"diesel sound" of a 1,6 petrol engine?

We have a P 307 1,6 petrol. When the outside temperature is low, the engine
sounds like a diesel for the first couple of minutes - "rattleling". When
the engine is warm, the engine sounds perfectly OK. It doesn´t eat oil, and
the motor is only 35000 km on the speedo. Any advice/explanation? Should I
worry ?

thanx Peter

 

Have you checked the engine oil level recently? That rattle (if it seems to
be coming from the top of the engine) might be a hydraulic tappet that's
draining overnight due to a low oil level or a blockage in the oil feed to
the head. They can die sometimes, especially if some work has been done to
the top of the engine recently and they were allowed to drain rather than
being kept in oil/diesel. Get it checked.

Chris

 

thanks for the advice - but oil level is perfectly OK. The motor has had
practically no oil consumption for the last 20.000 km...
I wondered if the diesel sound was a common fault with this engine ?
Hmm I´l ask next time it needs service

 

I have had a 307 1.6 since almost new its always been a bit " rattlely " on
a very cold morning. This soon disappears though.
2x 405`s I had before were similar. they both achieved very high mileages
with no serious problems. I have been told being an aluminium engine is
causes a lot of this. A Peugeot mechanic may read this and confirm.

 

thanks for the answers - a high-grade oil might help - and it sure is
reassuring to hear that other vehicles suffer from the same "fault" without
necessarily causing problems.
Peter