Annoying Noise from Engine

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vauxhallnutter
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Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by vauxhallnutter »

I have an annoying squeaking sound coming from my engine. Its a 18sv in a 1995 cavalier.

I have tried disconnecting the v belt but the noise is still there. I have also turned the engine over on the starter with the coil disconnected so it doesn't start and the noise is not there so it only actually makes the noise when running. I have used a long screwdriver as a listening tool and it seems to be coming from the camshaft area, its definitely not coming from the cambelt area as you cannot hear it when using the listening tool in this area. I took the dizzy cap off and it and the rotar arm were in a pretty shocking state so I changed them both but the noise is still there.



Its like a squeaky tap that gets quicker the faster the engine revs just like as if a brake shoe was catching.



Its been like this since I've had it and up until now I was convinced it was the v belt tensioner.



Any ideas?
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btcctroy
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by btcctroy »

Sounds very strange.
How any miles have you done with this noise
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Envoy CDX »

18SV in a 95 cav? Must have been swapped out at some point then.

Anyhow, if its coming from the camshaft area, it could be a worn lobe or sticky tappet.
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by btcctroy »

Initially I was thinking a lubrication problem
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Envoy CDX »

btcctroy wrote:Initially I was thinking a lubrication problem
Could well be resolved with a good lube service. But in honesty - what does the noise sound like? Any sound bits?
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by btcctroy »

The only squeaking engine sound I know of is main bearing failure
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Robsey »

Sounds like a dry bearing or bore in the camshaft housing.

As Troy has mentioned - due to lack of / restricted lubrication.
Time to check oil flow around the cam housing.

SV's are very old engines, so wear of the bores and / or sludge in the oil galleries would be a reasonable suggestion.

Can you see any black dusty / powdery residue inside the housing or anywhere along the length of the camshaft?
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by planetc »

Agreed, it sounds like something on the cam/valve train is running dry. If it were a cam bearing it would seize relatively quickly so I would guess a blocked oilway has one of the lobes running dry. Time to pop the cam cover off, it's probably going to be obvious once you get under the cover.
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by vauxhallnutter »

Envoy CDX wrote:18SV in a 95 cav? Must have been swapped out at some point then.

Anyhow, if its coming from the camshaft area, it could be a worn lobe or sticky tappet.
No doubt got the engine code wrong Gary, i know its 18 something!
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by vauxhallnutter »

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I think its due an oil change anyway. Do you think that it would be a good idea to run some flushing oil through it before I change the oil?
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by vauxhallnutter »

Envoy CDX wrote:
btcctroy wrote:Initially I was thinking a lubrication problem
Could well be resolved with a good lube service. But in honesty - what does the noise sound like? Any sound bits?
It the same sort of noise you would get if a tensioner bearing was on its way out, its not constant though its as if its catching on something.
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Envoy CDX »

I'd be taking the cam cover off and having a look inside. As for flushing agents, everyone has their poison.

A cheep oil like the 20/50 crap they sell in morrisons for £7 will do as a flushing agent
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Cavalier342 »

Is it injection or carburetor? 18SV is carburetor, C18NZ is single point injection, main difference being the throttle body and various extra plugs.
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE

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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by vauxhallnutter »

Cavalier342 wrote:Is it injection or carburetor? 18SV is carburetor, C18NZ is single point injection, main difference being the throttle body and various extra plugs.
Its the C18NZ as its the single point injection one. I remembered the correct code in bed last night! lol
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Cavalier342 »

I know the feeling... Suddenly wake up like :shock: AAH that's what it was!!!! :lol:
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE

Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Gray16v »

Lift the rocker cover off and look for any clogged up oil ways, if its lack of oil at the cam you will soon see the scoring on the cam if its run dry.
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by vauxhallnutter »

Took a video of it today so you can hear what it sounds like. I changed the oil and filter tonight but hasnt helped

http://youtu.be/Ab39JfuDbek
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by vauxhallnutter »

Gray16v wrote:Lift the rocker cover off and look for any clogged up oil ways, if its lack of oil at the cam you will soon see the scoring on the cam if its run dry.

I'll have a check but looking through the filler cap hole it looks nice and oily in there and there is not visable scoring on the cam
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Cavalier342 »

Through the filler cap it only shows one cam, so as mentioned it's best you pop the cover off. Easy peasy on the 8 valvers.
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE

Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by Envoy CDX »

That sounds terrible! Definitely need the rocker cover off to see what's going on under there. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a snapped finger in there or the lifters weren't solid and not moving.

Saying that - it could be the housing for the cam itself at fault.
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by cavalier1990 »

Sounds like something rattling about in cam cover, maybe the gauze filter for the oil breather, which is in the rocker cover. Did you have a look in the cam cover?
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Re: Annoying Noise from Engine

Post by vauxhallnutter »

Turns out the noise was nothing more than a worn out water pump bearing so that was changed today along with the cambelt and the noise has disappeared thankfully.

I think the reason I thought the noise was coming from the cam cover was because its quite noisy in there anyway with all the valves going up and down etc so putting a screwdriver on it just amplified the noise and most likely the noise of the waterpump was ringing through the engine as well!
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