I have a 2005 Punto Eleganza 1.4 which is making a loud tapping noise. The noise is constant and the tapping increases/decreases depending on the speed I'm going. The car doesn't seem to be losing power or drive any different.

After reading a few threads, it seems to me that it may either need some oil (which I thought unusual as I thought newish cars rarely lose that much oil) or a tappet issue but in all honesty, I haven't a clue!

Can anyone enlighten me as to what it may be? The bloody thing sounds like a deisel!!!

Thanks

But did you check if you have enough oil? And when did you changed it last time?

I haven't checked the oil in a while to be fair but wouldn't the oil light come on if oil was low or is that just for low oil pressure?

i'd check your your oil personally before questioning anything else just to eliminate that idea. and waiting for the oil light to come on before you check your oil level probably aint the best of ideas either

Check your oil level first or try flushing the oil and add Wynns hydraulic tappet treatment also make sure the right oil is used.

the light comes on too late in most cars anyway

most people im sure wouldnt turn off their engines as soon as the light came on.

good point if the engine oil level is so low that the oil pump cannot suck oil from the oil pan by this time severe engine damage may have already occurred. Most engines can be operated without immediate damage when the oil level is one or even two quarts low, but they should not be run for an extended period of time.