Very Noisy Tdi

Hey Guys,

My 96 Tdi is VERY noisy. Started off with a sound not disimilar to hydraulic tappets not getting enough oil pressure but now its far far worse, had people stare at me in the filling station tonight !

Changed oil today but no difference at all. Have had trouble starting it which I thought may have been due to oil being too thin and there not being enough oil pressure to spin it over hence change. Not sure if oil change has fixed that (will update in the morning as it only struggles over night)

It doesnt smoke or use much oil at all and when loaded sounds fine???

Its very hard to pin point the noise source but it would appear to eminate from the osf engine which I believe to be the oil pump????

Please help its giving everyone a bad image !!

hi bob have a tapping from mine 97 300 auto im now stripping my engine down to try and find the prob ,will update when/if i find it.
but in the mean time try these first,
vacuum pump (drivers side rear of eng )
fuel lift pump
tappets
valve top hats
i have tried these on mine as suggested on this site .
at worse gives you Sunday under the bonnet

Cheers Pete, will check those as and when I get time.

UPDATE...............

The oil change has not assisted with the start problem but this simply leads me to think that the two are connected and probably in the tappet department...

Summary;

i) Wont start after overnight rest....Feels like the engine isnt spinning enough, when made to start with a jump biurns loads of white smoke ie unburnt fuel so implies lack of compression?????
ii) Very noisy when idling, ok under load or above 1500rpm. doesnt smoke or seem down on power.

Thanks fro any ideas,

Rob