LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 111
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From: Heidelberg Germany
LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it?
I've noted a minor tapping sound coming from the one of my lifters. I haven't pulled a valve cover yet so I can't tell if it is the intake or exhaust. Not too loud but it is persistent. I only hear it at idle while outside the car. Should I continue to run it like this or should I replace all the lifters? :confused:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,914
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From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it? (Reneiria)
I don't have an answer to your question but wanted to know if you plan on doing the work yourself and if not who will do the work? I ask because I'm in mannheim germany...
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it? (Reneiria)
Unless it gets loud, I wouldnt worry about it. I see a lot of people confuse the injectors ticking with a lifter ticking. Injectors tick will generally be heard from outside the car and not inside, where a lifter tick will be heard inside just as loud as outside.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
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From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Re: LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it? (BBA)
Unless it gets loud, I wouldnt worry about it. I see a lot of people confuse the injectors ticking with a lifter ticking. Injectors tick will generally be heard from outside the car and not inside, where a lifter tick will be heard inside just as loud as outside.
I would monitor it for now. I went through the same thing some time ago. I decided to wait and see since I couldn't pin-point the tick. Had a friend use a stethoscope on the engine to locate the sound. It was (and is) the injectors. Was looking for an excuse to do a cam and lifters. :lol:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 111
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From: Heidelberg Germany
Re: LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it? (Bluewasp)
I don't have an answer to your question but wanted to know if you plan on doing the work yourself and if not who will do the work? I ask because I'm in mannheim germany...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 111
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From: Heidelberg Germany
Re: LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it? (Steel Blue 91)
Thanks for the replies. I'll monitor for now since I can't hear it from inside the car. I'll assume it's a injector. Next oil change I'll pull off the valve cover and pinpoint the tapping with a stethoscope. Thanks! :seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Re: LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it? (Reneiria)
Tapping noise means metal to metal impact...not right for a hydraulic camshaft...
Could also be the injectors or even an exhaust leak...
Run fresh oil maybe???
:)
Could also be the injectors or even an exhaust leak...
Run fresh oil maybe???
:)
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Re: LT4 Tapping Lifter --- fix it or forget it? (Reneiria)
If you think you have a stickly lifter you might try one of those oil treatments...
I had a sticky lifter on my 96 and I added a can of treatment (can't remember the brand name) that claimed it was formulated for stickly lifters and rings... I ran the car and slowly over about 2 weeks the light tapping disappeared... I ran it another 2K miles before an oil change and went back to straight Mobil 1 from that point...
The only thing I didn't understand was I felt that the Mobil 1 should have taken care of, actually prevented the sticky lifter in the first place...
I know many people will scream snake oil, but for $3 for the treatment, it was a cheap experiment and I haven't had the lifter tap return in about 20K miles since...
I had a sticky lifter on my 96 and I added a can of treatment (can't remember the brand name) that claimed it was formulated for stickly lifters and rings... I ran the car and slowly over about 2 weeks the light tapping disappeared... I ran it another 2K miles before an oil change and went back to straight Mobil 1 from that point...
The only thing I didn't understand was I felt that the Mobil 1 should have taken care of, actually prevented the sticky lifter in the first place...
I know many people will scream snake oil, but for $3 for the treatment, it was a cheap experiment and I haven't had the lifter tap return in about 20K miles since...
