a tappy Tappet......

[Fielder5757]

ive got problems with a rather tappy tappet on my Mk2, for some reasion it idols with no tapping, but when i start accelerating it starts to tap and im really not sure whats causing it, the car was fine until i started fiddling with the bumper (had to remove it to fit a new splitter) and one of the bolts is missing (front passanger side rear bolt), could this some how be effecting the motor as i heard the bolts serve some kind of purpose in relation to the mounts of the engine.

cheers in advance folks.

[Gambit]

the bolts are more to do with the front cross member which in turn holds the front engine mount. but i doubt that would be causing the tappy tappet

infact are you sure it aint something more sinister like a knackered big end, which will rattle on acceleration/deacceleration but not on idle

[rubjonny]

Could it be pinking?

[Fielder5757]

Whats pinking? (noob question)

Ive fiddled with the mounts tonight but still no luck. Im praying its only tappets!

[monzablue16v]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong guys but
Pinking is when the spark sparks before the valves have closed causing a "pre detination" of your fuel/air mix in the cylinder.
sounds like a tractor!

[Organisys]

Pinking is detonation of fuel before sparking.
Caused by carbon deposits becoming heated up to the point where the temp of them can detonate the fuel.
Or can be caused by ignition being retarded too much.
Or can be caused by running a fuel that has too low an octane rating. (low octane fuel does not compress as well without the risk of combustion).