Just had a drive in my buddies recently purchased 2007 turbo S MINI, His driveway has a large slope. He said that if the car is parked for more than a day and it is then started, the engine makes a horrible rattling noise for quite some time. I thought it sounded like the hydrolic (sp?) lifters are pumping up but I don't know if the car has them, has anyone else heard of this problem? He said the noise is quite alarming for about a minute or two after first start.

cheers. Peter

 

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-f...when-cold.html

 

Ever listen to the "car guy's" on NPR? One thing they look for first is a loose heat shield under the car. Spot welds holding the shields together can break causing a loud rattle. After a couple of minutes the shields heat up, expand and the rattle stops. Bring the car to a shop and put it on the rack. Pull on the heat shields to see if they are tight. Remember, always look for the easy answer first. Good Luck

 

Yikes, that is one scary thread. Dealers taking cars back, engines replaced, ... . Anyone have the 'executive summary' as to what was discovered to be the cause(s)?

 

I've had that this is nothing like that this sounds like an engine with no oil .

 

There isnt one yet ! Mine did it once North Cali. Coast , nose pointed down low fourties F morning started it up ,It sounded like there was no oil in it .

 

Try parking the car in the opposite direction for the same amount of time. Maybe the oil pick-up in the pan is starved for oil due to the driveways severe slope...

 

Thanks folks, will send him a link to this thread. I felt it was a bit of oil starvation as well.

cheers. Peter

 

Hi , just registered on your site ( in the UK .)

I may have the answer for people suffering the start up tappet rattle problem . I recently finished 16 years with Bp lubricants and once had a Lotus account using Castrol Formula 0w30 SLX . They had many owners complaining about a similar start up rattle on the Elise. We switched grades to a 5w40 synthetic and it solved the problem . I had the same issue in my 2003 JCW Cooper , tried the 5w40 trick and it has never done it since . No issues if your car is out of warranty but difficult call if your car is still in warranty as most 5w40's are only LL98 approved .I change mine half way through the interval which is easily within a genuine group III base stock 5w40's capability. I use BP Visco 5000 here in the UK or Duckhams Q 5w40 ( same oil dyed green ) Oh and bye the way , no effect on fuel economy I have found .