Collapsed lifter?
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 55
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From: Canyon Lake California
Collapsed lifter?
My bone stock '88 Vette automatic has 217,500 mostly highway miles. Oil has been changed religiously every 5,000 miles. It is driven gently 99% of the time. The heads and valve covers have never been removed. Oil is full on dipstick. Oil pressure builds quickly and goes to normal levels - about 45 PSI (cold).
Suddenly, a new sound has appeared when starting a cold engine. Immediately after the engine starts, it makes a loud metallic banging sound that tapers off after about 10 or 15 seconds of idling. After the sound is gone, everything is normal. Engine runs smooth and seems to have normal power and high RPM performance. Starting the engine warm does not produce the noise.
My theory is that one of the valve lifters is failing to pump up when it is cold. Am I overlooking another possibility?
If it is the valve lifter, can it be replaced by just removing the valve cover? I think I know the answer to that question but thought I would ask anyway. I'm not in a position to spend a lot of money on car repairs right now.
What would be the best way to isolate the bad lifter - if the noise turns out to be a bad lifter?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Suddenly, a new sound has appeared when starting a cold engine. Immediately after the engine starts, it makes a loud metallic banging sound that tapers off after about 10 or 15 seconds of idling. After the sound is gone, everything is normal. Engine runs smooth and seems to have normal power and high RPM performance. Starting the engine warm does not produce the noise.
My theory is that one of the valve lifters is failing to pump up when it is cold. Am I overlooking another possibility?
If it is the valve lifter, can it be replaced by just removing the valve cover? I think I know the answer to that question but thought I would ask anyway. I'm not in a position to spend a lot of money on car repairs right now.
What would be the best way to isolate the bad lifter - if the noise turns out to be a bad lifter?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Last edited by Greg88; Nov 1, 2009 at 12:52 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Nope, need to pull the intake to replace the lifters.
