NOISE DRIVING ME CRAZY

My engine has been making a lot of noise today it was low on oil
and it was making that noise it would make when u  first start
it up from cold the tappet noise and then it would  shut up
and be fine well anyway it was low on oil and it was making
that noise and it was quiet but then when i put in some oil
which was fully synthetic 0w-40w it became louder and louder
until it was annoying and embaressing as people were looking
when i was in a busy street,

anyway on the way home from work i got on the duel carriage way and the car was driving fine the revs were the same as always so on the carriage way it was making the same noise and after 10 mins of driving i decided to put in 3rd and really hammer it it went up to 5000
revs in 3rd and then went to 4th and 5th gear after that it
seemd fine and sounded normal as it would do all the way home
any ideas as to what it might be as i suspect it may return
in the morning when i start it up any resolutions.

Its a 1992 BMW 320I

I was thinking guys the clattering is not coming from the  tappets i dont think it seems to be  the  fan area  its more  of a  clunking clattering sound could it be the  oil filter not seating properly as it sounds like a tinny kind of noise , or the  water pump maybe ?, its really annoying and it is intermittent  and seems to get faster with the fan when  u accelerate or rev it at idle.

let me know.

To be honest i would go with the water pump as well, i had a 320 for 5 years 160,000 miles on the clock when i sold it, and the water pump was the only thing to let me down very common problem on those engines, you might find the clunking you are referring to is the bearing breaking up and will probably start passing water soon (If thats is what is wrong).

Take the belt off and give it a spin and listen for a grinding or growl, or even just check for play on the bearing.

Gav

 

Is the fan attached to the water pump on these engines then?

How did you stop the fan, did you disconnect the belt?

Vanos, there isn't one on that engine. But if there was it would it would be at the front of the engine at the top where the camshaft pulleys are.

Timing chain is usually covered but on the front of the engine.

 

Gav 

Edited by GavMac

I think i put in the wrong oil grade  the oil was  low when i checked it , it was jus under the mark  I put in some cheap halfords  0w-30w would the oil not be thick enough cause noise in the engine.

I am gonna drain it all and put in some 15w-40 oil and see what happens.

But another thing the noise is intermittent ,
-
At idle the noise only happens when it is below the 1000rpm mark about 750rpm but if i raise it to 3000rpm and let it drop it goes away
-
While driving the noise most of the time is constant but it can shut up  after a half hour drive
-

Still got the same  rattleing noise but when i removed the belt and tried it  it went away  upon further diags it seems to be the oil pump  making it  it doesnt look damaged or anything.

does it need more oil ?

Well to be totally honest  im not sure if it is an oil pump or not  but when i opened it to take it off  oil came out so  i am assuming that it is  the oil pump as at the front it has a  wheel  and the belt goes around that wheel and  the  noise is coming  from that  area.

skanders wrote: Well to be totally honest  im not sure if it is an oil pump or not  but when i opened it to take it off  oil came out so  i am assuming that it is  the oil pump as at the front it has a  wheel  and the belt goes around that wheel and  the  noise is coming  from that  area.

This is the oil pump setup on your car, chain driven as you can see.

Item number one on this picture is the water pump which is belt driven and the fan is attached.

This is a picture of the complete engine where you can see the water pump, oil filter housing and most other parts you have referred too.

My only question would be was it the water pump you removed?

 

Gav