My 87 22R-E idles very quietly while cold. After driving it for about 10 to 15 minutes, the engine clattering at idle is very loud. I've adjusted the valves and I'm sure it's within spec.

Could the cam gear be off a tooth? I did my timing chain about 2 months ago and don't recall having this problem until after I did the timing chain replacement. I recall moving the timing chain counterclockwise (facing the engine) slightly in order to get a snug fit on the driver's side before installing the tensioner on the passenger's side. I also made sure the bright timing links on the timing chain were installed properly on both sprockets and that the crank pulley marking was aligned at 0 degrees on the compression stroke. I also made sure I didn't overtighten the valve cover.

Any suggestions? There doesn't seem to be a loss of power or poor gas mileage, but that clattering noise at idle is driving me nuts.

Troy

 

anyone?

 

Have a shop put a stethascope to it. I thouht I had a valve train clunk and idle, and it is my throwout bearning bouncing on the input shaft.

 

I thought the 22re was known to clatter when the timing chain guides were going out? I guess the doesn't really explain the cold to hot thing. What about oil? What weight are you using?

 

I'm using synthetic. Maybe I should go for dino. Any thoughts?

Troy

 

What weight oil? Have you recently changed?

 

I used Valvoline full synthetic and I'm guessing that it's 0 weight. It was changed less than 2,000 km ago.

Troy

 

The weight shold be something line 5w-30

 

Well, it turns out that it was a viscosity issue. I put in Valvoline long life 10w-30 and it made all the difference in the world. It now purrrrs.... even when hot.

Thanks for all the replies!

Troy

 

 

That is interesting, and it does not speak well for synthetics, huh?

 

I don't think it was the synthetic that gave him issues, i believe it was just the oil weight.

 

Yes, I do believe it was also an issue of oil weight. I also bumped up the idle a bit because I noticed that the oil pressure was sitting below the lower line when the engine ran hot.

Troy

 

could be the oil is thick when cold, and when it gets hot and thin, the chain could be slapping around.

 

I agree. The oil was thicker when cold and probably a lot thinner when hot. I hope it wasn't the chain slapping around, because I just replaced it a couple of months ago.

Troy