This has been covered a lot over the years but I'm after any views or advice on where I should go with my engine.

I'm inclined to think my engine is a tapper but not so sure not if it's the valves or piston rings causing loss of compression. Theres definitely a tapping noise compared to videos I've watched. Not as loud as some. Also on cold start the tapping is sometimes much quieter that when the engine is warm.

Just had my mechanic do a compression test.
The readings were very similar open and closed throttle.

85 85 95 85

When putting oil in the bores we got :

175 150 175 175.

He suspects worn piston rings causing low compression. The engines done 182000 miles and from service history has had the head off at some point. But its vague as to why the work was done other than the notes saying 'as seemed necessary'.

I've had the cam belt done recently and the crank pulley was slipped on retiming it back up so had a new pulley fitted and timed up correctly.

The engine runs and pulls well.

I just dont know whether to rebuild the engine, get the head and valves tested, or buy a second hand engine and rebuild that.

Anyone have any thoughts on which direction I should go?

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Steve

Do you need use of the car daily?

To know if the valves are bent you'll need someone to have it apart and measure the valves for run out. Can you post a video up of the tapping?

Ultimately, you're not going to know when the engine will let go, if it will at all, unless you rebuild it. And if everything else is working ok I'd think rebuilding would be the best option?

My engine was rebuilt years ago but still 'taps' a tiny bit but that's probably the injectors, and it's on 162,000 miles.

Cheers guys. This is a cold start video, I said its quieter on start up that when its warmed up but this particular start up the tapping/ticking was quite loud.

https://youtu.be/0v_EWucpd38

Its had work carried out over the years at a peugeot specialist in cheshire so I may contact them to see what head work was done and why.

I am using the car daily so at the moment cant take it off the road to have the head checked but may be able to in the near future.

See what you think of the video...

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Steve

Well, I suppose that's good to here. I wont worry too much about it then.

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Steve