big bad jon

i have a worrying problem, started car yesterday from cold, the enging was rattling, sounded like heavy tappet noise. after a minuite the car sounded normal, drove normal and went well, i thought this may have been a one off then started car this morning and the same thing again.
the car is a 2003 jdm wrx 33000 miles full service history recent oil change to millers 10-60 approx 3 weeks ago.

I suspect oil pump problem although I have little mechanical knollege, can anyone give me ideas?

34srm

is oil light going out within second or so, may sound stupid but have you checked oil level

rigga

iTrader: (4)

piston slap?......... if the oil pump was failing id think the noise would not go away,or even get worse,te fact it only lasts for a short time makes me think its not the pump

Alan Jeffery

If it's a classic, check the cam belt tensioner. We've seen them where they are slow to pump up (oil pressure fed) and the belt flaps about all over the place, and makes a fair racket until the belt tightens up. I'd advise leaving it overnight with a scooby man, and get him to listen to it on first start up.

Andy.F

As its a 2003 JDM then its certainly not a classic !

Regardless of year, it doesn't have an engine oil pressure fed tensioner.
The tensioner is a standalone unit with integral hydraulic damper. They can however still fail, particularly on the new age cars after a cambelt change.

The early classic tensioners are actually the more reliable units, I converted my race car engine to run the early 'bullet' style tensioner.

Andy

big bad jon

started the car from cold this morning, engine light straight off, no sound at all. oil level is fine also. let the car warm up on tickover then took for a spin wich included at w.o.t blast.
on return no sound at all.
am I correct in thinking that this engine has a oil pressure reliant vvt ?
perhaps this could be faulty?

would the engine light come on if oil pressure was low?

I do intend to take the car to a specialist, times are hard at the mo, just moved house so im trying to establish if the problem is likely to make the car unsafe to drive.

Shark Man

Christ, and the person who said that claims to tune engines including Subaru's!?! I'd suggest he tries rebuilding a few EJ20/25 engines...or at the very least try doing a cambelt change!


Back to the OP, engine oil pressure light (also known as the idiot light) only needs a few Psi to turn off; so its not an indication of healthy oil pressure.

Would suggest getting it listened to by someone with better ears

Andy.F

Are you disagreeing with my post or Alans ?

Shark Man

No, your desciption of the tensioner is right Andy