Noisy Lifter
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 457
Likes: 54
From: Dallas, Oregon
Noisy Lifter
I have a noisy lifter. Just one. Clicks for about 4-5 minutes or until I get about a mile down the street. This is only on cold start. Tried ATF in oil, no luck. Tried Marvel Mystery Oil in oil, no luck. What's the current thinking on noisy lifters like this? Hoping there's some voodoo chant that will quiet things, but... Can I replace just one? Should I replace all 16? The engine, and car overall, is totally stock, no mods whatever. 42K original miles, 6-speed.
Last edited by OregonDan; Jul 18, 2019 at 03:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
I have a noisy lifter. Just one. Clicks for about 4-5 minutes or until I get about a mile down the street. This is only on cold start. Tried ATF in oil, no luck. Tried Marvel Mystery Oil in oil, no luck. What's the current thinking on noisy lifters like this? Hoping there's some voodoo chant that will quiet things, but... Can I replace just one? Should I replace all 16? The engine, and car overall, is totally stock, no mods whatever. 42K original miles, 6-speed.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 457
Likes: 54
From: Dallas, Oregon
Thanks! Can't do videos or sound (equipment poor), sorry! I'm not prepared, time or $$$, to replace the cam & lifters; would have to live with it for quite a while if that were the case. I can replace one or all lifters though. What's the deal with the LS7 lifters? Why are they better? What about pushrod length and rocker arm fitment?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Thanks! Can't do videos or sound (equipment poor), sorry! I'm not prepared, time or $$$, to replace the cam & lifters; would have to live with it for quite a while if that were the case. I can replace one or all lifters though. What's the deal with the LS7 lifters? Why are they better? What about pushrod length and rocker arm fitment?
It’s a pretty big job to replace the lifters but a local shop quoted me $500 for labor to do just a lifter replacement. Not too terrible.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 457
Likes: 54
From: Dallas, Oregon
Well then, besides having to put up with the clicking for a while each day, what's the harm in NOT replacing a noisy lifter? Also, what's a 'lifter tray'?
Last edited by OregonDan; Jul 19, 2019 at 11:47 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
The trays are plastic retainers that hold the lifters in place. Over time they can crack and cause the lifters to turn, which will destroy a cam.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Well it depends on what’s wrong with the lifter, if the roller on the lifter is damaged it can chew up your cam lobe. If it’s just a lifter that is bleeding down and has to pump up that’s really nothing to worry about.
The trays are plastic retainers that hold the lifters in place. Over time they can crack and cause the lifters to turn, which will destroy a cam.
The trays are plastic retainers that hold the lifters in place. Over time they can crack and cause the lifters to turn, which will destroy a cam.
Last edited by turabo87; Jul 19, 2019 at 02:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Hey Bwill, so you managed to fix your lifter noise finally then? Mine still ticks every once in a while, I figured it's just that one lifter that is bleeding down a bit like you said. I'm not worried at this point because it goes away when warm for the most part and mine are technically almost new (I've put well over 5-6k miles already on them). I'm planning for ported 243 CNC heads hopefully before the end of this year, and I was thinking if and when that moments comes, to get all 16 new all over again. I don't know, seems over kill, but if I'm already there again what do you think? They're only $100 all 16 anyway.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Yea finally no more tapping on cold starts... I recently switched from 5w30 oil to 0w40 in an attempt to quieten down the valvetrain a little and after doing so I can hear some lifter tap but not bad... when I had the 5w30 in there I didn’t hear any lifter noise... but as far as the loud tapping on cold starts that lasted about 10 mins its finally gone since I’ve done my cam swap. What lifters did you use when you did your swap? Lifters seem to be hit or miss. If you are going to have the heads off and you suspect you have a bleeding down lifter then If it were me I’d prob swap all 16 out for brand new ones. Some might say thats a waste of money but if it were me I know I’d do it, just for the peace of mind if nothing else...
PS: I complained to the seller back when I first noticed the noisy lifter and told them I had a bad lifter and they sent me 4 free new ones. I soaked them in oil but never got to change them out, so I just stored them soaked in oil in a zip lock bag with all the air taken out of the bag. I could just use these new ones when the times comes and change out the 4 top candidates, or just get 16 new ones from another seller.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
I used brand new LS7 lifters and trays with the cam, 5-6k miles ago. All 16 of them new, but one of them taps a bit sometimes on low RPMs, mostly when cold. I could try and pinpoint the bad one and just change that one, or go through another 16 new lifters all over again when I change my heads.
PS: I complained to the seller back when I first noticed the noisy lifter and told them I had a bad lifter and they sent me 4 free new ones. I soaked them in oil but never got to change them out, so I just stored them soaked in oil in a zip lock bag with all the air taken out of the bag. I could just use these new ones when the times comes and change out the 4 top candidates, or just get 16 new ones from another seller.
PS: I complained to the seller back when I first noticed the noisy lifter and told them I had a bad lifter and they sent me 4 free new ones. I soaked them in oil but never got to change them out, so I just stored them soaked in oil in a zip lock bag with all the air taken out of the bag. I could just use these new ones when the times comes and change out the 4 top candidates, or just get 16 new ones from another seller.
Probably what I would do if I were you is when you’re ready to replace the lifters go ahead and order 16 new ones and when you pull the current lifters out closely inspect each one and if you find one that is obviously bad then replace it with one of those for you already have and return the new ones. If you can’t find any that are obviously damaged then put the 16 new ones in.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 457
Likes: 54
From: Dallas, Oregon
Thanks! Seems like others have referred to 'trays' as 'guides'; regardless, thank you for your insights........................OregonDa n
Last edited by OregonDan; Jul 20, 2019 at 03:34 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
I have a noisy lifter. Just one. Clicks for about 4-5 minutes or until I get about a mile down the street. This is only on cold start. Tried ATF in oil, no luck. Tried Marvel Mystery Oil in oil, no luck. What's the current thinking on noisy lifters like this? Hoping there's some voodoo chant that will quiet things, but... Can I replace just one? Should I replace all 16? The engine, and car overall, is totally stock, no mods whatever. 42K original miles, 6-speed.
Out of curiosity, what oil and oil filter are you using?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Originally Posted by bwill03z;[url=tel:1599799083
1599799083[/url]]I looked around and couldn’t find Pennzoil Ultra, I could only find Pennzoil platinum...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
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And i buy the $3 Quaker State oil filter from Menards.
Last edited by helga203; Jul 20, 2019 at 03:38 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
I've been using this oil from when i first started my new engine for the first time. Change my oil every 15k miles. I have about 60k on my engine. I even changed my head gasket and didn't change the oil and that was 3k miles ago.
And i buy the $3 Quaker State oil filter from Menards.
And i buy the $3 Quaker State oil filter from Menards.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,012
Likes: 726
Yes and It still doesn't burn oil out the exhaust. To each is own. I used the same oil in my Acura integra and put over 350k on with 25k oil changes. The only reason why I had to stop driving it was the car broke in half because of rust. Lol
I'm not cheap in any way but my neighbor changes has oil every 4k miles so I take has oil and use it in my rav that has 230k. Every 10k mile oil changes. Rav burns a half court of oil a month.
I'm not cheap in any way but my neighbor changes has oil every 4k miles so I take has oil and use it in my rav that has 230k. Every 10k mile oil changes. Rav burns a half court of oil a month.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Yes and It still doesn't burn oil out the exhaust. To each is own. I used the same oil in my Acura integra and put over 350k on with 25k oil changes. The only reason why I had to stop driving it was the car broke in half because of rust. Lol
I'm not cheap in any way but my neighbor changes has oil every 4k miles so I take has oil and use it in my rav that has 230k. Every 10k mile oil changes. Rav burns a half court of oil a month.
I'm not cheap in any way but my neighbor changes has oil every 4k miles so I take has oil and use it in my rav that has 230k. Every 10k mile oil changes. Rav burns a half court of oil a month.