How do you determine upper engine noise

bluemx3 · Post by **bluemx3** » April 29th, 2006, 7:17 pm

I think I know the 2 areas of the engine that cause the historial Mazda engine noise, lifters and something that can be fixed by adding spacers from the oil pan. How do you determine which area is causing the noise. I've used the full synthetic oil with a new filter and it did quite it down, but I still have a tapping noise from the engine. If I have to remove the oil pan to add the spacers, I want to make sure that is where the noise is coming from.

PATDIESEL · Post by **PATDIESEL** » April 30th, 2006, 1:05 am

I've never heard of spacers on the oil pan. Who suggested that?

The other porblem is usually the cam friction gear. A search will yield the "how to fix it".

neutral · Post by **neutral** » May 4th, 2006, 7:44 pm

Spend $15-20 at any decent autoparts store for a mechanic's stethescope. Great for isolating engine noise sources.

A clue to whether noise is from the valvetrain or lower engine can also be determined by whether the noise is ocurring at rpm speed or at twice rpm speed. Valvetrain tapping etc will occur at 2X rpm speed.

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » May 4th, 2006, 8:10 pm

I recently had an engine oil flush/clean/purge done and then switched to Royal Purple. Made a big difference for valve train noise from the HLA's.

Bochek · Post by **Bochek** » May 4th, 2006, 8:11 pm

neutral wrote:Spend $15-20 at any decent autoparts store for a mechanic's stethescope. Great for isolating engine noise sources.

A clue to whether noise is from the valvetrain or lower engine can also be determined by whether the noise is ocurring at rpm speed or at twice rpm speed. Valvetrain tapping etc will occur at 2X rpm speed.

no, it will happen at 1/2 engine speed.

neutral · Post by **neutral** » May 4th, 2006, 9:30 pm

doh! right. sorry. thinkin a---backwards again.

bluemx3 · Post by **bluemx3** » May 5th, 2006, 10:06 pm

I must have gotten the engine noises confused, but thanks for the replies, cause it was the "cam friction gear" noise that I was trying to find "how to fix". I did several searches and can not find any information on How to fix that noise. If anyone could direct me to the site that explains " how to fix the cam friction gear noise, I'd greatly appreciate it.