Hi all, had my S2K for 2 years now, and only recently noticed that the engine sounds pretty noisy when cold, like a intermittent tapping sound, if you give a few revs on idle the noise goes and it goes when the engine is warm, not sure if it’s always done it or Iv only just noticed it, ap1 97k miles, is this normal? I’m still getting used to the car and noises! Thanks

 

The F20C is noisey but it could be your TCT

I'm sure YouTube can provide some examples. Typically if it goes away with a few revs tct

 

thank you for the reply, Iv listened to a few videos on YouTube and it’s 100% not TCT noise (card in spoke noise). It’s more of a hollow rattle/tapping noise, do these engines suffer from piston slap on cold starts?

 

Maybe time for new oil

 

It’s well known that the F20C is noisy when cold. A few have had the same fears allayed over the years.

As mentioned, it would also be pertinent to have your TCT checked. A noisy TCT is most evident when the engine is warm and between 2-3000 rpm.

 

oil change done 300miles ago

 

I guess this high tolerance engine runs perfect when everything is fully up to temperature, untill then clearances are bigger until all comments have expanded when fully warmed up, hence noisy engines when cold/warming up?

 

If it's a tap/clack kinda noise when the engine is cold and it does a few, then is quiet for a couple of revolutions, then taps for a few more, it'll likely be piston slap. Mine does the same these days. The TCT is a tick that becomes a clack when really bad. But that's worse when warm. Valve clearances are more of a tick sound too, and those can be adjusted to be quiet.

I asked a similar question a few years ago...
Link

 

ahh thank you for this, I had a look at your previous post and the way you described it is exactly what I’m getting, a random clack noise on idle on cold starts, it must be piston slap then, how does this not damage the cylinder walls though?

 

My 04 (68K miles) has done this for at least the last 20K miles and I’ve always put it down to piston slap when cold and so far (!) it hasn’t used any oil.