Summer ruined due to death rattle. What have I done wrong?

[Adam Foster]

As the title says really. I bought a brand new engine from VW Heritage a couple of months ago, and have been running around locally trying to break it in before heading to newquay in a couple of weeks. At the weekend I went on a bit of a run, did a bit over 150 miles in 3 sections. Everything seemed fine, was running it between 50 and 55 on the Motorway, pressure gauge was reading what I believe to be fine, temp gauge was what I believe to be fine, so I finally had some confidence in the damned thing.
When I got back, I thought it sounded a bit rattly, but wasn't sure if the valves wanted adjusting or it was worse, so I took it to someone down the road from me who knows a bit more than me and he has confirmed the dreaded death rattle.
Does anyone have any idea what I could have done wrong?
The engine has only done about 350 miles, so isn't even due it's first oil change!
The only thing I had noticed was that it has always breathed a little since I fitted it. Don't know if this makes a difference.

I really am losing the will to live with the van now as this is the second summer I have missed out on now :sad0049: :sad0049: :sad0049:

 

[jonboylaw]

Contact Heritage and see what they say. Could be a lemon.
Also consider getting an independant inspection from someone like Laurie Pettitt.

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

Was the engine supplied with oil? How often have you been checking the oil level? Has it been using any? What oil have you been topping it up with?

Also was the engine supplied as a complete "turn key" unit or just a long block?

 

[james_stan]

Dreaded death rattle ? What did your friend diagnose ?
Unless you did something completely daft (which it doesn't sound like) then VWH should
exchange it a very least.

Also 'Breathing a little' - can you explain ?

Cheers


JS

 

[Loxy]

What exactly did the guy say was wrong with it?
What exactly were the symptoms? Loss of power? What sort of noises?
What were your pressure and temp readings?
Not sure you've really established there's anything wrong yet....

 

[Adam Foster]

Sorry I haven't replied recently, I've been really busy at work. Also I thought I'd better not say too much until I'd spoken to Heritage.

Spoke to Paul who deals with the warranties, to be fair to him, he said they have had a few issues with push rods eating into rockers and mushrooming over at the ends. My man has pulled the rockers out and sure enough 2 push rods have done this, so it may not be as bad as we first thought. I'l just have to see if there are any other noises when it is back together.

It sounded if the valve clearances were out, but the tapping sounded really loud, so we suspected big ends. It did start to cough and splutter, but oil pressure stayed around 40 psi and temp stayed between 180 and 200F. I was really pissed off at the time as I was supposed to be going to Newquay on Friday in it. Having to go in the Golf now.

On the breathing front, it seems to be just blowing a bit of oil out the breather. Not a lot, I've done about 300 miles and put about half a litre in. It didn't come with oil, but I've been using a mineral 15/40 from Allwoods in Newark, I think it's by Carlube. I am wondering if I have put the oil baffle plate in the wrong way round? MAy have to get the bore scope out and have a look. I thought about piping the breather up higher, but my engineer says he is going to fabricate me a nice little ali catch can.

VW's aren't the engineers speciality, but he has his own engineering company and he's big into american V8's. I've seen his Chevy Blazer. His 650 BHP Chevy Impala is just rediculous and the 3000BHP drag car he is building should be something special. I think it's safe to say he knows what he's talking about!

 

[animal]

Hi - why do you want a "catch can" - vent the breather into your air filter as original - or, if you've got twin carbs fitted modifiy the air filter top with plumbing fittings to help it.

"I've done about 300 miles and put about half a litre in" :shock:

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

On the breathing front, it seems to be just blowing a bit of oil out the breather. Not a lot, I've done about 300 miles and put about half a litre in. It didn't come with oil, but I've been using a mineral 15/40 from Allwoods in Newark, I think it's by Carlube. I am wondering if I have put the oil baffle plate in the wrong way round? MAy have to get the bore scope out and have a look. I thought about piping the breather up higher, but my engineer says he is going to fabricate me a nice little ali catch can.
!

Your using the same stuff as me then, does the job.

Consumption seems a little high, might be worth doing a compression test?

As animal has mentioned its worth running a proper air filter and breather set up unless your running twin carbs.

 

[easy]

I presume that Heritage are paying for the fixes?!

 

[71Westy]

This is interesting. I'm having other issues with one of their new engines (See separate thread - valve gaps closing up - so opposite problem). To be fair, Paul seems like a good chap and is owning the issue - we're waiting for their engine expert to return from holiday.

I've done around 4000 miles so far and have not had to top up between oil changes (500 and 1500). I see 60 psi with cold oil, drops to 45 psi hot at 50-55, probably 25-30 at idle when hot. That's on 20/50 oil. Small weep from the temp sensing dipstick, which doesn't seal as well as standard.

I'm about to do another check of the valve gaps and a compression test.

Let us know how you get on.