Author Topic: 1993 318i M42 Engine noise with video (Read 11426 times)

carl6405 · « **on:** March 30, 2009, 10:41:50 AM »

Hey guys.

I just got finished replacing all the lifters and replaced the timing chain tensioner. This did not fix my problem with the engine noise.

When cold, the engine sounds fine, little tapping. After it warms up, sounds like a diesel. Please give me some ideas. This is driving me crazy! Click the link to watch and listen to what Im talking about.

http://s417.photobucket.com/albums/pp255/carl6405/?action=view¤t=BMWEngineTapping_0001.flv

This link may be better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z75g0iwqnVk

derek9702 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2009, 11:04:13 AM »

Did you replace the tensioner and guides as well?

carl6405 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2009, 11:15:34 AM »

Yes. Sorry, I meant to put in the post, that I replaced the tensioner. I have not replaced the chain or the guides. I've been advised by a couple different mechanics on another site, to replace the oil pump. I have an oil pressure guage, but not sure how to connect it to read the oil pressure.

3seriesNut · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2009, 01:14:39 PM »

you need a sending unit to read oil presure. ,ive got oil presure,voltmeter,egt and fule presure gauges in both of mine.

beemer1 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2009, 03:34:50 PM »

Thats weird :confused: I would think that if the guides broke you would hear the chatter right from the get go, not when it gets warm.

It still wouldnt hurt to drop the lower oil pan and check for metal/plastic bits that would confirm a busted guide.

Steve

xwill112x · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2009, 05:24:29 PM »

sounds like it's in the valvetrain to me.

compression test it.

EDIT: my buddy had a eta that sounded kinda like that, it had a bad headgasket, so again, compression test it.

carl6405 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2009, 06:50:58 PM »

When we replaced the lifters, I checked the timing chain guides and they looked to be fine.
Im going to try and hook up a oil pressure guage and see if that changes as the car warms up. From what Ive learned, you have to disconnect the oil pressure warning light and connect the guage in at that location. Looks like ive got alot of things to get out of my way to do this. You guys know of a better way to connect the oil pressure guage?

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2009, 02:36:05 AM »

No, thats the correct way, the oil pressure sender is at the back of the oil filter housing, you may have to remove the intake manifold. Very strange noise, difficult to determine where it is coming from.

carl6405 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2009, 08:19:07 AM »

Im going to order a oil pump. Im getting a lot of feed back thinking oil pump. Also, there is an article in my book, "101 performance projects" talking about how the nut on the oil pump is known to somehow come loose and in worse case scenarios, the oil pump gear can come off.....which would obviously.. be a bad thing. so, thats what Im going to do next. Drop the oil pan, look for any debris in the bottom of the oil pan. Check my sump, check the nut on the oil pump and replace the oil pump.

derek9702 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2009, 12:52:44 PM »

The M42 has a gerator style oil pump, different from the one referred to in the 101 projects book.

Birdman16 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2009, 12:55:41 PM »

Is there oil in it to begin with? I know many people with that problem... I hope that is not it!

carl6405 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2009, 04:02:28 PM »

Birdman.. Im not sure what you mean by that? The oil level is good. It doesnt burn any oil or leak any either. Ive changed the oil 3 times. The heaviest oil I used was 15W 40. The heavier oil didnt make a difference. It sounds like something is loose up front behind the front cover to the engine. It may be that the oil pump is loose. I was going to drain the oil tonight, and pull the oil pan and take a look. But I have other things that came up, that I have to do tonight.

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2009, 01:53:50 AM »

Carl6405, the oil pump sits in the lower timing case and runs directly on the crankshaft using a rotor set. It is not driven seperately off the crankshaft using a chain and sprocket. To remove the oil pump on the M42, you will need to remove:

- The valve cover, upper timing cover, lower timing cover, harmonic balancer, a/c bracket (if applicable), thermostat housing, water pump, and then you must remove the timing chain assembly including guides and sprockets. So basically the lower timing case which bolts up to the block will be empty. Then you must carefully remove this case. (The reason I say you need to be careful is because the cylinder head sits on top of this case.) There is a procedure to remove the case without taking off the cylinder head. Search in the threads.

Then after having taken the lower timing case off, you must remove a cover on the back of the case and this will reveal your oil pump. Personally, if I went to all that effort to change the oil pump, I would change the timing chain, guides and sprockets as well while I am in there because if the oil pump is fine you may end up having to remove the chain again if this is the problem.

Check out these pages for reference:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE52&mospid=47425&btnr=11_0156&hg=11&fg=10

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE52&mospid=47425&btnr=11_1120&hg=11&fg=30

Good luck with your decision and hope this info helped.

carl6405 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2009, 04:31:52 AM »

Nick, Thank you VERY much for this information. These are excellent guide lines. My step son is a very good mechanic. I passed along this post to him. Im going to order the parts today and hopefully we can work on it this weekend. After he saw the video, he called and said do not drive the car until this problem is fixed. Its not smoking, so hopefully the engine hasnt taken to much abbuse from this problem.

beemer1 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2009, 12:25:48 PM »

I found the oil pump sprocket was loose when I did the timing chain. I don't know if that contributed to the busted guides. The sprocket was floping around almost totally uncrewed :eek:

Steve