Noisy cold zx 1.4 engine ( zx 1.4 owners)

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CITMAN
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Noisy cold zx 1.4 engine ( zx 1.4 owners)

Post by CITMAN »

My 95 zx 1.4 was previously my dads, and then i purchased it of him when it had 54000 miles on the clock, its know done 80,000 miles. Ever since my dad got the car with 20,000 miles on the clock, when it was started from cold the engine made a knocky type noise when under load, you can also here it slightly when its idling from a cold start as well. It has had oil changes at 3000 to 5000 miles intervals most of its life using quality semi synthetic oils.
I have been told by a couple of citroen specialists that this is chracteristic of the engine (crank main clearances) and just wondered if anyone else has had a similar noise on the TU 1.4 engines. I have also been told that the 1.6 and 1.9 also suffer with this also.
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AndersDK
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Post by AndersDK »

Citman -
Out of interests - what oil type (NOT brand) is specified in your owners booklet manual ?
The reason I'm asking this is that all earlier small & medium Citroens with TU/XU engines have a recommanded 10w40 or 15W40 grade of oil.
These oil grades are only (mainly) found as the good old Mineral oil types.
If you're then using a modern synthetic oil grade 5w40 - even a 0w40 - then you'll definately experience the symptoms you describe.
This is NOT related to the QUALITY of the oil - but the TYPE of the oil.
Ther's no doubt that recent synthetic oils have better characteristics than their mineral predecessors - but in some aspects this is not allways advantageous.
The main improvemnet with a synthetic oil is the lower viscosity - meaning faster engine lubrication on coldstarts - allway advantageous to any engine.
Another characteristic is the synthetic oil's durability - in other words it's longterm good lubrication ability - also advantageous as you have no noticeable degradation of lubrication between oilchange intervals.
But if the engine is build & designed for a mineral oil - with higher viscosity - you'll get some minor problems on the bill also - amongst these the wellknown increased noise level - and higher probability of oil getting past the valve stem oilseals & piston rings.
My present driving '89 BX16 is specified for 10w40/15w40 mineral engine oil - but I've been using a synthetic 5w40 the last 2 oilchanges - with indeed a very noticeable increase in engine noise.
On the other hand the engine feels a tiny bit more responsive - and certainly cranks well on the starter.
In the past I've allways used a Duckhams 15w40 - which I'm sure I'll try again next oilchange.
CITMAN
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Post by CITMAN »

Im using valvoline maxlife (10w 40 which citroen recommened is the right grade it also lists 15w 40). Once the encine is normal operational temp its fairly quiet apart from a little valve gear noise.
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AndersDK
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Post by AndersDK »

Ok Citman -
So much for the oil then [:)]
Then we're back in "they are supposed to be noisy" business again.
It may be interesting that my in-laws used to drive a Fiat Tipo 1.4 - which exactly had the symptoms you describe - noisy on start - quiet & sweet when warm.
My BX 1.6 does not have a shift in noise level - other than the idle of course calms down when warm. This engine is more the "noisy as allways" business.
It might be the inherent usage of a chain driven oilpump & shim-forever-adjusted valve clearance.
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