Scirocco Register

Hi Guys,

Is it possible to replace hydraulic tappets without the removal of the heads. My engine sounds like the typist from hell but I have limited funding just now so would like to get away without having to replace the gasket/bolts if I can.

Anyone got any experience?

Thanks
Me

Most of the time they just need reshimming, which you only need the camshaft out out to do. Choice of oils's a big factor too, get some Quantum Synta from VW or GSF.

That'll sort the clicking. No ideas on the Ding, ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip it does at the end of every line though though.

If it's the 1989 car mentioned in the OP's sig, it doesn't have tappet shims, as they're hydraulic (as the title suggests). Are you getting any oil lights flashing or buzzers sounding?

Provided you've got no warning signs of low oil pressure, the first thing I'd try would be running a litre of ATF (Auto Transmission Fluid) in your oil for a few hundred gentle miles. ATF has detergents in it, and can help to free off gummed up tappets. Don't thrash the car during the ATF treatment though, as it makes your oil a little bit thinner than normal.

Then change the oil and filter and go back to normal. If the engine hasn't had regular oil changes, and is full of muck as a result, then you might need to repeat the treatment to get the right result. Does your oil look really black and sticky.

If you want to do some investigation first, drop the sump off and check if the oil pickup pipe is all blocked up. Also, take the cam cover off and have a look at the condition of the cam lobes and tappets, and see how much black goo there is in the head.

In answer to the original question, yes you can, but you might not need to go that far. You'll need to take the cam out and reset the cambelt timing afterwards though.

Thanks mark

I've given her regular oil changes for the last few years. Whenever the oil is changed I put in some wyatts engine flush so I doubt it's that, but it's worth a shot. I'll take a look under the rocker cover as you suggest. Will report back with news.

HD