QPV 4.7S: variators rattle - even after cam caps modification?

MaseratiGent

Member
Messages
162
Let's invert the situation. Have there been any cases of "rattles" in the post 2011 cars that were factory fixed with the new cam covers?
 

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,593
To give you an idea of variator/clatter problems here is our experience - GT and QP:

  1. light rattle on start up, only just started and does not do it all the time - Remove variator caps and have them modified
  2. heavy rattle on start up, been doing it a while, does it every time - Remove variator caps, have them modified and also strip the front of the engine, chain and cams and replace the variators also
  3. no rattle on startup but when running it rattles and clatters - replace variator solenoid valves
9/10 the simple variator cap modification solves it but if left, you have to replace the whole lot

Prices, SportsItalia charges £1550 for 1 (inc variator mod, cam cover gaskets, oil and filter change), £2900 for 2 (includes all as per 1 plus front cover gaskets, seals and 2 variators) and £900 for 3 (inc cam cover gaskets, 2 solinoid valves, oil and filter) - all prices plus vat.
 

philw696

Member
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25,114
Absolutely Spot On Mr Maserati.
The forum is very Lucky to have Richard Grace selling and buying Cars and Sports Italia to maintain, service and repair them you Lucky lot :)
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
Shell 10w60 available from Opie.


Saw this too - noted was used/recommended for 360 challenge series - engines pretty much the same as ours if used a bit harder!
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
Makes for interesting reading the post on ML. I drove my 2009 GTS everywhere in Sport, and drove it 'properly' and didn't get a whiff of any issues with variations, so I guess that theory holds with me.
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,306
To give you an idea of variator/clatter problems here is our experience - GT and QP:

  1. light rattle on start up, only just started and does not do it all the time - Remove variator caps and have them modified
  2. heavy rattle on start up, been doing it a while, does it every time - Remove variator caps, have them modified and also strip the front of the engine, chain and cams and replace the variators also
  3. no rattle on startup but when running it rattles and clatters - replace variator solenoid valves
9/10 the simple variator cap modification solves it but if left, you have to replace the whole lot

Prices, SportsItalia charges £1550 for 1 (inc variator mod, cam cover gaskets, oil and filter change), £2900 for 2 (includes all as per 1 plus front cover gaskets, seals and 2 variators) and £900 for 3 (inc cam cover gaskets, 2 solinoid valves, oil and filter) - all prices plus vat.

My experience, adding to this

4. rattle at start up which continues & progressively increases in line with the rev range and with an increase in speed - this rattle is my teeth, bones and anything else which is not secured down when driving - The Trofeo is not the smooth continental tourer that the GT was designed to be
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
Saw this too - noted was used/recommended for 360 challenge series - engines pretty much the same as ours if used a bit harder!
I have stock of Selenia Racing 10w60 oil destined for the 3200. Is this stuff now good for my QPV? btw only just realised it was made by petronas
 

Lavazza

Member
Messages
1,060
Makes for interesting reading the post on ML. I drove my 2009 GTS everywhere in Sport, and drove it 'properly' and didn't get a whiff of any issues with variations, so I guess that theory holds with me.
I've continued that theme.
At one point I thought I had a variator rattle, but turned out to be the a/c compressor.
 

Tamariini

Junior Member
Messages
102
To give you an idea of variator/clatter problems here is our experience - GT and QP:

  1. light rattle on start up, only just started and does not do it all the time - Remove variator caps and have them modified
  2. heavy rattle on start up, been doing it a while, does it every time - Remove variator caps, have them modified and also strip the front of the engine, chain and cams and replace the variators also
  3. no rattle on startup but when running it rattles and clatters - replace variator solenoid valves
9/10 the simple variator cap modification solves it but if left, you have to replace the whole lot

Prices, SportsItalia charges £1550 for 1 (inc variator mod, cam cover gaskets, oil and filter change), £2900 for 2 (includes all as per 1 plus front cover gaskets, seals and 2 variators) and £900 for 3 (inc cam cover gaskets, 2 solinoid valves, oil and filter) - all prices plus vat.

can those check valves to modification on nr 1 be bought somewhere? Or is the only workshop that does this mod located in california??
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
can those check valves to modification on nr 1 be bought somewhere? Or is the only workshop that does this mod located in california??
No you have to have your caps Maserati modified as they are paired/worn to the camshaft hence why you can’t buy them separately.
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
I've had intermittent rattle on my DS dry sump since I've owned it, never got any worse. Not using car much now cos of COVID, keep it on tender Iie extension through letterbox to charger in boot), but go for the occasional blast for essential shopping etc, (wink!), and the rattle seems to have completely gone. Mind you it's a lot colder, not sure if that's a factor.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
So the process will be to destruction:

1. Rattling noise on winter startup

2. Rattling noise on any startup

3. Extended prolonged rattling with lower down drone noise on startup

4. Variators worn to the point the timing is out

5. CEL

6. Variators worn to the point of catastrophic failure, timing chain comes off, game over.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
TBF to get to 6 it would sound terminal and only a fool would carry on driving it.

The other failure we have seen is the solinoid valves. If they go the rattle is inverted, nothing at startup, then it rattles while running.

The final nail is the solinoid valves both have a sticker on. These are soaked in oil and if/when they come off go through the engines oil system. If your lucky they will end up in the sump. If your unlucky (like a recent client) they will block an oil way, starve the engine of oil and it will wear itself out of tolerance.

We always remove said stickers on every engine we have in whilst doing cam cover gaskets or the like.
 

JJbing

Member
Messages
445
I must've been extremely lucky with mine when I had it, did 30k miles and sold it with 54k on the clock, never a hint of a rattle.
 

Tamariini

Junior Member
Messages
102
No you have to have your caps Maserati modified as they are paired/worn to the camshaft hence why you can’t buy them separately.
Yes, i know that caps must be used from my engine but those check valves seem like they are common item and might be sourced elsewhere also and machine into caps locally. We don't have official Maserati dealership here at all and that is a problem. Nearest dealerships know anothing about these valves when i asked...
 

petrD

New Member
Messages
4
Yes, i know that caps must be used from my engine but those check valves seem like they are common item and might be sourced elsewhere also and machine into caps locally. We don't have official Maserati dealership here at all and that is a problem. Nearest dealerships know anothing about these valves when i asked...

When I was looking for this modification, I got some quotes from UK, Germany and that shop in US (TEM). I was told it is not only about the check valve, but mod the oil channels as well...can't say anything here - luckily, I did not need it as my caps were already modified in the past (most likely by Mas Dealer in CH as the last 5 digits of VIN No were stamped on them...)