I have an odd situation that is irritating me.

I have adjusted my valves and they are quiet at idle and through the rpm range, with an exception. A weird one.

When I am cruising at around 2k rpm (speed doesn't matter really), there is a loud clatter that sounds like the valves are not adjusted. The sound/clatter is load dependent. Meaning, if I am just cruising with almost no load on the engine, the noise is loud. If I even touch the throttle slightly to accelerate, it's quiet again. If I'm going about 70mph and the rpms are around 3000, it's quiet and smooth. If I decelerate, the clatter goes away. It's weird!

I can get it to happen with the truck in neutral and I operate the throttle and keep moving it back and forth. It's like there's some lash there when it's hot - and my next step is to do a hot valve adjustment; since I did it with a cold engine.

I am also about to change the timing belt, etc since it's due, but the sound isn't coming from there, it's definitely in the valve train.

Just wondering if this is normal for the B2000? I have read many threads where people have adjusted their valves until their fingers bleed and these engines just make a lot of clatter.

Anyway, I love my Mazda, and thanks for this forum @MazdaMitch !! This is perfect.