Ticking Started After Oil Change (Page 1/4)
Mike85k OCT 07, 06:40 PM
Hi All,
I purchased this GT back in February of this year, I am told I am the third owner, I just broke 93k miles on it.
I changed the oil last weekend and used Pennzoil 5w30 full synthetic, and this ticking started at that time. I used a Fram xtra guard filter.
The oil level seems to be right just past the operating range on the dipstick.
This sounds louder from below the car, not from the valve covers as I would expect if it was a sticking valve.
Any recommendations? Should I switch to a heavier oil? Need any additives?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QcW6ubd5TNcTdh7k9
Romsk OCT 07, 07:20 PM
I am consulting with Mike on this.

We have discussed several possible issues. I suggested that he steer away from any oil additive at this stage, but its his call.

I am thinking bad lifter(s), maybe worn wrist pins, maybe worn rod or crankshaft bearings.

As you can see and hear, he tried to feather the RPMs to see if he could get the ticking to subside - I call this "floating" a bearing as I once blew out a rod bearing and I was able to limp the car home by getting the RPMs just right to "float" the rod on the bad bearing (for minimal noise). It was a last ditch effort, if I left it by the roadside in Bridgeport Connecticut in the 1990s it would have been stripped.

Thanks,
Biff
Romsk OCT 07, 07:23 PM
He had just reset his ECM, so it makes sense his idle was hunting a little bit.
Patrick OCT 07, 07:41 PM

quote
Originally posted by Mike85k:

This sounds louder from below the car, not from the valve covers as I would expect if it was a sticking valve.



Sounds like a stuck lifter to me. It might free itself up after some further use (at operating temperature).
Mike85k OCT 07, 08:56 PM
Paul and I have been talking and he pointed me to notice that my oil pressure is showing high. Does that correlate with a stuck lifter?
Should I run seafoam or other additive in the oil to help? Is it safe to drive if it doesn't get worse?
Raydar OCT 07, 09:52 PM
Definitely doesn't sound like a "bottom end" noise. I would agree that it sounds more like a stuck lifter, but it's also kind of "random".

Don't know what to say about the high oil pressure reading.
If something is blocking the oil flow, it might cause the gauge to read high, and might cause the rest of the engine to be oil starved. I believe the oil sender is after the pump, but before all the rest of the oiling system. But I could easily be wrong. It's been a while since I paid attention to that.

As an aside, I haven't heard anything good about Fram filters, lately, although I don't know about the different "levels" they sell.
I might suggest a Mobil1 or a Wix. Just a personal preference.
(This is really a topic for another thread. It could potentially open a huge can of worms. Not my intention.)
Romsk OCT 08, 06:26 AM
I agree, Frame filters are not what they were in the 1980s. I use NAPA in my Fieros. I use Wix on my zeroturn mower. Wix are made in Mexico but their quality is very good.

The Oil Pressure sending units are not reliable. The resistive wiper inside wears quickly and shows false readings. When they get real bad, the gauge may peg high.

I agree, a failing lifter would sound more rhythmic at idle.

I am not in front of the engine but this ticking showed up after an oil change.

For a light ticking, I would drive it off, but Mike's ticking is loud.

Maybe an oil additive may help, but the oil would need to be changed immediately after the treatment. Your thoughts?
82-T/A [At Work] OCT 08, 07:51 AM
I kind of want to echo what Raydar said.

I had a bad main bearing many years ago (car overheated from a failed water pump, etc.). It resulted in lower oil pressure at the top... which resulted in a similar ticking noise that you're getting now from the valve train (of course, I had other sounds too).

It makes sense to me that if you're seeing really high oil pressure readings, that perhaps something is blocking your oil passage which is resulting in a high-oil pressure (before the blockage but after the pump) and thus starving the valve train like Raydar said.


Also to echo what he said, it definitely does not sound like a bottom-end sound. I've had that (as I mentioned earlier) and that's much deeper.

My advice would be to:

1 - Change the oil filter immediately (doesn't matter, something cheap)
2 - Use engine flush (Run 5-8 minutes): https://shop.advanceautopar...liquid-mf3/7120030-p
3 - Change the oil filter to a WIX or a Purolator, and change the oil to your oil of choice.


I'm thinking that should clear it up...

EDIT: My thinking is that maybe the oil hadn't been changed in a while, and there's a lot of gunk in there. A lifter shouldn't just fail like that, unless the previous oil was much heavier weight oil. How many miles does it have? If the problem still persists after doing a flush and oil change, I'd take the valve covers off and check the valve lash on the valves.

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 10-08-2025).]

Vintage-Nut OCT 08, 07:54 AM

quote
Mike85k:
I changed the oil last weekend and used Pennzoil 5w30 full synthetic, and this ticking started at that time. I used a Fram xtra guard filter.
The oil level seems to be right just past the operating range on the dipstick.
Any recommendations? Should I switch to a heavier oil? Need any additives?
Paul and I have been talking and he pointed me to notice that my oil pressure is showing high. Does that correlate with a stuck lifter?



IMHO: I'm a conventional oil guy; use 10W-40 in my V6 and never use oil additives to avoid negative effects.

Before the oil change, no 'ticking'?
Do you know 'what' oil/weight the previous owner used?
Did you notice the oil pressure before and after the oil change? {Don't trust the dash sending unit; check it with an accurate gauge}


------------------
Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles

Mike85k OCT 08, 11:22 AM
I've never checked the pressure with anything but the dash gauge, it did used to settle to right around the midway mark (I think its 40?) but it has been staying much higher. Hard to say for sure as I havent really driven it, its just idles for us to take some recordings and try to diagnose the sound.