To be honest, this isn't in a Fiero. It's a '98 Cavalier w/ 2.2L "2200 SFI" 4 cyl, but the same principles apply. I'm praying that the noise is just stuck hydraulic lifters because this is my supposedly "reliable" daily driver, and I can't afford big repairs! The sound was there when I got the car, but the PO said it was normal for these engines. Now it's louder. I might post a sound clip if I get around to it.

1. Does anyone have actual experience with unsticking lifters with stuff like Seafoam, Lucas, or Marvel Mystery Oil? What works best without causing damage? What else is available?

2. I've heard you can run some auto tranny fluid in the oil for a bit, but that sounds BAAAD to me! Anybody know for sure?

3. My uncle says he's unstuck lifters in a car that sat for 16-18 years by squirting WD-40 down the pushrods and smacking them with a rubber mallet. Would PB Blaster potentially ruin anything? Anybody else have tricks like this?

4. Do you REALLY need to pull the head to change the lifters on a '98 2200?

Thanks in advance for your help! -Jason

[This message has been edited by FieroGT42 (edited 05-16-2008).]

isnt that a OHC motor? "sticky lifters" is more a pushrod motor item.

2.2 liter OHV pushrod 4 cylinder.. Intake baffle says "2200 SFI". I know a lot of thing were changed in the '98 engines, but they're still pushrod w/ hydraulic lifters.

[This message has been edited by FieroGT42 (edited 05-16-2008).]

Try Rislone. I put it in an old Plymouth to quiet the lifters, and they did become quieter. (And yes, overhead cam engines can have hydrolic lifters.)

quote Originally posted by pswayne: Try Rislone.

Exactly. I second that motion. Rislone has been around for years, good stuff.

I use Marvel Mystery Oil to clean up the interiors of used motors. I've used Rislone too. I usually base my selection on price at the moment, meaning that's about the only difference I see in those two products. Both do an excellent job of freeing up stuck lifters, usually within 100 miles of driving. I've never used Lucus or Seafoam so can't comment. I would think twice about the PB Blaster/rubber mallet method.

If I really need to clean up an engine, mobil 1 + Zmax. Works great every time.

Okay, I have some Gunk or Gumout brand engine flush crap that says to circulate for a few minutes.. Then I'm going to drain & change in some cheap 5w30 to run with Rislone (they didn't have Seafoam) for a while to flush things out. We'll see what happens. If that doesn't work, I'll try some heavy oil. If that quiets it down, I guess I'm looking at oil pressure and maybe bearing problems. If that doesn't help, I'll post sound clips and get ready for major work It sounds too high-pitched to be a rod knock, and doesn't sound like a chain to me. I hope I'm right.

quote Originally posted by FieroGT42: 2. I've heard you can run some auto tranny fluid in the oil for a bit, but that sounds BAAAD to me! Anybody know for sure?

I have put thousands of miles on engines running with one quart of tranny fluid and the rest engine oil. The tranny fluid is very high in detergent, it is a great way to slowly clean out the engine. I have seen it stop oil consumption, free up stuck lifters and generally clean things out. It is a slow process, can take months of driving to slowly free up all the crud build-up. If I was working on a cruded up engine in the shop I would usually add a quart of tranny fluid instead of oil, usually did not even tell the owner.

Don't think a lifter will free up quickly with Risoline or Seafoam either. Run some through, then drive it a few thousand miles and see if it frees up.

quote Originally posted by Electrathon: I have put thousands of miles on engines running with one quart of tranny fluid and the rest engine oil. The tranny fluid is very high in detergent, it is a great way to slowly clean out the engine. I have seen it stop oil consumption, free up stuck lifters and generally clean things out. It is a slow process, can take months of driving to slowly free up all the crud build-up. If I was working on a cruded up engine in the shop I would usually add a quart of tranny fluid instead of oil, usually did not even tell the owner. Don't think a lifter will free up quickly with Risoline or Seafoam either. Run some through, then drive it a few thousand miles and see if it frees up.

Dang! Thats dangerous not even telling owners stuff like that. I have used a quart of trans fluid in the oil but only run about 50 miles and then chanegd my oil. Its a little too "non lubricative" to have that much in there for 3k miles IMO. It does work though. I have also used the cheap stuff called Valvemedic, I think Gunk makes it. And it worked for me on a 90 Grand am 2.5 liter.

You can also run that "high mileage" oil from here on out to help, it has more "cleaners" in it.

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 05-22-2008).]

quote Originally posted by Electrathon: I have put thousands of miles on engines running with one quart of tranny fluid and the rest engine oil. The tranny fluid is very high in detergent, it is a great way to slowly clean out the engine. I have seen it stop oil consumption, free up stuck lifters and generally clean things out. It is a slow process, can take months of driving to slowly free up all the crud build-up. If I was working on a cruded up engine in the shop I would usually add a quart of tranny fluid instead of oil, usually did not even tell the owner. Don't think a lifter will free up quickly with Risoline or Seafoam either. Run some through, then drive it a few thousand miles and see if it frees up.

I too have done this. Although whenever I've added tranny fluid, I've done it close to an oil change. So if it frees anything up or gets any gunk or anything out of the engine, it can be draining out of the engine relatively soon, and fresh oil can be put in. After doing this I've noticed a relatively big difference in the amount of "clack" or noise coming from the engine while running.

Matt

Just so ya know the 2.2, and 2200 motors are well known for having a louder than normal valvetrain when they are cold. Obviously yours is a bit worse but I thought Id bring this to ur attention.