How much valve train noise is normal?

This is very hard to quantify, but how much valve train noise is "normal?" You know how vws kinda tap? Now my car isn't tapping like it was before, I think that was the result of one really loose intake valve. But as I'm sitting in traffic on the freeway with a cement wall to my left and my window down, it distinctly sounds like a VW engine. Like a choo choo train or something. There is Tapping. This becomes a whine at higher RPM...but should I hear individual tapping?

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Kurt B
1984 911 Carrera Cabriolet
75 914 1.8

calling my car a choo choo train?! just kidding. I have a 2000 GTI GLX, and have noticed tapping, sounds whiny at higher rpms, but its normal. What model and year is your car? i have a 77 turbo, which i hear a good whine at higher revs, but it is normal

84 Carrera: Word to the newbies, before you do anything, keep good notes of how it was before you started. I think I adjusted the valves because they made some noise, but I don't remember if it was this much. I know, after I flubbed them up the first time, it was definitely tapping too much....In any case, there's a bit now, but it's not atrocious sounding.

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Kurt B
1984 911 Carrera Cabriolet
75 914 1.8

Kurt,

I think you may be hearing things differently when stuck in traffic, than say, when at an autocross, or when peering at the engine while it is idling after a few hours of laying on your back under it ...

Seriously, when there is even a curb next to your side of the car with a window down ... it sounds quite differently, and a safety barrier divider is even worse!!!

Let's just say that you find a nice grassy field next to a two lane road, and not a curb or wall in sight anywhere. A nice, open, anechoic spot to listen for gremlins that may not be there. Get your car off the pavement ... pavement causes reflections, too! What you want is no sources of audio 'ground clutter' to add to the original sound source ... your engine! Take you car to said spot, and listen to it again ... trying to mentally compare with what you heard next to that wall! I think you will find that relected sounds from the pavement and wall combined in a non-pleasant way to embellish your valvetrain noise! It is similar to comparing gunfire at an open firing range outdoors versus an indoor firing range ... completely different experience!!! Let us know what you find, one way or the other?

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Porsches, of course, are always noisier because of the air-cooling (less engine to isolate the noise from the outside world). Over the years I've managed to tune my ear to knowing that "tick"ing is OK but a "tock" is a valve adj. too high (or other)..... hmmmmmm..... ah, forget it, I can't describe the difference between one or two "tock"ing valves versus the normal "tick"ing ones so I can't see what help I could be (..... fade to scene of tog wandering off in brain-fog...... )

Kurt - I also have an '84 Cabriolet. 101k miles. We Cab owners experience a different sound than our Coupe counterparts. Living in SoCal, I NEVER have my top up, so I have the pleasure of always hearing EVERY sound my wonderful engine makes. Yes, it is 'tickier' when next to a barrier or curb. If you drive the car for a while, then turn it off, wait 10 minutes, and fire it back up, you will REALLY hear the ticking. It's just the way these babies are. I've tried too long to get rid of the ticking and just accept it now.
Your car is perfectly normal.. just LOVE it!

GTI JIM, I'd expect your GTI to be pretty quiet in the valve train area especially if we're talking about a water cooled VW with shims between the cam and the valve stem. I don't know what yours has though.

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'83 SC