Im sure i know this but the tappets on a 16v are hydraulic? mines been standing for about a month, the battery was a bit flat so i jump started it but it sounded quite tappety!
It did get better as it warmed up but still seemed noisy.
Tappets!
It's the nature of the beast. I managed to quieten mine down eventually by running a very light grade oil (0W40) but it still gives a couple of ratatats a few seconds after start up.
Quietest set of these tappets I ever heard was on an Mi16 I was working on a couple of months back where I removed them all, stripped them, cleaned and reoiled and lightly greased as I reassembled (as per Citroen instructions) then I went to the trouble of getting the oil supply hole in the groove as close as I could to where the oil is pumped through the gally and the result was it ran like a new engine.
To do that though, you need to have the camshafts out, so unless you're doing other jobs it's hardly worth the hassle.
I'm getting due for a cambelt shortly and might just go through mine then.
Alan S
Quietest set of these tappets I ever heard was on an Mi16 I was working on a couple of months back where I removed them all, stripped them, cleaned and reoiled and lightly greased as I reassembled (as per Citroen instructions) then I went to the trouble of getting the oil supply hole in the groove as close as I could to where the oil is pumped through the gally and the result was it ran like a new engine.
To do that though, you need to have the camshafts out, so unless you're doing other jobs it's hardly worth the hassle.
I'm getting due for a cambelt shortly and might just go through mine then.
Alan S
You'll find if you take it for a fairly long run, it will be quiet by the time you get back and will give some relief, but those tappets have like a piston inside them that gets pumped up with oil. When you strip them, they usually get pulled completely apart and you'll find a few have a hard feel to them as opposed to the slightly springy feel they should have.
There's a fair amount of stuffing around goes on to clean them, strip and burp them before refitting. I could be wrong, but my theory was if a heavier oil was being used (say 20W50 for example) and they were flattened out due to lack of use, that the heavier oil wouldn't get in there quickly enough to give a bit of an oil cushion before it started to tap. It's hard to explain, but if you ever see a couple apart and can do a comparison on one that's flat against one that's been freed up, you'll understand what I'm talking about; a flattened one would have the same effect as a loosely adjusted tappet on a manually adjustable tappet set up.
Alan S
There's a fair amount of stuffing around goes on to clean them, strip and burp them before refitting. I could be wrong, but my theory was if a heavier oil was being used (say 20W50 for example) and they were flattened out due to lack of use, that the heavier oil wouldn't get in there quickly enough to give a bit of an oil cushion before it started to tap. It's hard to explain, but if you ever see a couple apart and can do a comparison on one that's flat against one that's been freed up, you'll understand what I'm talking about; a flattened one would have the same effect as a loosely adjusted tappet on a manually adjustable tappet set up.
Alan S
tappets
When ever I have had a clicking tappet on my 16valves I just drain the oil and give them a parafin flush then new filter and the usual 5W-40 that I use.
Cheers
Luke
Cheers
Luke
Please call me Luke 
1989 BX 16valve White 70k almost up to scratch
1989 BX 16valve White 70k almost up to scratch
Mines really bad for this. It never settled down after the rebuild. I did clean the tappets but I didn't give enough attention to the little holes for the oil. I think they're blocked a bit and I never lined them up.
I'll strip it all off again during winter and do them properly! Or try Lukes parafin trick first!
I'll strip it all off again during winter and do them properly! Or try Lukes parafin trick first!
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Anonymous
I have used this a couple of times in diffrent cars: http://www.wynns.be/product.aspx?nav=1& ... 76864&l=EN
Works!
Works!
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Anonymous
Yes the wynns stuff is good! Use it on K series which have missed oil changes, makes them go from diesel to petrol in a flash 
Go with luke advice, parrafin or Diesel as a flushing "Oil" then use good thinner oil theres plenty of choice in 10 or 5 w 40's
Used GTX magntec for the first time yseteeday when servicing my wifes Skoda, don't like castrol oil that much but its much quiter at start up, so it can't be bad!
As for the 20w 50 trick it doesn't fill up the tappets, it just dampens the noise! there is a difference.......
Go with luke advice, parrafin or Diesel as a flushing "Oil" then use good thinner oil theres plenty of choice in 10 or 5 w 40's
Used GTX magntec for the first time yseteeday when servicing my wifes Skoda, don't like castrol oil that much but its much quiter at start up, so it can't be bad!
As for the 20w 50 trick it doesn't fill up the tappets, it just dampens the noise! there is a difference.......