Horrible rattle

[jimmyhodge]

Went for a drive today in my 1.3 mk2 runs  impeccably however there is an aweful rattle from what appears to be the top end. My guess is something to do with valves/cam's etc but i'm not sure. It doesn't seem to have got any worse and i've done 50miles + now but its just abit concerning.
The engine is a low mileage (50,000+) so shouldn't be worn but just after an opinion of what it could be... Things to check etc. I know its impossible to diagnose a problem by discription just writing on here on the off chance someone might have experianced the same problem. 

 Its defintly top end sound and a very fast tapping as if the valves are loose but I thought these were hydraulic tappets,I'm new to this vw scene and am an amature in learning when it comes to these things 

Cheers guys your help will be much aprietiated

[X4MGS]

Oil Level!!

These engines tend to use oil... So check that first...

[jimmyhodge]

Sorry didn't specify,i've done an oil and filter recently... Oil level is spot on and everything went smoothly... I'ma  motorcycle mechanic by trade so running one of my vehicles low on oil would spell the end to my motoring future as it is 
But I have checked the level and everything I recently went near,the rattles always been there just ALOT worse!

[X4MGS]

If you are a mechanic I guess you are better qualified than me to sort your issue...

[Sam]

As a mech shouldnt you have a rough idea? 

[Ben Lessani]

Remove the rocker cover and see if they are hyd. or not. Whilst you're in there, make sure there isn't anything there that doesn't belong.

Are you sure the noise is the engine, not a resonant rattle from a heat shield etc.

[daniel-1986]

think anything before '85 1.3's had mechanical tappets and after '86 use hydraulic tappets

[mwep201081]

Take off the cam cover and pull of the metal tube that runs across the head...

make sure this is clean as it sprays oil on the cam lobes.

The hydraulic heads are noisier than the solid lifter heads, but they should be reasonably quiet when they are warm

[jimmyhodge]

Ha yer I should have an idea but i'm mypthed with this one... I just don't want to dig in deep on the engine if it only turns out to be something simple. Its defintly hydrolic tappets... Ahhh I havn't checked that mwep201081  defintly something to try tonight!

Much aprietiated on the help guys,its defintly mechanical as the rattle increases with revs... 

I'll hold my hands up and admit I should have a rough idea with what this sound is but I was just trying to save myself the headache of spending hours finding the fault 

[clipperjay]

Its alright I got rapped over the two stroke forums as I found out motorbikes are completely different to cars for a start stripping motorbikes is quicker!