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Ticking Noise After no Oil Pressure - Lifters? by willyt
Started on: 01-16-2023 11:10 AM
Replies: 13 (286 views)
Last post by: reinhart on 01-27-2023 03:28 AM
willyt
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Report this Post01-16-2023 11:10 AM Click Here to See the Profile for willytSend a Private Message to willytEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Hi all,

As seen in my previous thread, I recently replaced the oil pan gasket and lost oil pressure. I got the system primed again, but did run the car for a few seconds without oil pressure.

I now have a ticking noise that sounds like it is coming from the lifters. I am curious what the best course of action is.

It has been recommended to me to try and use thicker weight oil and see if that quiets it down. I would like to let the car warm up and see how the noise changes, but I'm hesitant to run the car with it ticking like it is.


Will I hurt anything by running it in its current state?
What is the best course of action if it is ticking now - thicker oil and ignore it? Or is there anything I can do?
How long will it run with it ticking? Is this a large problem or a slight annoyance?

Thanks!
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Report this Post01-16-2023 11:40 AM Click Here to See the Profile for steve308Send a Private Message to steve308Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Are you sure it's the lifters? Sometimes the injectors make a loud ticking / clicking noise. A cheap harbor freight tool may help.
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willyt
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Report this Post01-16-2023 11:50 AM Click Here to See the Profile for willytSend a Private Message to willytEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks for the suggestion, but I am pretty confident it is the lifters. It seems far too loud to be an injector, and the noise is coming from the rear valve cover.
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theogre
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Report this Post01-16-2023 01:26 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
⚠️ Do Not use heavy oil. More so in "Winter" where engine gets below 32°F or more when parked.
See my Cave, Oil and Filter

Run a few sec w/o oil pressure generally won't cause lifter noise and if does then should go "quiet" very fast. And when does this, This will kept happening every time you parked overnight or longer.

Lifter noise is often problem(s) w/ iffy lifters, worn parts, or bad adjustment.

Valve rockers on Hydro lifters need 0 or very close to 0 so hydro has 0 play or is Very slightly compress all the time when engine warms to op temp.
This is Why Intake and Exhaust valves often have different lash on a cold engine because E side valves get hotter and sooner.

So May just need "Fiero" V6 and others to run long enough to reach normal op temp to silence the valve train.

Even then just having change the oil and doing other work, can "wash" crap out oil "pipes" and lifters can take a long time or never get quiet that's if really was quiet to start but didn't bother you.
Most people have no clue how much crap is in the engine even if oil was change 3,000 - 5,000mi after 50,000mi yet alone 100,000mi driving...

Note: Lifters have a Clip on top to keep parts together. This chip doesn't like to be beaten w/ bad adjustment etc. and can fail.
But "dirt" in a lifter can cause same noise as iffy adjustment or wear problems because inner parts won't move right and act like system w/ too much valve lash.

I recently replace lifters on a Duke w/ no valve adjustment allowed and that was night/day difference on noise. Old lifters had varnish and dirt causing lifter binding and while often can clean that, no time to do it for all lifters. You can't just pop the clip etc or very likely to loose very small parts. If binding have to let carb cleaner etc to work into the parts just to get inner piston out w/o damage. Is harder to work on Roller lifters too because roller tip wants to roll when trying to remove/install the top clip.

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willyt
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Report this Post01-16-2023 02:08 PM Click Here to See the Profile for willytSend a Private Message to willytEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks Ogre for your reply.

If I'm understanding you correctly, I should let it warm up and see if the noise goes away? If so, just ignore it?
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Raydar
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Report this Post01-16-2023 04:08 PM Click Here to See the Profile for RaydarSend a Private Message to RaydarEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by willyt:

Thanks Ogre for your reply.

If I'm understanding you correctly, I should let it warm up and see if the noise goes away? If so, just ignore it?


I believe that's what I would do. A lifter ticking for a few minutes shouldn't hurt anything. Especially if it stops.
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willyt
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Report this Post01-16-2023 04:25 PM Click Here to See the Profile for willytSend a Private Message to willytEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Perfect, thanks for your help. I'll check it out next weekend and see if it improves as it warms up.
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Patrick
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Report this Post01-16-2023 04:50 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post

If a lifter has gummed up and gotten stuck, it might be worth your while to add Marvel Mystery Oil to the crankcase. Do a quick search on YouTube and watch a few videos regarding its use.
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sanderson231
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Report this Post01-16-2023 05:24 PM Click Here to See the Profile for sanderson231Send a Private Message to sanderson231Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:


If a lifter has gummed up and gotten stuck, it might be worth your while to add Marvel Mystery Oil to the crankcase. Do a quick search on YouTube and watch a few videos regarding its use.


I bought a 3/4 GMC truck with 175.000 mile on it. It had a bit of lifter tick. I changed the oil and used an additive - don't remember which for sure. It might have been mystery oil. The tick did go away after 500 miles or so.

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willyt
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Report this Post01-23-2023 09:43 AM Click Here to See the Profile for willytSend a Private Message to willytEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Just a quick update for anyone who might have the same issue.

The ticking went away as the car warmed up. I'm sure that it will come back when it is cold started again, but I added some MMO, so hopefully it will fade away.

Other than the slight noise, the car runs great, there doesn't seem to be any loss of power etc.

Thanks for the help on this thread.
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Raydar
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Report this Post01-23-2023 03:27 PM Click Here to See the Profile for RaydarSend a Private Message to RaydarEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks for letting us know what's up.

Lots of times, we never hear the result.
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Dukesterpro
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Report this Post01-24-2023 10:45 AM Click Here to See the Profile for DukesterproSend a Private Message to DukesterproEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I just wanted to follow up, make sure you are using a oil filter with good anti-drain back. That will help alleviate ticking on start up. My brand new lifters tick on start up, which I believe to be a result of bad drain back on my filter.
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willyt
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Report this Post01-25-2023 11:10 AM Click Here to See the Profile for willytSend a Private Message to willytEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Good point, I know there are quite a few threads on here about filters, but I'm honestly not sure which one I currently have on the car. Good thing to double check.
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reinhart
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Report this Post01-27-2023 03:28 AM Click Here to See the Profile for reinhartSend a Private Message to reinhartEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Dukesterpro:

I just wanted to follow up, make sure you are using a oil filter with good anti-drain back. That will help alleviate ticking on start up. My brand new lifters tick on start up, which I believe to be a result of bad drain back on my filter.


Never heard of anti-drain back oil filters. Would you tell me the name of the filter that has this. A link would be even better! Thanks.
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