Could anybody help?

A mate has a S15 (184kw) model. It has done 16000 kilometres, when it is started from cold or when its been sitting for over 30 minutes it has a loud tappet noise. The noise disappears as soon as the engine warms or when you increase the revs above an idle.

He is sticking to the service schedule and runs Amsoil for turbo engines.

Has anybody experienced this?

Thanks

I hear the same thing on mine, and I have done just under 18000km's.

I asked a Mechanic Friend of mine and he said that it is just the timing chain tensioning on start-up, and that when the cars sit for a while the chain get's a little slack.

If anyone else knows any better please advise.

Merkin, I posted on the NZ Sylvia web site and the response was that the s14 and s15 have a faulty VVT solenoid. That it is replaced under warrenty.

I wouldn't think you would get a single tapping noise from a cold cam chain tensioner as they generally operate with roller bearings or the chain slides over a synthetic spung skid. (don't know what nissan uses in the SR20det) Cars that use cam belts use a roller bearing arrangement and impossible to make noise. I would image that there would be no noise from a chain with a car with such low milage. I had an FJ20, that had a cam chain, with over 200000km and it never made a tapping noise.

I recommend speaking to Nissan about the solenoid.