This morning as I pulled out I heard a loud clacking sound from the engine that changed frequency with the engine RPM. Not good. Drove directly to the dealer. With my history of hesitation/stumble problems, now this, I have zero confidence in my engine.

Anyone have any thoughts? The clacking sound died down as the engine warmed up - so of course by the time I got to the dealer it wasn't obvious. They're going to keep it for a while to let it cool down.

It was so loud my wife mentioned to me that she heard it from in the house!

 

Was it a diesel-like rattle?

 

I haven't experienced too many diesels... but I believe it was similar. Maybe a bit higher-pitched.

 

I would have them keep it overnight.
Get there early in the morning and start it up with the head tech.
Best of luck.

 

im no Porsche mechanic but my old VWs it was always a lifter or rocker arm that went south

 

The lifters can be quite noisy if the car has been sitting for a while (weeks). I don't think that's the case here, time-wise, but it's a likely culprit. How long had it been sitting?

 

Three days.

 

What brand / weight oil are you using?

ChuckJ

 

Mobile 0W-40. Oil level is at the top of the normal range (not overfilled, but up at the top). I just had an oil and filter change done by the dealer three weeks ago as part of an annual service appointment.

 

Well, dealer says car is ready. Were not able to replicate the problem. This always happens to me and it's starting to really **** me off.

 

Sorry to hear this bro. Keep us posted if you continue to have the same issue. May have to record some audio files of it...

 

Im thinking you had a lifter bleed down and now its pumped up again

 

Indeed, that is my plan.

 

What would cause such a thing? The car sat for only three days.

 

Last year I borrowed a 50th anni for a story that I was writing, and it made a gawd-awful racket. I asked the guy what was wrong with it, and he said that they all do that when they sit for a while - it was just the lifters.

Three days though, that surprises me. I'm sure my car sat for more than 3 days and never made any noise.