Question for all you Motor gurus out there
03-06-2005, 02:34 AM
#32
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Here's the latest
kinda long) I surprise myself, I actually was talked out of using Rislone or MMO again by a mechanic friend who suggested trying something different. Its called TX7 (no affiliation) which is basically a teflon additive for the oil. I drove the sh*t out of it for about 45 miles after putting the stuff in my oil. I had drained out about 4 quarts which were only in the car for 200 miles or so and threw in a little light weight Mobile 1 synthetic to top it back off. The oil that I took out was clean. There doesn't seem to be alot of gunk in the system, or at least not enough that the oil is getting dirty quickly. Results are that although it was still a little noisy over the 1st 45 miles, it was alot quieter tonight when I took it out and put another 25 miles on it. I drove it hard again. I stopped in a grocery store parking lot at the turnaround point and left it at idle for about 5 minutes to take a listen and it was quiet. I drove it hard on the way back, and when I got home I decided to do the same thing again and it was quiet for a minute or two then started to tick again. The car is not having oil pressure problems as far as I can tell based upon the guage. We'll see if going to/from hockey practice in the morning will be a quiet or clicky ride. I plan not to push it too hard and will see if cruising at 70 the whole way in top gear makes any difference or not. I think that if its still clicking after that trip to the rink then it'll be pretty clear that the lifter is likely the root cause and replacement is the only true solution. I'll post again if its quiet after all of this but I'm thinking it may not be after all I just put the car through to test it out with only partial improvement.
kinda long) I surprise myself, I actually was talked out of using Rislone or MMO again by a mechanic friend who suggested trying something different. Its called TX7 (no affiliation) which is basically a teflon additive for the oil. I drove the sh*t out of it for about 45 miles after putting the stuff in my oil. I had drained out about 4 quarts which were only in the car for 200 miles or so and threw in a little light weight Mobile 1 synthetic to top it back off. The oil that I took out was clean. There doesn't seem to be alot of gunk in the system, or at least not enough that the oil is getting dirty quickly. Results are that although it was still a little noisy over the 1st 45 miles, it was alot quieter tonight when I took it out and put another 25 miles on it. I drove it hard again. I stopped in a grocery store parking lot at the turnaround point and left it at idle for about 5 minutes to take a listen and it was quiet. I drove it hard on the way back, and when I got home I decided to do the same thing again and it was quiet for a minute or two then started to tick again. The car is not having oil pressure problems as far as I can tell based upon the guage. We'll see if going to/from hockey practice in the morning will be a quiet or clicky ride. I plan not to push it too hard and will see if cruising at 70 the whole way in top gear makes any difference or not. I think that if its still clicking after that trip to the rink then it'll be pretty clear that the lifter is likely the root cause and replacement is the only true solution. I'll post again if its quiet after all of this but I'm thinking it may not be after all I just put the car through to test it out with only partial improvement.
03-06-2005, 10:34 AM
#33
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I posted this in 2003, found it by searching.
I bought my '88 4 years ago with 84K miles and quiet.
Next morning, lifter noise. DR said "change oil".
Magic, now quiet, WOW, Sucess. NOT.
Next 20K, intermittent lifter noise. I believe that if the engine stops with the bad lifter valve open, it leaks down and takes a while to fill back up because of the leak. If the engine stops with the valve closed, then it is quiet on start up.
Finally identified 4 noisy lifters with stethiscope and replaced lifters. Now quiet. When I pulled the bad lifters out they felt spongy, and good lifters felt hard. I believe that all of the additives in the world will not fix bad lifters. American manufacturers figured out how to make reliable lifters in the 1950s. Porsche is still trying.
I bought my '88 4 years ago with 84K miles and quiet.
Next morning, lifter noise. DR said "change oil".
Magic, now quiet, WOW, Sucess. NOT.
Next 20K, intermittent lifter noise. I believe that if the engine stops with the bad lifter valve open, it leaks down and takes a while to fill back up because of the leak. If the engine stops with the valve closed, then it is quiet on start up.
Finally identified 4 noisy lifters with stethiscope and replaced lifters. Now quiet. When I pulled the bad lifters out they felt spongy, and good lifters felt hard. I believe that all of the additives in the world will not fix bad lifters. American manufacturers figured out how to make reliable lifters in the 1950s. Porsche is still trying.
03-06-2005, 07:54 PM
#34
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Drove it again this morning to rink. No noise but shut it down pretty quick after parking it. Drove home and got into a bit of the ol' Sunday SB traffic along the waterfront. Quiet, quiet,.........damn....load clicking again!!!!! 
No additive will correct this problem. I am now convinced. I've pretty much tried everything: Rislone, Marvel Mystery Oil, Prestone engine flush or whatever (twice), TX7 teflon additive. I had hoped I could fix it the easy way but no such luck. I just hope this won't scare a prospective buyer away when I put the car up for sale at some point. Anyone know what the labor time is digging in to do lifters on a 1980 and buttoning her back up? Wondering if its better to sell it "as is." A cryin' shame, because I'd hoped it would continue to be a good commuter car up/down the freeway for me without having to spend a whole lot more money, but the realilty is I have to put several hundred into the car on average every month to really keep it in top running shape due to the mileage and age. Hate to admit it, but I just don't have a whole lot of money and time to continue throwing at this car. I love it and its been good to me for the most part. Never left me stranded anywhere etc., but it may be time for someone who doesn't mind putting a few $$$s and time into it to get it back to 100%. Sorry to whine but about all of this but you guys gave excellent feedback and I think I've now ruled out a quick inexpensive fix. Not sure how the lifter went bad in the first place but 120K miles or so and 24+ years isn't too bad.
No additive will correct this problem. I am now convinced. I've pretty much tried everything: Rislone, Marvel Mystery Oil, Prestone engine flush or whatever (twice), TX7 teflon additive. I had hoped I could fix it the easy way but no such luck. I just hope this won't scare a prospective buyer away when I put the car up for sale at some point. Anyone know what the labor time is digging in to do lifters on a 1980 and buttoning her back up? Wondering if its better to sell it "as is." A cryin' shame, because I'd hoped it would continue to be a good commuter car up/down the freeway for me without having to spend a whole lot more money, but the realilty is I have to put several hundred into the car on average every month to really keep it in top running shape due to the mileage and age. Hate to admit it, but I just don't have a whole lot of money and time to continue throwing at this car. I love it and its been good to me for the most part. Never left me stranded anywhere etc., but it may be time for someone who doesn't mind putting a few $$$s and time into it to get it back to 100%. Sorry to whine but about all of this but you guys gave excellent feedback and I think I've now ruled out a quick inexpensive fix. Not sure how the lifter went bad in the first place but 120K miles or so and 24+ years isn't too bad.
03-06-2005, 08:12 PM
#35
Burning Brakes
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Santa Cruz, California
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Don't give up yet. She's not quite dead. I understand your frustration. We all do. But... the beast is 25 years old. Things get tired. Replacing the failed lifters really isn't that hard of a job. Depends on your mechanical inclination, depth of pocket, or circle of mechanically inclined, deep-pocketed... Friends. lol You can slum it in your 993 til the 928 comes back online. Honestly, if you can isolate the bank/lifter(s) that's making the racket, you can fix this problem for a few hundred bucks. You can probably sweet talk one of the big 3 into sending you a batch of used lifters for a reasonable price. Some hand tools, some perseverance, some patience... and the old girl will be online, quietly eating the riff-raff out on the road today.
