Still can't get to the problem of my noisy engine. It's a 2009 focus 1.6 petrol, only 36k, its so noisy when cold,top end rattles and taps like mad, but after 10 mins, when warm, it goes nice and quiet. I've had an oil flush, new oil, and it's still the same!, someone's now saying its the variable valve unit, does anyone know about this, or what else it could be?

Sounds like piston seals have gone allowing the oil to sink to the sump when it is warm the oil is thinner allowing the pump to get it to the top of the head quicker as aposed to being cold and thicker and slowe getting to the head

my old focus was a 2010 1.6 petrol which did the exact same as yours when cold, no matter what i tried it didnt cure the cold noise. Terraclean, fuel additives, better quality oil, nothing worked.

Maybe its just a trait of the 1.6 engine unfortunately as the mk2.5 focus is a great great