Engine Rattling (video)

Hi all, I've been posting in the Sei forum but this is definitely a general Fiat one I reckon.

My Sei Sporting, 2001 reg MPI, the engine block just wobbles so much I dunno if it's normal. It's overheated once but that was cos the air intake pipe had come out so was my fault but apart from that the thing has never let me down, well in the 5 months I've had it anyway I've no idea if you'd call it knocking or pinging or whatever? I've made a little video (see below). The whole air filter casing jumps up and down as a result, that's what pulled the air intake pipe out I reckon, cos there's some sort of spring which should hold the filter casing to the block which is missing (posted in another thread: https://www.fiatforum.com/cinquecent...-sporting.html). Listening to it again and reading some more, maybe it's piston slap. I'm thinking basically the engine is f*cked and is gonna just pack in one day. If that happens, I'll do anything it takes to replace it, because I love this car so much!

I know very little about the mechanics of cars in general but am learning, this is really, strictly speaking my first "own" car, as I only passed my test last year at the grand old age of 38. So I've never really needed to know! But I reckon I've been sold a wrong 'un. It had 40K miles on the clock when I bought it in April 2009, I've only done another 4K since and it's not that I've really thrashed it or anything.

Here's the video http://2atoms.com/sei/eng1.wmv not streaming so you'll have to right-click save as first I think.

The pic shows fairly fresh oil leak shortly before I filled it up yesterday, it did let me fill up most of the sump.



Any advice greatly appreciated, don't skimp on the truth, I can take it!

Cheers, Tone!

head gasket failure, from a part supplyer under £30 garage £300 inc labour.. but you need a tork wrench an time to do it ur self

i have the same knocking but no oil leak, although i have blue smoke, an been told to put some oil thickener in, seems to be easing the smoke off a bit, but the tapping is still there

there is this post i jsut stumbled on
that mentions the knocking noise
https://www.fiatforum.com/multipla/2...waterpump.html

That leak is from the rocker cover gasket. About £3 from any factor. If you use a little RTV as well, you'll have no leak. That's £300 odd quid I've saved you.

For the rest, it does sound (but sounds on video are not the best) like either valve clearance or worn bores/rings/piston.

When was the oil filter last changed?

Get a dry and wet compression test done. Post the readings in the correct section. That'll indicate the general state of the engine/bores/HG.

Incidentally, the amount the engine moves on its mounts doesn't seem extreme.
If it's not using water, you can rule out the water pump.

Thanks for the replies guys. Oil filter not been changed since I bought it in April this year.

Hasn't lost much oil if any since I refilled after posting this and certainly not losing water.

Rattling is less since oil refill and the air filter casing isn't really a problem, it hasn't pulled the air intake out again.

Appreciate your answers, I'll get onto the compression test then, any idea what a good price would be as I'm not doing it myself?

About £15 - £20 quid. It's easy enough to DIY (just remember to write down the readings) and you'll pick up the device from Halfrauds for less than £20. Instructions on the back of the packet/interweb.

Is there no way I can measure the compression through the Elm OBD II link and software I have? Silly question really, I'll check myself

Nope. I don't know that model, but no OBD2 kit can do compression -- there's simply not a sender/sensor for it.

OK I've ordered the rocker gasket, which a mate can replace for me. Will do the compression test at the weekend and post results.

Another mate has said he can do head gasket replacement too if necessary but let's see if that's necessary.