993RS

When it is very cold, my lifters tap for a while. I had the lifters done 3 years ago. I was told to use Castrol 10-60W oil.

It is not a big deal, it goes away as soon as the temperature begins to rise, but wonder how many others have the same problem. I have 100,000 miles on my car.

Thanks.

linen grey ghost

74K miles here on '95 Carrera - sitting for over a week with cold (40s/50s F) temps produces some lifter clatter for me until engine warmed up - noise gradually subsides and disappears after five minutes of easy run time. Tells me I should drive the car more frequently.

pp000830

Did you have all 12 replaced?

993RS

Yes I did. Porsche dealership.

jan the man

Replaced all of my lifters 3 years ago (one of them twice), use Mobil 1 15/50, at start up ticks like a sewing machine after a few minutes it stops.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Hi Phil!

Lifters can make noise if the car sits for a long time and they can bleed down. They can also become noisy when the seals fail or the wrong oil is used.

I'm not a fan of 10w-x oils in these cars for this and other reasons, with the exception being for cars used in arctic conditions. I much prefer a 15w-40 or 15w-50 as I think it helps the oil to cling better; something very important to crankshaft thrust bearings, cams, rocker arms and lifters.

KNS

I think oil can make a difference. When I bought my '95 three years ago it had a good "tick" on the left side. I switched to Mobil V-Twin 20W-50 (with a little Mobil 15W-50 mixed in), and the tick lessened. These days I almost never hear the tick anymore which baffles me but I'm not complaining.

993RS

Hi Steve! Well, in my case I drive my car daily. The noise goes away in a couple of minutes when it warms up, and it is only when it is cold and in the morning, that I hear the lifters. Thanks for the heads up, will try switching to 15w-50 oil. Otherwise, the car still rocks with your gearset...

JDB1

Turned a rod bearing in a moderately cold climate. You may want to consider 0W-40.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Under no circumstances should a 0w-40 oil be used in an air-cooled engine.

For arctic conditions, one can use a 5w-40 or 10w-40, provided its been fortified with some additional ZDDP since very few such oils contain enough for these engines.

(if you spun a bearing, that was a totally different issue)

JDB1

The issue was lubrication not reaching the bearing for multiple engine starts. One bearing failed before the others, but all showed scoring and excessive wear including the mains. I am not suggesting 0W-40 should be used in moderate climates or occasionally driven cars, but in colder climates for daily or frequently driven cars I would consider it.

bobboinski

I have owned numerous VWs and Porsches that were used at Lake Tahoe as daily drivers in winter with no bearing failures back in the day when all I used was 20w50. I think there is more to this failure than oil viscosity. In cold climates you really need to think about how you operate machinery.

JDB1

Bobbo, I have come to accept that engine lubricant brand, viscosity, additive package, change intervals and filters will always be a contentious conservation. I agree that how you drive is one of the many factors, and I also suggest that there is a difference in Lake Tahoe winters and northern Wisconsin winters where my misfortune occurred.