Lazy Lifters

Philth · Post by **Philth** » Tue Aug 24, 04 11:26 am

Has anyone experienced clackety engine valvetrains after an oil change or after standing unused for a time? I started my Challenger last night in the hope of moving it out of the garage to test my new clutch, etc, and it took a long time cranking and initial start to get the oil pressure up and oil light out (not normally the case). Even when at 80psi, the left hand engine bank (1,3, 5, 7) sounded very noisy, enough for me to be worried and switch off. I removed the cover and found five out of eight of the rockers to be 'loose', which felt like it was due to the cam followers being squashy when pushing on the push rod, if you know what I mean. I removed one follower, stripped it, cleaned it and reprimed it and when back in with the rockers that particular follower seemed firmer.
Now, is it usual for followers to 'bleed down' after three weeks to make noisy a valvetrain, or did the fact that I did a cold oil change (although I primed the filter - maybe not enough?) not help? Surely the oil pressure should have been enough to quiet them down after a few seconds, but the noise was still there after a minute.
I don't know - the things you do for these cars and they just come right back at ya with a big kick in the rear!

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Tue Aug 24, 04 12:39 pm

In my limited experience it can take a long time to lose the clatter, if the car hasn't been used. Could also be that your lifters are gummed up, so not pumping up properly? (Hence the cleaning made it better)

TrevD · Post by **TrevD** » Tue Aug 24, 04 7:41 pm

i had a 318 that had noisy lifters for abbout 10 mins every time i started it , i tried diferent oils and numerous aditives , eventualy changed the lifters and cured the problem

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Wed Aug 25, 04 1:14 pm

I had noisy lifters in a car which will remain nameless, but needless to say, it was a V8 with hydraulic lifters.

It would rattle for five minutes or so, if I hadn't run the car for a couple of weeks. Not wishing to mess around with it, I banged a bottle of Wynns Formula One Gold in it...sorted!

Downside Phil was the price of the Wynns...at the time I could have bought another engine!