Valve Tap = Bad?

[SuzukiRidr326]

i have a slight valve tap on my 97 2G N/T only when i first start it , then it goes away, will this hurt anything or is it just a natural cycle? the car has 113,000 miles on it

 

[architechnik]

It sounds like that is actually the hydraulic lifters, not valve tap. Valve tap is when the pistons are hitting the valves, while this would be from there not being enough pressure in the lifters and the rockers are tapping around. This is completely normal and happens on nearly every DSM that has not upgraded to the 3g lifters. There are several remedies if it gets really bad, but it really is nothing more than an annoyance.

 

[da_golden1]

valve tap is actually the cam lobes hitting the lifters, try getting a valve adjustment or get a hanes manual and look up the valve lash for your motor and adjust them yourself. its not a bad thing just an annoying noise.