Lifter Problem?? or injector/other sound
 

I have not driven my 2003 G500 for a while.

Today I started it. And there was a distant tapping sound coming from the driver side of the engine. The tapping sound occurs about 2-3 times per second at idel. The tapping sound increase with the speed of the rpm but decrease with in volume. But when the car is completely warmed up (after 5 minutes of idling) all sound is gone. I know injectors make tapping sounds too, so it could be the injector. However, it could be the lifter and when the lifter warms after 5 minutes then it is not lose anymore. My thinking is that it is not a lifter problem because the tapping sound goes down when the speeds up, but I don’t know. What are the signs of a lifter problem? And how do you tell a lifter from an injector sound.

Thanks

That type of lifter noise is ALMOST always related to OIL QUALITY & frequency of change.......

Since you have not driven it for a while I would first look at the purge valve to be making the noise, it sits right up next to the firewall in front of the drivers seat. That wouldn't change with engine speed, but would make a clicking sound after vehicle sat for a while.
Lifters are a common fault with the 113 engine, especially after it sat for a long while. When defective, they bleed down and make that sound.
The injectors are fairly easy to check. Just pull off the air cleaner and check them with someone inside revving the engine.
And yes, the 10k mile oil changes are probably the major reason for those lifters going bad. The oil passages in the rocker shafts can get clogged and slow/restrict the flow of oil to the lifters.

hello,

Does this mean I have bad lifters. The G is still under warrentee!. What is normal. If it is the lifters and it just click for a few seconds after it starts in the mornign is that normal?

Where is the purge valve? What would it be next to and what would it look like?

Sure don't want to part with my G unless I have too!

thanks

Blau,

Both of my Benz taps for 2 or 3 seconds after it starts in the morning ever since I have them, both for about 6 years now. I don't know if its normal, I just got used to it.

Rene

I think everything is o.k.
 

last night. Having the G not running for two days. I started it no tapping what so ever.

So it must been having G sitting for a while.

I usually "jog" a car before staring it if it have been sitting a whiling. To me jogging is just turning the keys on to have it cranking and turn the car off before it fully start a few times to get the oil going before fully starting.

glad I don't have a problem

but still like to know where is the purge valve.