Freelander 1 V6 Bearing rattle

bukko · Sep 7, 2015

Just changed the oil and filter.
Then while listening to the engine afterwards I heard a rattlesnake noise as the revs drop nearly to tickover, which I guess is due to play in the bearings (someone suggested it was the little end).

1) Does this diagnosis sound correct?
2) Replacing the bearings is way beyond my skill level, but if I leave it will the engine eventually disintegrate and leave me with a smoking heap of debris on the motorway?

freelance · Sep 7, 2015

The vis valves can rattle in the inlet manifold , do a search on here, plenty of info

bukko · Sep 7, 2015

I have searched.
My car is a 2004 so it's unlikely to be the vis valves as the later ECU software should already be loaded.
Also, I had that issue on a previous car and the sound was totally different, more like a jangly noise than the noise I described.
Does this still sound like it could be the valves? Believe me, I would love it to NOT be the bearings!

zefrench · Sep 8, 2015

Can you upload to youtube or post a recording of the audio?

bukko · Sep 8, 2015

I'll have a go - it's pretty quiet though.

bukko · Sep 8, 2015

Typical - it's not doing it now!
Could be that it only does it when cold - I'll try to remember to record it tomorrow morning.

Nodge68 · Sep 8, 2015

The V6 doesn't generally suffer bearing problems unless it's been really neglected. Little ends simply don't ware out.
It's more likely to be a VIS linkage. I don't trust any SW update, after all how can it alter a physical limit switch inside the motor.
I'd like to hear the noise for myself if you can upload it.

Hippo · Sep 9, 2015

Nodge68 said:
...I don't trust any SW update, after all how can it alter a physical limit switch inside the motor.
I'd like to hear the noise for myself if you can upload it.

We never found out what the sw update actually did. Best we got was it stopped the motor going too far. That would suggest the motor stopped after a certain time period, after the switch said it had got to where it was. Shortening the time would be the olny option if this were true. Would be interesting to know.

bukko · Sep 9, 2015

Nodge68 said:
The V6 doesn't generally suffer bearing problems unless it's been really neglected

I have a feeling this car has been really neglected!
Anyway I tried recording it this morning and although the sound was there, it didn't really come through very well.
I think I need to do it with the bonnet open, so I'll give it a go when I can get someone to rev while I record or vice versa.

Nodge68 · Sep 9, 2015

I've never come across a failed little end on any K series engine and the V6 has the strongest pistons of all K's The piston is the little end on the K.
They don't, as a rule suffer main or big end failure either. I have come across a few with a sticking valves which can sound a bit like a little end failing.

Alibro · Sep 9, 2015

I have a K series which was seriously neglected to the point where several oil passages blocked up with crystallised oil. Never seen anything like it before but was probably lucky the head gasket went before any serious damage done, gave me the chance to sort it.
If yours lived with no oil changes for several years it could be oil starvation somewhere too.

Hippo · Sep 11, 2015

@Nodge68
Did the v6 have a similar recall to LR's A151 on rover cars with the same engine? Did they have the same issues?

Hippo · Sep 11, 2015

@*minty*
to keep her happy

Nodge68 · Sep 11, 2015

Hippo said:
@Nodge68
Did the v6 have a similar recall to LR's A151 on rover cars with the same engine? Did they have the same issues?

Not that I know of Hippo. However, who's to know what happens when the engine is hooked up to RAVE. The main problem with the VIS motors is the ingress of oil, drawn in from the plenum at shut down. The plenum is at engine depression, as are the inside of the motor casing. However when the engine is stopped, the motor retains some of this vacuum as there is only the gaps around the spindle for the pressure to equalise through. This is how the oil is drawn into the motor. Over time the oil level builds until the motor gets choked and the circuit board fails.

Alibro · Sep 11, 2015

Just remembered I had a rattly engine in a Golf after an oil change a few years ago and I think it was down to either cheap or wrong oil. Sold it shortly after so never found the cause but it was like yours, rattled from cold start and fine after.
What oil did you use?

bukko · Sep 11, 2015

Castrol 10w40 - was considering 15w40 but "winter is coming" as they say...

Alibro · Sep 11, 2015

I always use Magnetec 10W 40 for my K series. Is there a concensus for what's best for the V6?

fanatic · Sep 11, 2015

tappets

The Mad Hat Man · Sep 11, 2015

Nodge68 said:
Not that I know of Hippo. However, who's to know what happens when the engine is hooked up to RAVE. The main problem with the VIS motors is the ingress of oil, drawn in from the plenum at shut down. The plenum is at engine depression, as are the inside of the motor casing. However when the engine is stopped, the motor retains some of this vacuum as there is only the gaps around the spindle for the pressure to equalise through. This is how the oil is drawn into the motor. Over time the oil level builds until the motor gets choked and the circuit board fails.

I thought it was common practice - or it used to be when I had one, to fit a catch tank to stop that?

bukko · Sep 11, 2015

The Mad Hat Man said:
I thought it was common practice - or it used to be when I had one, to fit a catch tank to stop that?

I seem to remember something about attaching a tank to the CV pipes, but this is more of an MG thing.
Anyone know if there are any kits available? Would give me something to do some dark weekend this winter, assuming I still have it...

Freelander 1 V6 Bearing rattle

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RESPECT IS EARNED, BEATINGS ARE FREE ;-)

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