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roguetone
16-01-2008, 08:15 PM
Hi,
my W reg 1.8T Passat estate was due for it's 130000 miles service
plus I'd noticed a ticking noise when engine idling so took her
in to VW.

VW said they suspect "oil pump pressure and blockage of oil ways in
the engine".
Also said something about tappets and that there was a VW bulletin
about this problem with my engine.
Basically too expensive to fix (14 hours labour plus parts!).

I think he said the worst case scenario is the engine just stops/blows up and is damaged.

Does all this sound likely and anybody have any ideas what else it could be ?
I had the timing belt done in the last 6 months at a different garage with a new "vibration damper".
Could noise be related to this ?

Thanks
R

passat>sport
16-01-2008, 09:45 PM
I think he said the worst case scenario is the engine just stops/blows up and is damaged.

WOW, They really know how to pick there words!

Does sound like a lifter. As far as the (these engines are known to blow up) is concerned, is irrelevant really!

Did they even check the oil pressure?

Crasher
16-01-2008, 09:46 PM
To start with have the sump removed and the oil pick up pipe cleaned out but this is still quite a job as the subframe has to be lowered.

roguetone
16-01-2008, 10:06 PM
Thanks for the reply,

".. Does sound like a lifter..."

whats a lifter ?

you've got me worried now !

so you don't think it could be the cam belt ? I guess I could take
it back to the garage that fitted the belt and ask their opinion.

passat>sport
16-01-2008, 10:06 PM
You could try an engine flush followed by a oil and filter change after. but the lifter/s may still need changing!

Before you attempt the sump removel.

I would think the oil pressure wants checking first.

Crasher
16-01-2008, 10:13 PM
Clogging of the oil pick up on the 1.8T is a terrible problem, even the slightest suggestion of clogging MUST mean the removal of the sump or a total loss of engine and turbo may result. The lifters (hydraulic tappets) usually come back to life if this isn't left too long. If the dealer is concerned that there is a lack of oil pressure, please do not disregard this, I see this time and time again. It is how I bought my 2003 Octavia VRS, the previous owner disregarded the warnings and then could not afford £5K for a new engine and turbo to be fitted. Member a8 tech on here will fully back me up on this, PM him and ask his opinion. Must go now, the wife needs chocolate and coffee so I must obey!

passat>sport
16-01-2008, 10:24 PM
you've got me worried now !

ME TOO.

Is your sump still on.....

roguetone
16-01-2008, 11:45 PM
well they did an oil and filter change so i hope so :)

I'm no mechanic in case you hadn't guessed but I looked this up so I think when you say lifters you mean the hydraulic tappets?
These are the things that lift the valves right, driven by cam shaft ?

So what's oil pressure got to do with this (no warning light on dash by the way). And what is actually making the ticking noise, the tappets because they're not properly lubricated ?

Eddie
17-01-2008, 12:03 AM
Are u sure its the lifters ticking and not the injectors,dirty injectors also tick at idle but the noise goes at about 1500 rpm lifters still tick until at least 2000rpm if i were you i would drain my fuel filter and pour a can of forte injector cleaner into it and go for a blast up the motorway if its still ticking go look at your sump pickup. Ed

Crasher
17-01-2008, 12:09 AM
I mentioned lifters being hydraulic tappets in my post above. On older engines (and still some modern engines like the Jaguar V8), the follower (or tappet) clearance was adjusted manually. The clearance is necessary to take into account thermal expansion. Anyway, to reduce maintenance costs and improve refinement, tappets are now commonly pumped up with oil to maintain a zero clearance but without the problems associated with doing that with sold tappets. If the oil pressure drops, the tappet leaks down and a clearance develops and that is where the noise comes from.

Eddie
17-01-2008, 12:47 AM
Yeah remember the mk 1 cavalier adjust valve clearance with engine at running temp and running you came out from under the bonnet looking like red adair with your £25 set of snap on feeler gauges looking like overcooked spaghetti. Ed

roguetone
18-01-2008, 08:04 PM
ok thanks for all the advice,

I'll probably go into the garage and get a few quotes :(

roguetone
19-01-2008, 08:37 PM
well i took her in and the guy at the garage said the ticking wasn't too bad. But then it got louder!

When we had a good listen we found it was actually coming from the thing to the left of the engine. A Vacuum/solenoid thing I think he said.

Anyway he recommended I put some forte engine flush in and bring
it back for an oil change on wednesday, so I went along with that.

Should I get the filter done as well. He seemed to think it would be ok.
(it was only changed on wenesday by VW)

On another note I stopped by a friends to pick up some washing as
their machine has broken. I noticed some scally girl loitering as I parked up. I was in the house 5 mins max. Came out to find same scally taking photo of car and 60 quid ticket on windscreen. Why
didn't she just tell me I couldn't park there. Ok there are signs but I didn;t see them. This kind of stuff shouldn't be legal.

Oh well,
every silver lining ...

markram
19-01-2008, 08:43 PM
is the noise from the engine or near the airbox,if the airbox it could be the little solonoid valve for the charcole filter

roguetone
20-01-2008, 11:22 AM
yes I think you are right looking at haynes manual its probably the "carbon canister solenoid valve"

ColinWil
24-01-2008, 06:53 PM
I had the same symptoms in my T reg 1.8T a few months ago - ticking when idling. Other people have already suggested that it may be to do with low oil pressure caused by sludge build up around the oil pickup tube.

It certainly was in my case. I had the sump lowered/cleaned out and a new oil pump (which comes with a new pickup tube), and this completely fixed the problem.

I'm happy to report that several months later it still sounds perfect.

btw, if you do this, get them to do the mod to the water pump too, as that involves moving the subframe into service mode too, and you might as well kill to birds with one stone!

Alun
24-01-2008, 09:05 PM
My brother has a Y reg 1.8T Passat. When he first bought it he took it for a good blast and a warning came up on the dash saying oil pressure, stop. The engine was ticking really badly, like a lack of oil. This was the oil pick up pipe blocked by sludge/crap. Because he caught it early and got it fixed the engine is fine, no more ticking/tapping. If left it will starve the engine of oil and it'll damage the engine beyond repair.

Eddie4
10-06-2008, 11:48 PM
I had the same symptoms in my T reg 1.8T a few months ago - ticking when idling. Other people have already suggested that it may be to do with low oil pressure caused by sludge build up around the oil pickup tube.

It certainly was in my case. I had the sump lowered/cleaned out and a new oil pump (which comes with a new pickup tube), and this completely fixed the problem.

I'm happy to report that several months later it still sounds perfect.

btw, if you do this, get them to do the mod to the water pump too, as that involves moving the subframe into service mode too, and you might as well kill to birds with one stone!
Hi ColinWil,
How much did it cost to get the sump lowered/cleaned? I also have a T reg 1.8T and have ticking from both the engine and the carbon solenoid valve. I assume the carbon solenoid valve is easy enough to replace. The blocked oil pick up pipe concerns me though and need to sort it ASAP.
thanks

ColinWil
12-06-2008, 10:47 AM
Hi ColinWil,
How much did it cost to get the sump lowered/cleaned? I also have a T reg 1.8T and have ticking from both the engine and the carbon solenoid valve. I assume the carbon solenoid valve is easy enough to replace. The blocked oil pick up pipe concerns me though and need to sort it ASAP.
thanks

Around £300 as far as I remember, for sump lowering/cleaning, new oil pump & engine flush from an independant VW specialist (Mill Road Garage in Caversham)

It's still running fine, with no ticking, warning lights, excess oil consumption, etc.