Author Topic: Whining Chain Drive on new setup (Read 13987 times)

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #15 on:** June 06, 2008, 07:40:31 AM »

So colin86325, if I remove my M44 tensioner, compress it in the vice a couple of times so that oil comes out, then compress it again and install it back in, the whining noise should subside?

Another question, why isn't tensioner piston staying compressed?

colin86325 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 07, 2008, 12:11:02 AM »

I cannot guarantee that it will solve your problem, but it's worth trying.

When you compress the M44 tensioner, make sure you don't compress it beyond the circlip. It should stay locked, I'm not sure why yours doesn't.

christophbmw · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:35:42 PM »

im glad you figured it out, i was going to suggest a new tensioner, i had the same prob. on my rebuild, but i had problems with the M42 tensioner.

......just as a note to anyone who changes their tensioners: you can turn the engine over by hand a few cycles to avoid the noisy startup.

Jtuner · « **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2008, 06:50:11 PM »

So colin, just to clarify, you basically took yours out of the box, still in the 'transport' position and installed it as such? I'm having this problem, and DAMN is it annoying... mine also has 2 circlips, one at the top where the head makes contact to the tensioning rail, and one in the middle.. when I installed mine, I hit it on something hard to unspring it, and recompressed it in a vise until it clicked,, it decompressed back down to that middle snap ring, thus I thought that's what the manual meant.. the upper ring stayed exposed, the middle one was now in the body of the tensioner.. I thought I was following the instructions to a 'T' but apparently something is horribly wrong lol

roelpeeters · « **Reply #19 on:** August 27, 2008, 08:21:45 AM »

I'm not quitte sure but i recall when fiddeling around with one of my old tensioners, i got it back into the locked (factory) position, by compressing and then rotating the piston.

not sure whether this was an old or new style piston.

now a little off-topic but does anyone have that tractor-like chain noise on the first 1-2 seconds of start-up. in mine it sounds like the tensioner looses it's pressure during the night. leave the car for a few hours;it sounds fine. leave it overnight and it sounds like one of those old mercedes diesels.

inx750 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2008, 12:39:45 PM »

Hopefully this is not redundant. I just want to provide additional input as a new member and obtain some advice. I recently experienced the engine dieseling noise associated with the timing chain. I replaced the tensioner to see if it would be a quick fix but the noise was still there. I then went ahead and replaced the timing chain/sprockets/guides/water pump/thermostat while reusing the newer tensioner. I decided to follow the advice on: http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318istimingchain.html
“Install the chain tensioner. If you are reinstalling the old one, you may need to compress it in a bench vice (it should click) before reinstalling it - but you may be able to compress and turn it at the same time with a ratchet and socket (I did!).”

It sounded like a good idea so I verified the tensioner could compress without binding and reinstalled it by compressing it and engaging the mounting plug threads. From the open timing case, the tensioner appeared to engage the chain guide and provide good compression. After completing the install and restarting, I also noticed a new engine whine which would change pitch with engine rpm. From reading the thread above, it appears that reinstalling the tension in the compressed stage (using the reference factory repair instructions) and restarting the engine to re-engage the tension should correct the issue. Is it possible for the people who tried this to re-confirm this idea? Thanks in advance.

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #21 on:** August 28, 2008, 08:49:15 AM »

I have ordered a new tensioner piston, I will let you know if it fixes the noise. (Should get to me in about 1 week)

inx750 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2008, 07:19:42 PM »

I wanted to check with the forum on this topic.

nicknikolovski - Did you receive your new tensioner? If so, the new tensioner reduce the whine noise or is it still present?

peerless - Does your engine have the noise as originally posted above? Were you able to isolate it or find the root cause?

Could the noise be coming from an accessory such as a new water pump or a newly adjusted pulley tensioner? I tried to listen around with a mechanic's stethoscope but I don't have the experience to pin point where the whine is coming from. Are there any auto mechanics on the forum who have performed timing chain maintenance and might be able to provide feedback? Thanks.

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #23 on:** September 06, 2008, 11:27:48 PM »

Hi inx750, yes I have recieved the tensioner piston. I installed it today, started the engine, held the revs at about 3,000 rpm for 15 seconds and allowed the engine to idle. I gave it a few revs and listened to the engine. It went back to normal. The old BMW M42 engine noise was back.

While going for a road test, I listened to the engine particulary in the 2-3000 RPM range where the whine would be the loudest. The whine pitch had dropped dramatically. I could now here more general engine noise over the whine compared to the other way around. So for me, the whine noise has dropped in loudness.

Update (8th September) - Drove the car today - the whine loudness is back - it has pissed me off in the past but I think I've learned to accept it now. I still can't figure out why it whines like that. So I think the tensioner is not the problem. I am not sure where to go from here. So folks but no success.

inx750 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 08, 2008, 11:45:13 AM »

Nicknikolovski - Thanks for the update. I recently inspect my newer M44 tensioner. I followed the Bentley manual directions to compress it multiple times to remove the oil before installation. It was reinstall with no luck reducing the noise.

It would be interesting to open up the timing case and visual inspect the new parts to see if there are any signs of wear (causing the whining noise). I am not to that point yet.

inx750 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 23, 2008, 07:50:24 PM »

Hello Nicknikolovski - Does your engine still exhibit the whine noise related to engine rpm? I saw your posting on the Pelican forum. I tried adjusting the accessory belts to see if it improved the situation with no luck. Thanks.

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #26 on:** September 24, 2008, 04:15:24 AM »

Yes the whine is still there. I experience the whine below 4,000RPM.

Could the whine be associated with the design of the new components?

Has anyone sourced information on this issue from BMW?

txleadfoot · « **Reply #27 on:** September 24, 2008, 10:25:55 AM »

I'm having the same whine after a fresh rebuild. I reused a known good tensioner and installed it uncompressed. I may try a few spares until I hear of a permanent fix.

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #28 on:** September 25, 2008, 04:42:05 AM »

inx750, did you try turning the tensioner around with the small side facing out and the larger side facing in? Another person mentioned this earlier in this thread but I wasn't so sure that would work.

nuvolarossa · « **Reply #29 on:** September 25, 2008, 06:02:55 AM »

just to not start another topic only for this...
I removed the remus exhaust that I had and now that I have stock one I can heard a whine coming from engine only with high load and mid revs, like 4000... can be related to the chain drive? (mine is a m44 engine)