40 unless it were diesel. I'm afraid you're getting a good deal of incorrect info here. Do some research on the vortex and you'll find I'm right. I've been doing this for twenty years and owned countless vws in that time.

Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:41 pm

The internet is a wonderful place, I swear....try to give helpful advice, and stand accused of giving bad info.

chazz79 wrote: You are correct in recommending 20w50 in an a2......completely different head design on an aba 2.0. .

When I originally posted the oil-related info quoted here, it was regarding an A2.....the current thread starter quoted me here, and I stick by my recommendation for higher-than-100K mile cars - the advice I got back then was given by a 30+year master tech, and it worked for me.

For your information, I was not an 'oil boy;' I prefer 'parts monkey.' :D I've got about 16 years in the business as a VW/Audi/Porsche parts specialist, between the dealer and aftermarket level.

Sun Dec 25, 2011 9:20 am

Sorry but the topic says 1996 golf, therefore aba engine with a crossflow head. It is different and flows oil differently. No accusations from me at all I just choose to refute bad info wherever I see it. Simply said 20w50 in a2 vws is great...anything thinner will cause rattles and oftentimes an oil pressure light. 5w50 works best in a3 vws and this is only available as synthetic. I've personally owned both variations and know what works and what doesn't. I am a certified a1-9 auto and t1-8 truck technician. (Double master) I'd hate to see someone do the incorrect oil change and still have a rattle then tear down the engine believing something else is wrong.

My wife has a 1997 cabrio with 186,000 miles on it. If you want to hear it rattle let me go toss some 5w30 in it. If you want it to crank slow and possibly snap a timing belt this winter then I can fill it with 15w40. Many ways to do it wrong...one way to do it right. I'm not looking to pull the head on this engine until she cracks 300k miles so i'll keep doing things my way.

Sun Dec 25, 2011 4:57 pm

so. im not master mechanic, and i do appreciate everyone that gives me advice on how to do stuff. My golf is what kinda engine ?

Mon Dec 26, 2011 7:16 pm

Aba 2.0l 4cyl. Tough as nails but really picky on oil type. Do the correct oil change and you'll be amazed at the difference.

Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:43 am

thx... ill be doing the oil this weekend after i get back from my trip. Not using the car , rental. ;)