Thread: V8 Rattle?

Just be careful. Mine had a similar sounding rattle, that became much worse one day and ended up with a hole in the side of the block. Just replaced the motor a month ago. Drives like a dream again. Never did open up the old motor to see exactly what happened but i can guess. Con rod maybe through the side. Keep a close ear on it, you dont want it to guess worse.

maybe an earth issue, I had a similar problem with my motor and it was running rich (so pinging) and found earth was the issue (according to the mechanic).

I think it was on a bolt behind the battery looking from the front.

Hope you find your issue matey

Could be any number of things then! Since pinging could be a result of running rich, perhaps it is the O2 sensor? Anyway, will change that and the gaskets, and have a look at the bolts! Can anyone recommend what gaskets exactly I need to order? There seems to be so many when looking online.

I had the same issue with mine, thought it was pinging, running too lean (rich running does not cause pinging), tried running 98 fuel, all came up negative. Noise was loudest under load.

Read some where about exhaust leaks. Best way to test is to pass a small piece of paper around all the exhaust manifold joints, any leaks will make the paper move. I found a leak where the exhaust manifold joins the exhaust pipe. The 3 bolts were loose, I tightened them up and the noise went away.

V8 now nice and quiet again.

You mentioned you can see gasket material; is that the head gasket?

I've read somewhere in the past that a dud head gasket can cause timing issues.

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Record the noise and post it up. Unless you can articulate the sound everyone is guessing blindly.

My worthless guess - exhaust leak around manifold, possibly a crack at the Y pipe manifold flange welds. Or a loose bit of catalytic converter rattling around.

Catalytic converter does rattle a lot if its done. Usually oil going down the pipes kills them. Is it blowing smoke or using oil?

It's not blowing smoke or using oil so hopefully no issues there. I took it to an exhaust place today and they had a quick look and recon there is a leak from one of the manifold bolts, and the gaskets could definitely do with replacing.

In the last day or so though I've noticed a metallic rattle like a bracket has come loose underneath but can't find it. It didn't make the noise today though. Otherwise the engine seems like it's vibrating more than usual (this could just be me) and when you listen at the exhaust end it sounds like it's hesitating/missing. In the engine bay it sounds fine aside from the vibration so hoping it's just a case of an exhaust leak that's causing this. Is there any way to know whether the exhaust valve has broken as well?