Lifters or knock??

[3000gt513]

The noise is a lot worse when I first start my car up.
I can't hear it at all when I'm driving because it's a pretty faint noise.
I really hope it's not rod knock because this is my only car and I need it for college.

Here is a video of the noise:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aX21Fpc-_o

[green-lantern]

Sounds like lifters to me.

[Atrosity]

Lifters to me as well, knock is a lower sound

[blindmist]

Def lifters. Knock is a more chunk sound. I dont know how to explain it exactly. Get some CD2 oil detergent and use it in place of 1qt of oil when you change your oil. It takes about an hour of constant driving to go away after that.

[nogreatloss]

yep, definitely lifter tick.

[MaxClass]

What year is the car? Sound like a first Generation with ticky tacky lifter tick. All 1st gen's do that until you change out the lifters.

[B-Man]

Sounds like lifters to me, too.

[Frostedbutts]

I just posted a thread like this a week ago. Exact same noise as my car, and it's lifters as I was told by everyone else.

[terrets]

Whens the last time you changed your oil? Could just be dirty.

[DV8]

lifter tick, man ...what oil and weight is that? how many miles on that motor? and where's your pressure gauge reading?

[3000gt513]

lifter tick, man ...what oil and weight is that? how many miles on that motor? and where's your pressure gauge reading?

No idea what weight the oil is because a shop changed it when I first bought the car.
The motor has about 109,000 miles on it and has probably had the tick since it rolled 108,000.
My oil pressure is fairly low as well. It is about 5 notches above the L on the gauge.
Thanks for all the replies guys. This is a great forum.

[DV8]

My oil pressure is fairly low as well. It is about 5 notches above the L on the gauge


I assume that reading is at idle, and it goes up a couple notches at 2-3k rpm. That's normal.
If it is always over the middle of the gauge .... oil viscosity is likely too high.
Flow is what you need w/small bore lifters.
I'd change the oil/filter and use a quality 5w20 or 5w30 synthetic ....
1g lifters don't like old or thick oil. Check back after the change and 50 miles....

[3000gt513]

Thanks for the input.

[DV8]

You're welcome.
Check your oil pan for dents....don't want to restrict the pickup tube.
And when you do the 120k, get a new oil pump and 99 lifters installed, too.
Peace of mind ....priceless.

[Alex3000gt]

I had a collapsed lifter on a JDM motor that I installed in a 91 ES, it sounded like helllllllllllll, almost like a 2 stroke motor. Anyway, that's lifter tick for sure.

[mb3000]

Ahh, 2 stroke:D:D

[Mike-92RT]

for now, if you want, you can buy an oil additive to quiet the lifters. They're like 3 bucks a can

[3000gt513]

Anyone got any suggestions on the best oil to put in the car?

[terrets]

Search here first. If you cant find much, go search 3si.org for that haha...Yes I just suggested that....Not sure if theres many oil threads on here. I run Rotella T6 Synthetic 5W40 in my VR4. I do not drive in winter though.

[Mike-92RT]

if your car aint a race car, dont put the "best" oil in your car.. its a waste of money. Just buy somethin like Castrol Synthetic 5w30, or Mobil 1 Synthetic 5w30.. i don't care what anyone says, i have no problems with those oils, and my N/A R/T runs just fine with them.

Try adding an oil additive that can quiet lifters, see if that works with those oils i suggested.

PS: low oil pressure is normal, because the stock gauges aren't very accurate. Your pressure should be fine.
If you wanna get accurate readings, buy an aftermarket, and go from there.

[Jstarr427]

I'd stick with Castrol Syntec 5w30 or RP 5w30. there was a thread on the 'other site' about Mobil1 in an oil analysis.. showing it broke down waaay too fast.

[terrets]

Ive heard Mobil 1 has redone their synthetic formula since those Blackstone analysis were posted...............I still never trust Mobile 1 :D

[3000gt513]

I just changed the oil with some Mobil 1 and now my check engine light is on.
I have no idea what it could be from. I did notice I have a small dent in my oil pan, but it hasn't been a problem before.
Anyone have any ideas what else it could be from?

[terrets]

Its from the Mobile 1....lol I kid. But seriously, that dent needs to come out because it is probably starving your pump for oil. This is not good, could spin a bearing. Its starving it because the pickup tube goes almost right to the bottom of the pan and it could be touching the pan :/. Dents usually come from low oil....or hitting something obviously.

[DV8]

Check oil filter and that it is tight. Check oil level.
Disconnect your battery ground for about 10mins...then hook it back up.
Start the car. Is CEL still there?

CEL is thrown if oil pressure is <12psi...which it may have been at initial startup after the change.

[3000gt513]

I disconnected the battery for about two minutes and everything works fine now.
Thanks for all the help.

[Mike-92RT]

good to hear buddy!

[3000gt513]

Every time I fix something on this car, something else goes wrong.
My idle jumped from 700rpms to 1400rpms after disconnecting the battery.
My idle is steady at 1400rpms, but I have no idea what caused this either.
Any ideas?

[Emilie@GZP]

What year is the car? Sound like a first Generation with ticky tacky lifter tick. All 1st gen's do that until you change out the lifters.

ALL years do it. You all would cringe if you heard what my 96 sounds like. LOL

It's lifter tick.

[x2percentmilk]

I just had a lifter (or a few) sound like it was completely collapsed...I could hear it from within the cabin at any RPM and it was LOUD, real loud. This morning I changed my oil from the Mobil 1 I had in there to Redline 10w40 and 2 seconds after startup its gone and remained gone on my entire commute.

I've never felt or head my engine so smooth and im pushing 157k miles. I know im late on the draw but figured id plug redline :P

[DrkZide]

I still run Mobil 1. Right now I'm using the 0w-40 European blend because I came into a huge ass crate full. I live in Denver and the car is garaged during the winter. I run Rotella T non-synthetic in the truck. Gen1 Chevy 350