golf mk5 1.6fsi - engine noise

[kevdoughty]

Don't know if this is a problem, on starting engine from cold or after standing for a day or more, there is the "normal" ticking noise on tickover, but if revved to around 2000 there is a distinct rattle which will continue for around 30 seconds if you hold the revs and then rattle dies away completely. I find this very annoying, sounds like a bag of nails under the bonnet. Car only done 13000 miles. Any ideas or advice please.

[TagnuT]

Does it only do it from cold?

[Fatty B]

sorry to tell you this mate bad news there is a problem with these engines where the hydralic chain tensioner become faulty on start up from cold. they fail to fill with oil and cause a slight rattle from the engine when started. To replace it you have to strip down the cam housing on the side of the engine and fit the modified chain tensioner quite a big job also.

[Ed30DSG]

Is it out of the 3yr warranty? If outside, maybe VW will take the low mileage into account, especially if there is a retrofit part?

[kevdoughty]

Does it only do it from cold?

Don't know if this is a problem, on starting engine from cold or after standing for a day or more, there is the "normal" ticking noise on tickover, but if revved to around 2000 there is a distinct rattle which will continue for around 30 seconds if you hold the revs and then rattle dies away completely. I find this very annoying, sounds like a bag of nails under the bonnet. Car only done 13000 miles. Any ideas or advice please.

yes, only does it from cold. thanks for replies

[crazysniper]

hi mate soz ta hear about the fault a had the same problem with my mk 5 golf 16fsi
i was a vw mechanic for 7 years and i agree the noise you hear on start up is the chain tension er not filling up with oil  but instead of the big job of replacing it try a good motor flush additive before an oil change then replace with the long life engine oil which has a lower viscosity / thickness in english , than normal oil , or a oil treatment .  it worked for me . just read the labels before you start adding stuff to your engine oil  .

[kevdoughty]

thank you, that's very helpful, will definitely try that soon.

[ljt_tom]

Five start to "crazysniper", I followed his recommendation

My 1.6 FSI Golf (6 years old) gave a rattling noise when started for about 3-5 second. It did it with cold as well as warm engine 8 times out of 10. It was a lot louder than a TDI started in winter at -10 C. (My parents have a 1.9 TDI Jetta, I have experience on TDI)
I went to buy a Belgium made engine flush. Half a can was added to the motor oil, drove it for 15 min at 2000rpm,
I changed the oil to a 5W-30 esp (not to the factory recommended brand, previously used the factory recommended 5W-30). I added a Belgium made "hydraulic valve lifter treatment" liquid.

I noticed after driving it 5 miles that the rattling noise got shorter when started.
Drove it another 15 miles and it is completely gone. It has not reproduce the noise ones in the last 3 months.I hope it will not do it again!
Volkswagen wanted to replace the half engine which would probably have been several hounded GBP or even a thousand ( I am was reading on other forums that Volkswagen charged 800 GBP to solve the same problem and the problem came back sometimes).

All this procedure cost me 67 GBP and took 30 minutes!

I also found the engine smoother and I also get an extra 50 miles on a tank since.
Sorry I do not know if I could have mentioned brand names here.

[ljt_tom]

In fact my price calculation was wrong as the oil change was 54 GBP so the flush and oil treatment was 13 GBP.

13 GBP versus 800 GBP  !       

[kevdoughty]

Thank you, I have changed to the 5w-30 oil recently and found that helps but I will try the valve lifter treatment too soon.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.