I'm still fairly new to diesels and I'm not used to all the noises. But sometimes mine makes a noise similar to the tapping of a rod knock. I know diesels make all sorts of tapping noises but it sounds like metallic tapping but I'm not positive. I tried listening to other videos of Cummins idling to see if they had the same thing but most videos are either short or people rev the engine so I can't hear it anymore.

It only has 309K kilometers on it thats about 190K miles so It should be ok. I need to change the oil on it but I hope its just a diesel noise because I am moving to Wyoming at the end of the month and really don't want the engine to go out in the middle of no where on my way there.

 

Define "sometimes".

 

usually on cold start up is when I hear it. And sometimes after it has warmed up and I'm sitting at a stop light in drive i can hear it. I'll see if I can get a video of it tomorrow.

 

I wouldn't sweat it.

 

I'm probably just paranoid. Maybe the valves need adjusted. I'm thinking of having a shop do it because I've never done it and I want it done right and I also don't have time with work and getting ready to move.

 

Unless the "shop" is definitely experienced with these engines, I would be hesitant to let them under the hood.


These engines are not rocket science; but, many costly problems have been the direct result of those un-familiar tinkering around with them.


If I was looking at a long trip, I definitely would NOT be letting someone mess around with it, until I got where I was going.

 

I was in the same boat about the metallic sound, along with other noises. I just did my valves and it made the noise significantly quieter. I am paranoid just like you but thats the way I am. I would not sweat it at all I have been there listening to others idling and I have come to the conclusion that it is just a Cummins thing.

Hope this helps

 

wyoming wyoteck diesel school, your public profile i cant stop lafffffffffffffffing get in their and DO IT

 

I need to get some more tools like a feeler gauge and such. I've only had the truck 3 weeks so I haven't had alot of time to learn every thing about it because I work as much as I can. Don't really have time to be tweaking with the engine just to find out i did it all wrong. The 6.2 diesel I had I could do a bit more on but that engine is a lot different than this one. I've only put 150Km on it since I have had it so I don't have too much experience with it yet so don't jump down my throat.

 

hey mattster
Like Wanna says don't worry too much about it. If you can get to the adjustment before you move go for it, just take your time and read the sticky good. I just did mine and I printed out the sticky from Gino's page. It went well for me but I have a bit more years on ya. The only thing I would stress is to spray your Top Dead Center (tdc) locating pin with some wd and work it in and out a few times so that it moves a little smoother. Then when you're cranking the engine over by hand hold the pin in with your fingers as you turn until it falls into place. Don't forget to pull the pin out immidiately so that you don't forget about it!!! The rest is a breeze, mind the direction you crank the engine after the first six valves, if the valves you're supost to be adjusting next are open you've gone the wrong way.
The only other thing is to have new gaskets on hand (the grey ones from cummins are best according to wanna) and the little o rings for the bolts.

The knocking at cold start up is most likely just diesel fuel burning at the wrong time due to the cold engine, nothing to worry about if it's that.