UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Forte Top End treatment in the sump. How long should I give it to do it’s job?

If its anything like the wynns, you arent meant to remove it and just leave it in till the oil is changed

I'll leave it for 1K mls to give it time to work. I was expecting the viscosity to be like Wynns Hydraulic Valve Lifter Treatment (thin) but it was more like Wynns Supercharge for Oil (though not as viscous).

You are making it sound a bit like the STP oil stuff I added to a MK1 Escort's sump once, the small amount I spilt on the garage floor I could not remove as it was so "gloopy" - it was like trying to wipe off a non setting version of Evostick!

The Wynns Hydraulic Valve Lifter Treatment I used in the old Ibiza was as you say, very "runny".

Edit:- are you sure that the Forte stuff will attack and free up the lifters?

No I am not sure the Forte Top End treatment will attack and unstick the lifters. My concern is it is goo designed to damp down noise like Wynns Supercharge and might actually compromise oil flow to the lifters. I cannot find any detailed information on how Forte Top End Treatment is supposed to work, only a some generally positive reviews. For this reason I will leave in for a short time only and monitor closely.

Here are some clips of the noise with the engine (and oil) warm.

Recorded using a phone held nearby the timing belt with the bonnet open. The upload seems to have reduced the audio quality a bit.

Tickover:

https://vocaroo.com/delete/s1paofuf61LV ... 2a0ccd2be9

Revving up to 2-3K

https://vocaroo.com/delete/s12p0J4TxKJd ... 8c9d0e053b

Sounds a bit worse than it is on the first recording. On the second the tappet noise is clear. Obviously, it's worse when cold.

After the rebuild the tappets were pretty quiet but then I found the valve timing was out. After resetting the timing one tappet was very noisy at first, then quietened down but not completely. I probably should have replaced the tappets at the time of the rebuild. Will wait a while to find out if the Forte treatment does anything.

Worn tappets wont necessarily quieten down even with treatment. you may be best to replace them - febi do an OEM quality set for a sensible price.

The head has only 25K on it. Not any evidence of oil change issues but cannot be sure.

Thats quite tappety. It sounds like you might have one sticking

If this doesnt work, id be tempted to replace them.

A few hundred miles more on the Polo since I put in the Forte treatment. It seems not to be working.

Which is the better choice between INA tappets or Febi?

Do I have to go to the main dealer (they are useless) for cam girdle bolts or can they be sourced elsewhere?

I’d go Febi as it’ll be VW stock without the box. My Mk2 golf ones were original in a Febi box

Which bolts are you meaning. The ones that hold the camshaft in place?

alexperkins wrote: Sat Apr 28, 2018 11:10 am I’d go Febi as it’ll be VW stock without the box. My Mk2 golf ones were original in a Febi box

Are you aware of any changes (e.g. increased diameter of oil ports) from the early versions?

Which bolts are you meaning. The ones that hold the camshaft in place?

Yes, I think there are about 15 of them, 5mm? (Cam carrier/cover)

Ah yes them

That’s a TPS or a dealer job. Albeit, they probably don’t need to be replaced

I think they’ve been improved a little for increased flow as the old ones were easily starved

I ordered some Febi brand tappets and when they arrived they are stamped INA on the bottom. The packaging label does say Febi.

Is there any difference (except the higher price compared to INA brand)?

Febi repackage OEM supplier stuff alot of the time. Where they dont, its manufactured in OEM factories with a FEBI stamp put on afterwards (and they often burn or etch off the VW/Audi mark)

You'll find in this case its VW INA stock rather than INA own, which will generally be better quality.