This is turning into a complete nightmare. My beloved UK 2006 Rev-Up has started to tap. I've owned the car for about 12,000 miles, it's currently on 60k. It's had very good quality oil every 4.5K, never run low in the time I've had it and hasn't used a drop in the last nearly 10k.



The car is currently at one of the UK's 350Z specialists and no one can determine the source of the noise.

• Noise comes and goes, only appears when hot but not always. You can turn the engine off tapping and then on to no tapping. Sounds pretty normal when cold.
• Stethoscope indicates the noise is around piston 1 on the passenger bank
• Noise rises with engine revs but hard to hear at higher rpm
• Clutch in doesn't reduce the noise
• Disabling cylinders in turn on the passenger bank doesn't eliminate the noise.
• Head, cam looks fine, valve clearances are good. No signs of wear
• Bores examined with borescope, no abnormal wear, 1st piston is oddly clean. The engine in general is very clean inside
• Flywheel looks fine.
• Loading up the car against the handbrake dissipates the noise.
• No exhaust leaks.
• Oil pressure is very good
• Timing chain tensioner looks fine, as do the secondary chains
• VVT solenoids seem ok, disconnecting them doesn't change the tapping
• Turning the air-con on doesn't change the tone

At a total loss with it


Thanks