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MG TD TF 1500 - Engine Chirping Noises

Engine noises are very difficult to describe but here goes,,, I used to have a rattling chain type noise coming from somewhere at the front of the engine,, After bringing the engine up to a high RPM the noise was audible as the engine speed was on it’s way back down. I thought this might be from the timing chain,,,, this noise was evident for a few years, and eventually just went away. Last year every thing was relatively normal, except for a growing front oil seal leak.
Now we have developed a high pitched, fast rhythmed, chirping from up front which happens when the engine is at running temp. This was first noticed as we were descending a hill, using the engine compression to slow the car. It is also happens at lower rpm’s as the engine is being revved up from an idle.
Acceleration is fine, as is normal driving, no misfiring or stumbling. The sound isn’t there at idling or normal running.
Any ideas?, something with the bad oil seal, a leaking intake or exhaust manifold, something with a possible warn timing chain/tensioner?

TIA,
SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Steve. Run the motor with the fan belt temporarily removed, to see if noise disappears. If so, it t is probably the water pump/pulley or generator bearing. Cheers Phil
Phil Atrill

I did remove the belt,,, the noise started to come back,,, but the temp started rising quite rapidly so I shut it down,,,,
STEVE WINCZE

Steve one illusive "rattling" noise that occurs is due to a weak or fouled starter drive assembly spring which allows the pinion teeth to slightly contact the flywheel teeth. The noise will telegraph through the engine.
Dallas Congleton

...as you have had noises from the front before, maybe your chain tensioner (and chain) need looking at?
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Steve,
"chirping" noises are often caused by oil starvation. How is your camshaft? Could your rocker shaft be in upside down? If it is, then oil does not go out for the rockers. Take the valve cover off and run the engine. Oil should be dripping off the rockers and pooling up on top of the head. Another thing to check is the oil pipe to the head.
How is your oil pressure?
D. Sander

Gordon,
But would that give a chirping noise,,, only when at running temp??

Dave,
Rocker shaft has not been touched,,
If it was coming from the cam shaft, I would think it would make the noise all of the time,

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Steve, my engine made a noise like that one time after I overhauled the engine. Turns out I had not gotten the pin in the washer on the cam correct and it spun off, ruined the rear cam bearing and the timing gear rubbed on the inside of the timing cover. causeing a squeaking noise but only when I hit the accelerator. the cam was moving back and forth arout a 16 of an inch which is not a good thing. Dont know if your engine was apart but could be something like that.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

A common cause of "chirping" which comes and goes is leaking exhaust gaskets, usually the manifold. The soft part burns/blows away, leaving the metal core to act like the reed in a musical instrument. This is sensitive to pressure pulses, gas velocity, temperature, and frequency, so it varies under different loading.

FRM
FR Millmore

FRM,
Humm,,,, "sensitive to pressure pulses" would result in what I called "fast rhythmed" and sensitive to temperature,as it only happens when the engine is warmed up,,,, and varies under loading,, I'll check the exhaust manifold the next time I get to the garage...

Thanks,,
SPW
STEVE WINCZE

We had a "chirping/squealing" like a bearing seized in the supercharger. Intake portion of the gasket at cylinders 3 & 4 lost the gasket material, leaving the steel sheet metal, as FRM mentioned.

Spraying starting fluid, or carb cleaner... around the intake can confirm this.

Do you run a blower? All that extra weight has a tendency to loosen the nuts on the studs.

JIM
Jim Northrup

This thread was discussed on 11/07/2011

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