HD2pct

Here is something I keep forgetting to ask anyone - even the dealer....

When I am standing in front of my running engine with the hood open, I can hear what I am sure is valve train noise - just your basic clickety-click sound of valve lash. It isn't loud and you certainly can't hear it unless you're prety much right up on it, but since I have never listened to another 4.5L Cayenne, and these forums tend to make one paranoid, I thought I might get some opinions.

Yes, there is oil in the engine.

Thoughts?

Cannoli

If your ear is right next to the valve covers, yes you are hearing the valve train. If the hood is closed and you hear the valve train, then I'd investigate.

All else fails, go to a dealership (or another Cayenne S or Turbo) and listen to another vehicle.

MadFox

Yes. absolutley you can hear them "clickety-click"..

HD2pct

Thanks guys. Sounds like this isn't much of an issue. I was just alarmed the first time I heard it! Maybe it is because the rest of the engine is pretty quiet in terms of belt/fan noise.

mudman2

One thing you need to remember is that that engine is a tough beast with very few reported problems.

hk_usp9f

One of my first impressions when I got mine a couple of years ago was the valve train noise as well.

A few days into ownership it bugged me a lot. Checked the oil too. I think I even started out typing a post in this forum to ask about it but then I decided to hold off on it. I probably got used to hearing it and now it doesn't bother me anymore.

vyper340

Oil levels and type can be issues...

DJB

It may be the water pump - they go quite often on the early models.

HD2pct

Thanks. In my case, this is definitely valve lash. My question was related to whether it should be noticeable. My paranoid hypothesis, based on input from the Lewises of the world, was that perhaps: "There was a run of camshafts that were improperly hardened and which exhibited accelerated wear...blah blah.."

As to water pumps, it is interesting that you say that "they go quite often". I have not seen a lot of (meaning 'any') posts about how water pumps fail on the V8 Cayenne.

In any case, a water pump failure usually manifests itself in ways besides noise that would be characteristic of camshafts and valves. But I will keep that in mind too.

DJB

OK no problems. When my pump's bearings went, the noise could be defined by a loud ticking, at first I thought it was valves. An expert ear quickly corrected my incorrect diagnosis. I know of at least 5 2004 CTT models in Melbourne with replaced pumps.