Im starting to think the Lost Motion Assemblies could be the culprit, if they go a bit tired overtime then they wont take up all the slack of the inactive valve rocker at low rpm.
The DOHC VTECs had a characteristic marble in a tin sound when they were worn out. Ill have to look through the EPC to see the valvetrain layout.
Wow, Newbie guy here. Just wanted to thank Hodakaguy and Eli for the very informational thread. I too was wondering about the clicking sound coming from the engine...I even mentioned it to the prior owner during the test drive. He didn't have a clue either. The solid tappets explain it all, I've adjusted a few of those already in my lifetime, so I look forward to performing this valve adjustment in the future. Thanks for the valve adj. link/pictoral content!
As an aside, the 0W 20 viscosity oil is suspect also, during start up, any oil takes time to reach all of the moving parts, thin oil is less absolving of the internal clanking of parts. Going to a heavier weight oil will decrease the MPG's. Once the engine is warm, the tappet rods will expand and the clacking should subside or cease, depending on the need for adjustment.
What valve clearances are you guys using on the intake/exhaust. My tappets are loud when cold. Maybe there is a certain clearance within spec that gives low noise when cold?
What valve clearances are you guys using on the intake/exhaust. My tappets are loud when cold. Maybe there is a certain clearance within spec that gives low noise when cold?
No. They will always be loud when cold. Of course, "loud" is subjective.
Intake: 0.007 - 0.009"
Exhaust: 0.008 - 0.010"
Adjust to minimum for quietest operation. Ticking when cold really isn't a big deal.
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Insight #1 - Silver '01 5MT @ 158,388 as of 7/11 - Best Tank: 84.5MPG over 807mi
Insight #2 - Silver '01 5MT @ 450,000 as of 1/12 - Best Tank: 86.0MPG over 800mi
Insight #3 - Silver '00 5MT, MIMA #163P, BCM Gauge, OBDIIC&C Gauge, BetterBattery @ 228,869 as of 1/12 - Best Tank: 78.4mpg over 687mi
Im starting to think the Lost Motion Assemblies could be the culprit, if they go a bit tired overtime then they wont take up all the slack of the inactive valve rocker at low rpm.
The DOHC VTECs had a characteristic marble in a tin sound when they were worn out. Ill have to look through the EPC to see the valvetrain layout.
The engine has no LMAs as the VTEC lobe on the cam has zero lift - literally. The only time the valve even opens is when VTEC engages.
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** Silver 2001 MT #1541 ** MIMA #157P (not installed yet) ** BetterBattery ** OBD2C&C **
Best Tank: 90.2MPG over 918.7 miles 070MCM/030BCM, No MIMA. Details: My Commute MPGs HybridAutomotive.com (No, not gas electric - the other kind of Hybrid)
Bought/Sold/Dismantled six Insights so far, and every single one has been silver . I want a Citrus to keep for myself
Was looking for "noisy tappets" in the search and found this, my insight with 165,000 sounded like a bag of spanners the last two days, even checked oil level twice... -1c today :-/
sounds sweet once upto temp...
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Insight owner since 7th Feb 2009
2002 Red 5 Speed MT 165,000 Miles (OBDIIC&C)
Projects Planned: IMAC&C, Rad Block, Block Heater, Grid Charger
2007 Silver A8 3.0 TDI now passing 136,000
Previous Owner of a: 2005 Silver Manual Insight with 25,000 miles. lmpg 81.9
Previous Owner of a: 2001 Black A2 1.4 TDI 87,000 miles,
All my cars are Aluminum (I think its magnetism)
Was looking for "noisy tappets" in the search and found this, my insight with 165,000 sounded like a bag of spanners the last two days, even checked oil level twice... -1c today :-/
sounds sweet once upto temp...
...noisy like this few secs video clip seconds after startup at -8C ?
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Insight owner since 7th Feb 2009
2002 Red 5 Speed MT 165,000 Miles (OBDIIC&C)
Projects Planned: IMAC&C, Rad Block, Block Heater, Grid Charger
2007 Silver A8 3.0 TDI now passing 136,000
Previous Owner of a: 2005 Silver Manual Insight with 25,000 miles. lmpg 81.9
Previous Owner of a: 2001 Black A2 1.4 TDI 87,000 miles,
All my cars are Aluminum (I think its magnetism)
Am I the only Insight driver who adjusts his valves every oil change?
Seriously. At (nearly) every oil change, I adjust the valves.
I LOVE when my Insight's valves are adjusted to spec:
cold, it sounds not so much "bag of spanners" as "chattering teeth" - as though it's saying "I'd rather be warm, but I'm OK";
warm, it's quiet as a mouse AND pulls smooth and steady all the way from 1300 rpm to redline (that's 38mph on up in 5th gear);
lean-burn transitions are so silky-smooth, I can only tell from the FCD it even happened.
BUT my valves will drift out of adjustment on my Insight in as little as ONE oil-change interval (7,500 miles of non-severe service).
AND it takes SO LITTLE valve adjustment drift to make the difference between silky-smooth and "chug-chug-chug" in low-rpm lean burn.
Just before my last oil change, I was starting to get that awful "chug-chug-chug" in lean-burn in 5th gear below 50mph - so when I changed the oil, I adjusted the valves:
Intake valves before adjustment:
Cylinder 1: .008"/.008" (right on the money);
Cylinder 2: .008"/.009" (.001" too much);
Cylinder 3: .008"/.0085" (.0005" too much).
(Presumably the intake valves that stayed in adjustment were the lesser-used VTEC valves.)
Exhaust valves:
All exhaust valves were at .009", right on the money.
Go figure.
The adjustment takes me an hour; for me, it's an hour well spent.
After adjusting all valves exactly to spec, it's LOVE again. WONDERFUL smooth driving!
IANAE (I am not an engineer) so I don't know why the valve adjustment is so critical on my Insight. I just know it is, I do it, and I'm happier for it.
A happy Insight makes a happy Insight driver!
Last edited by TexasCommuter; 02-08-2012 at 09:20 AM.
Reason: Edited for clarity and minor spelling glitches.
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. I want a Citrus to keep for myself
