Thread: disco one strange noise

took the disco and camper trailer to esperance on weekend , adistance of about 1000 ks in all . When we got back to albany their was a noise from the engine above the normal diesel rattle . sort of sounds like a tappet or maybe exhaust leak around the manifolds but cannot find anything , leak or damaged tappett . Engine is a 300 tdi and noise seems to come from right hand side of motor . no power loss or rough running . Does anyone have a suggestion as to what it might be and were to look ? 96 diesel with 220k and very regularly serviced .

If its not the vac pump (use a screw-driver to the ear to check), might pay to check the crank bolt on the harmonic ballancer. Whilst unlikely, the consequences are high. Another possible cause is injector related combustion noise, however its difficult to diagnose.