Bosch Platinum 4

[ottawaP5]

If this "tapping" sound happens at idle it is normal...all 4's make a light tapping sound while idling....you dont hear it in the car but when you open the hood you do hear the valves clicking a bit...

I am getting the hint from this thread that 89 octane is best....i've been using 87 ever since i got it. Is 89 worth it?

 

[MinnowGT]

I have 15k miles in ~8 months with most of it commuting
in horrible OC rush hour traffic (26 miles each way).

Still using the stock plugs - 87 octane, switched to mobil
5w30 & use larger bosh premium filter for 626.

Engine still purring. I would recommend putting in the stock
NGKs. They are a great plug. I've seen people put the
champion platinums in various cars and a lot tend to have
problems with it.

just my $0.02

 

[hihoslva]

Well, the "sounds like a diesel" is a common description of the cold engine rattle associated with our cars.

It is a normal function of the emissions system - the VTCS to be specific - that keeps emissions low during warm up. And it doesn't really matter what climate you are in - this is based on the coolant temperature, and the VTCS system shuts off at I believe 121 degrees (don't quote me on that).

Now, if you only drive a half-mile to work, that's probably not enough time for the car to warm up to operating temperature and shut the VTCS off. Could explain your noises.

There is an ECU-reprogramming fix for this, as it has been solved on the newer Proteges. Do a search under "cold engine rattle" or similar, and you will probably stumble on the TSB number for the fix. Copy it down, head to the dealer, and get it done.

There is also a mechanical fix you can try, and you might find in the search. Something to do with removing the vacuum tube from the VTCS solenoid, and capping off the tube. This prevents the system from operating at all, and also eliminates the noises.

~HH

 

[hihoslva]

Oh, and stock NGK plugs (already replaced once at normal interval), dino oil at 3000 miles or as close as I can get to it (yeah, I've gone 5k a couple times), and nothing but 87 octane.

Over 44,000 trouble-free miles in just under 2 years. I carry a few hundred pounds of stuff, between stereo and work tools/parts. Gas mileage is pretty steady at about 27-28 MPG combined, with LOTS of traffic and city driving.

There's something to be said for following the manual's recommendations, and not messing with a good thing.....

~HH

 

[prote5]

As for hihosilva's response.... it does it when its warm as well, maybe even a louder tapping...... not much but a little bit.... it just dissapoints me after paying 15500 (before taxes and waranty expansion) that I would even THINK there may be something wrong............

 

[prote5]

Also I only recently changed the plugs, like maybe 2 weeks ago and it tapped then as well........ The ONLY thing i've noticed after changing the plugs was better gas mileage per tank.....

 

[night rider]

asked my mom about size of spark, she assumed it wouldnt matter as long as the sorce is hot enough to start ignition, she is a thermodynamic engineer, not saying she is a master of the 2.0 four banger, just 2 more cents.

 

[bryan_giovana]

Just drive the darn thing and have fun!