Tapping TDI

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element140

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I've had my '09 A3 2.0 TDI for 4 weeks now, and have noticed the last couple of mornings, where its been a bit colder than normal 3-10 degrees, when I start the engine its quite tappety, and sounds like my old fiesta used to. I've not owned a diesel before, so not sure if this is normal. It doesn't last for very long and it doesn't happen at all when the temperature outside is a bit warmer.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks
 
Cold diesel engine can sound like that. I wouldn't worry about it too much but if it makes you lose your sleep then you can always po in to a garage.
 
SAiLO said:
Cold diesel engine can sound like that. I wouldn't worry about it too much but if it makes you lose your sleep then you can always po in to a garage.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Not too worried about it, more curious than anything. Not sure how a diesel is meant to sound after only owning petrols in the past.
 
It could be flywheel related too, but thats a worst case scenario lol

Does the tapping go away when you depress the clutch? If not then its the cold if so it could be FW related.
 
It's very normal

Diesels are very thermally efficient and as such a cold engine will sound like a bag of spanners for a while...

Ignition is created by compression, that causes heat, ignites the fuel, the cold engine soaks up the heat as well as expelling it out the exhaust but because of the thermal efficiency it takes a long time to warm the engine

Also cold engine oil is thicker and due to gravity it is all sitting in the sump, this takes a while to 'lube' everything


Start the engine, give it 15 - 30 seconds then drive, don't let it idle to 'warm' up - it'll take ages
 
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Diesel engines take a long time to warm-up, compared with petrol. They can sound quite noisy on a cold morning, but after a few kilometres will become quieter. Be patient, and wait until the engine gets to its full operating temperature. Then it should sound less 'tappety'. Hopefully this is not a flywheel problem.
 
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Thanks all for the informative replies! I have to confess, I know nothing of diesel engines or how they work in comparison to petrol engines (I'm not a novice when it comes to mechanics but never worked on or come in contact with a diesel) The information would tie in with the fact its only when its very cold out - I have also noticed it taking a lot longer for the heater to become hot (compared to my petrol Mini that I owned previously)
The sound remains when clutch is pressed in, so I would hope that does rule out a flywheel.
Again, thanks a lot for the replies, and apologies for being a complete diesel novice! :think:
 
Enjoy the diesel torque!
 
audi upgrades
It could be something like the tensioner pulley bearings. Without actually hearing it it's quire hard to determine
 
Out of interest is your car a common rail diesel or a pd diesel?
the later engine the common rail is renounced for this noise, I've just traded a mk6 golf cr170 in whichattled away when cold.
if the outside temp was below 10 degrees it had a tappet noise until warmed. I done so e research on the net and it's extremely common once they hit around 18000 miles.
i tried all the fixes they suggest putting engine flushes through, good quality oil and I even added a wynns valve lifer treatment which stopped it for a couple of weeks.
 
Marshy said:
Out of interest is your car a common rail diesel or a pd diesel?
the later engine the common rail is renounced for this noise, I've just traded a mk6 golf cr170 in whichattled away when cold.
if the outside temp was below 10 degrees it had a tappet noise until warmed. I done so e research on the net and it's extremely common once they hit around 18000 miles.
i tried all the fixes they suggest putting engine flushes through, good quality oil and I even added a wynns valve lifer treatment which stopped it for a couple of weeks.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what either of those are, or how I would find out which I have?
 
element140 said:
I'm not sure what either of those are, or how I would find out which I have?
Click to expand...

what age is your car, plate? can be used as a rough estimate to guess if its a PD which is 2003-2008ish, and CR is 2009+
 
As above is probably the easiest way.
Not sure what it'll say on your registrations document v5 it may say cr
 
The service book gives an engine code of 'CBAB' which wikipedia says is a common rail engine.
 
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Yeah common rail seems to do it.
How many miles has it done?
Anyway nothing to worry about just annoying
 
Marshy said:
Yeah common rail seems to do it.
How many miles has it done?
Anyway nothing to worry about just annoying
Click to expand...

Thats alright then, just checking as like I said, not owned a Diesel before. its got 58K on the clock.
 
I owned my last golf from 30k up to nearly 39k always done it and never caused any problems.
 
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