cavalier engine tapping noise on cold start up

[Dave W.]

When I start my 2.0 cavalier from cold i get a tapping nise from the engine after one or two minutes the noise clears

[KebabMeister]

Sounds like the 'tappets'.  I think Vauxhall use hydraulic lifter buckets, or tappets.  This means that when the oil is very cold it can't get into the hydraulic bucket fast enough and you then hear the tapping noise, which means it isn't lubricated enough.  When the oil gets hotter, and thinner, it can enter the hydraulic bucket with ease and lubricates it, stopping the tapping.

How often do you change your engine oil?  It might be worth putting some engine oil cleaner additive into the engine, running it for the specified time and then replacing the engine oil and filter.  Long term it can cause engine wear if not seen to.

[MORELLO]

Try using Castrol GTX Magnetec. It leaves a coating on moveable components when the engine is turned off. I had a similar problem on a fiesta I used to have and it worked.

[pjay1950]

i think you will find that this is a regular thing with vauxhall, it is because they are hydraulic tappets and need to be pumped around and up to the tappets that is why it takes a while to go quiet, ask anyone with a vauxhall and they will confirm it.