A160 Top-End Rattle.

[Bam Bam]

I was just wondering if anyone can advise me of a potential problem I may have coming over the horizon.
My wife has owned a A160 Elegance Auto for 3 months now and she loves the car to bits, it serves her purpose in every way but over the last week I've noticed a top-end rattle on start up from cold every morning. It's a 2003 53 Reg with 45k miles and full history and although it's due a service now it just gives you what sounds like a camshaft clatter for the first few seconds, it sounds exactly like a MK2 Golf GTi with hydralic tappets.
Are the A-Class engines prone to this and does anyone else experience the same problem ?.
I'd appreciate any advice especially regarding oil pump, feed, and distribution to the top end and if they are prone to this.
Thanks. ;-0

 

[Zebra]

Is the engine oil level correct?

If it were my car I'd be considering changing the oil and refilling to the max mark (not above) with a quality fully synthetic engine oil.

Also, you could have a lazy tappet. Not quite sure why it happens but a friend had one on a Volvo, got some Forte Top End Treatment and that sorted the problem. That made a similar noise to what you describe.

Ebay is good for Forte unless you have a friend in the trade.

 

[jibcl500]

Commom fault ive seen many A class with the same problem even with a really low mileage.

jib

 

[Bigtee]

Most do rattle from start up and clear within a few secs as the oil gets in the hydraulic tappet.

As your's is due a service use the best quality oil you can afford and a genuine filter all should be well at that mileage, but id change the oil every 6 months with it been diesel to prolong it's life.

 

[Bam Bam]

...thanks for your replies guys,..a bit more info. The oil level is correct and what's in there at the moment is Mobil 1 !!!... last service was Dec 07 at 33k miles so its done approx 12k miles in 17 months.
jibcl500 and Bigtree ease my concerns as that is what my gut instinct was especially as the car behaves and drives extremely well in all other aspects.

Zebra, I've never come across or heard of Forte but to be honest with you I'm not too keen on most addatives, especially adding anything to Mobil 1 at the price that goes for, I'll look into it and see what the claims are.

So bearing in mind the clatter which occurs, is there an alternative oil I could use to lessen the problem ?, I've always believed a more viscous oil would circulate quicker therefore primeing the tappets quicker on start up, but the downside to this is when you swith off, an oil which flows more drains away more from the top end.

The main reason I asked was for the advice as I'm not too familiar with the A-Class, it's a totally different Merc to what I've been used to (W201, W202, W208, R170 all with the 230 Kompressor unit) which is what I expected.

Thanks again. Jim.

 

[jibcl500]

adding something to the oil to reduce the noise wont help trust me ive tried, like I said many A class do this, I think ive only ever seen one that doesnt and that was the A190 petrol.
An oil service with MB filter may help, keep an ear on it to see if it gets any worse but from what ive seen its normal.

jib

 

[Bigtee]

last service was Dec 07 at 33k miles so its done approx 12k miles in 17 months.

That could be your problem neglect!

Now don't bite my head off i know the mileage is low but the time isn't, you will have moisture in the oil and sitting on those nice metal parts is no good, frequent oil changes every 6 months is not over kill if you want a good engine to last.

Taxi's around here there mainly toyota avensis doing 300k with no problem= frequent oil and filter change.

Don't bother with flush it's not needed try another oil or what merc use but buy a genuine filter.

 

[mattkh]

........ it's a totally different Merc to what I've been used to (W201, W202, W208, R170 all with the 230 Kompressor unit) Jim.

Hi
Did you used to change the oil yourself on these cars.?

 

[Bam Bam]

...thanks for the further info. No offence taken Bigtree but it's definitely not neglect on our part as she's only covered around 400 miles since she got it and the car is really treated with respect, the car does stand for 2-3 days between use so I know the problem may probably be made worse by this.
Maybe it's me making this sound worse than it actually is by comparing a motor that's not as robust as the older engines in the likes of the 190 and the C/CLK-Class. Anyway thanks again for the advice, it's booked in next week for it's service at my local Independent and I'll see what their thoughts are.

Mattkh, Yes I've changed the oil/filters/plugs etc if needed on all the Mercs I've owned simply because the cars I've had are older models where it's not really viable to pay a garage expensive service charges when you can do a simple job better yourself.

 

[mattkh]

Mattkh, Yes I've changed the oil/filters/plugs etc if needed on all the Mercs I've owned

Hi
In that case change the oil filter. It is at the back of the engine. I find that the key is to change the oil filter whenever the oil is changed, NOT every other oil change.
Keep us informed.

 

[Bigtee]

My grandfather has the 160cdi and he does just 2.5k a year this poor thing never gets that hot but for the sake of £30.00 it gets a oil and filter change every year due to condenstaion.

Yours will be ok when it's serviced this thing was at 43k when he bought it the air filter was black never changed from new due to the 40k service limit which imop is stupid but there all going down this route.

Good luck.