Ticking / Rattling noise at idle

[gaurav_aidasani]

Hello fellow members

Hoping to get some help here. I've just discovered a ticking / rattling noise when the car is at idle. This is the first time I'm hearing it, not very apparent from the cabin but definitely noticeable from outside and even more so when I lifted the hood. Tried searching on google but didn't get very far, some forums suggesting its normal while others suggesting its various different things.

Bit of background on the car: 2010 plate, around 36k miles, always serviced properly at VW and oil level checked frequently, running bluefin map. MOT done 2 weeks ago and no faults. Tensioner was updated in August 2014.

The car has been faultless really and even with this noise it's still driving without any issues or power loss. On board computer is also all clear with no warning signs. Just also to mention this was noticed after the car had been driven for around 5-10 minutes, so the water was up to operating temperature but not the oil.

Here's a youtube link with the sound: https://youtu.be/wZaiEaVKvG4

any help would be appreciated!

[SunnyGTI]

Is that not just the normal sound coming from the injectors...?

Also my water gets up to temp faster than oil. I think that is normal too...!

[gaurav_aidasani]

That's what some other forums have said, that it's the injectors. However it sounds much louder than it used to be.
Did your GTI always sound like this at idle?? Maybe I'm just being paranoid!

Not worried about water coming upto temperature before oil, that's completely normal!

[SunnyGTI]

Well mine has always been loud so I've just accepted it

Misread your first post as thought you were questioning water/oil temp timing haha

Not sure what you can do re the injector noise (if it is that) given you have the new tensioner and no other warnings.

Does car run ok still? Could it be due to the colder weather recently..?

[RocketRossUK]

Hiya mate,

Yeah that is 100% the sound of the injectors. But yes they do sound slightly nosier than normal. But injectors can get noisier over time, then fail.

I wouldnt worry about it too much until its gets really bad or starts misfires or getting error light on the dash. Then just replace, easy fix.

Twice a year i run sea foam throught the intake manifold (which doesnt directly hit the injectors) and run a redline X bottle through a tank of petrol which just keeps carbon build up inside the engine down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmMvi7o6Ja4

[gaurav_aidasani]

Thanks mate
Will keep an ear for it and see how it's behaving although didn't expect any major carbon build up as its only done 36k miles.
Also thought the engine cleaners dont really work and do more harm then good (!) and also that premium fuels now contain additives to clean the engine.

[RocketRossUK]

Thanks mate
Will keep an ear for it and see how it's behaving although didn't expect any major carbon build up as its only done 36k miles.
Also thought the engine cleaners dont really work and do more harm then good (!) and also that premium fuels now contain additives to clean the engine.

You start getting carbon build up after 10k miles mate, people on the MK5 forum have shown it with micro cameras on the valves.

Running Seafoam has no negative effect at all, whether you think its useless that individuals opinion. But the first time i did it a sh1t ton of carbon build up and crap came out of my exhaust. The main benefit i noticed that my MPG went up by 2-3 mpg over the same trips i do regularly and throttle response was a hare sharper.

[SunnyGTI]

Thanks mate
Will keep an ear for it and see how it's behaving although didn't expect any major carbon build up as its only done 36k miles.
Also thought the engine cleaners dont really work and do more harm then good (!) and also that premium fuels now contain additives to clean the engine.

You start getting carbon build up after 10k miles mate, people on the MK5 forum have shown it with micro cameras on the valves.

Running Seafoam has no negative effect at all, whether you think its useless that individuals opinion. But the first time i did it a sh1t ton of carbon build up and crap came out of my exhaust. The main benefit i noticed that my MPG went up by 2-3 mpg over the same trips i do regularly and throttle response was a hare sharper.

Very interesting...! Watched the videos on youtube and looks like a simple job.

But I wonder...is the black exhaust/carbon build up the "carbon build up" being blown out, or is it the seafoam that is the black smoke... 

[joe6]

My 2010 GTI with 50k has got a lot noisier recently which was worrying me- seems to be the same noise as the first post so hopefully just injectors. From way back have always used shell nitro and found there is little carbon build up around the tailpipes compared to other fuels. Just hoping the engine internals have stayed a little cleaner as well. Had a new intake manifold recently (usual problem) and the mechanic said the valves did not have an excessive amount of carbon build up (not sure what he was comparing it with though).

[gaurav_aidasani]

Do you have a link to the redline x stuff? Might try that to start with