89FrontPorsche

OK, so I've done the Swepco 502 treatment as well as the MMO treatment. Did an oil change. The one noisy lifter is noisy sometimes and sometimes it's not.

The last oil change, 400 miles ago was with Quaker State 20W-50. It still clacked after the oil change but a half hour later, it became silent. The next day, starting the car up, it clacked, then after a half hour, went silent.

The next day it started up without the clacking. Sometimes now it will, sometimes it won't. Seems temperature, length of engine run-time makes little difference. Although, in general, it seems the longer I drive it at a given time, the more likely it is to result in the lifter shutting up.

I got some "Cylinder Head Plugs" from 928 Intl...have NO idea where they go. What they sent me were five long pin looking things and I have yet to see a photo of where they belong. But I don't think it's an oil availability problem but more of a gunked up lifter that eventually heats up and lets the ball valve work.

Should I do another Swepco treatment? Should I remove the valve cover and swap out the "plugs"? (That is if I can FIND them). But again, I don't think oil-supply is the problem.

Of course, it's embarrassing as hell sitting at a stop light and sounding like a diesel. Clack clack clack clack, etc.

SeanR

Here's some pictures for the plugs.

SeanR

Sorry for the big pictures, but when they fall out you will find them like the first picture.

Pull the cam bridge, being careful to not strip the cheese head bolts, and pull the plugs and installing the pins.

Use Locktite 574 for reinstalling the cam bridge and you should be good to go on that.

MainePorsche

Attached are some pics that I hope helps.
Remove valve cover. Remove the bolts for the bridge they are under.
Mine fit perfectly into the hole. I've heard some here who have said they had to file them done a bit. Some say you must use Loctite 574. Is a good idea. I've not had chatter since.
I add Risoline zinc concentrate to my Mobil 1 one which already has +/- 1300 ppm zinc. Our older engines with hydraulic lifters/tappets like the zinc. It is a concentrate so there is not a lot of cheap oil going in. I use half a bottle with each oil change. You will notice a difference.

89FrontPorsche

Thanks very much for the photos!

Okay....great. But now I'm thinking I neglected to order the rubber plug part.

The pics 'splain a lot and gives me good guidance. Still a mystery to me why this failure results in "der polterlifteren" (noisy lifters in 'deustchlish') but...read enough to understand that it's necessary.

No oil coming out from any ends of the heads. Looks like a pretty easy fix. Will also get some Rislone for sure. When I go searching for the rubber plugs, what do I enter for the verbiage? Oil plugs? I wasn't able to find the pins without talking directly with Tom at 928. They're inexpensive too! Loved that part.

Tom also said there are three on one head and two on the other. In your photos I see three. Which side has just the two or is that info incorrect?

SeanR

Use some quality oil also. Quacker State isn't going to cut it.

MainePorsche

There are 3 on the Right, and 2 on the Left.
When you are going to remove the rubber 'garbage 'plugs, you should have 4 of these.
Those holes are from a modification of the cam shaft infrastructure. Without plugging those holes you will have less oil up top as it drains down those holes. The result will be chattering tappets.

MainePorsche

Yep.
You can go with some of the 'higher end' oils, but for quality, availability, and price Mobil 1 synthetic 15 - 50 is a good solid choice. Add some Rislone zinc concentrate. I get it from Amazon. Don't make the mistake of not getting the concentrate.

SeanR

If he gets M1 15w-50 it has enough ZDDP to not warrant the additional additive.

89FrontPorsche

Great advice guys. THANK YOU!

I follow on the holes. No pooling for the lifters to suck it up, I guess.

Already went to Amazon to look up the Rislone. Excellent advice there as well.

"Makes newer oils work in older engines" so it says on the bottle. Hey, if it's on the bottle, it MUST be true. But seriously, folks, I can understand the need for the zinc additive. The era of the mighty 5-liter Porsche plant was using old technology oil. The new stuff may be more slippery but the ancillary functions that the oil did are probably not being satisfied by the new dinosaur juice. Or something.

So...do I just put the pins in and ignore the rubber part? As in, the pins plug the holes and the rubber is no longer necessary? I think I understand. But...need further info to make sure I do it right. Based on the photos, it makes sense now...just want to be sure.

Thanks again. You guys are life-savers. I really appreciate it. My other '89 and my '87 never suffered from any of this. Fascinating stuff.

SeanR

Take the rubber bits out and the pins are a direct replacement. Nothing else needed.

As to the Rislone, while it will add some for other oils, I recommend just using oils that still have the old formulation or are a newer formulation with all the right stuff already in them. M1 15w-50, Brad Penn 20w-50, Royal Purple 20w-50 and Swepco 20w-50. Those are the ones I use or install and yes, there are others and the opinions are as large as this forum. So, use what ya want.

89FrontPorsche

Looked this up at Amazon as well. $45 for six quarts. Not bad. Will carry out the plan at the next oil change.

Thanks Sean!

SeanR

Walmart is the only place I've found it in the 5 quart jugs for about $26.50 US. So 10 quarts will run you a bit over $50.00.

89FrontPorsche

The local wal-mort don't know from 20W-50. "Ain't got nun.....wha cain't you just ewz sum tin-fowrty?

*sigh*

It would take me two hours to explain, then I would leave after the resultant laughter.

Sometimes, much as I love it here, the testimony to the US education system tends to grate.

Heck, I had to wander all over Rock Hill, SC just to find ANYONE who had 20W-50 in the first place.

SeanR

You can request it be stocked if you go to the auto department. It took a lot of folks bitching about it being gone before it was back in stock for most of us. I usually keep a few jugs of M1 on hand along with the Royal Purple and Swepco. Talk to your Walmart guy even if you have to go to the guy who orders it. The cost savings are worth it.