Lifter noise in a '88 80q...

[David]

While I agree that they may need to be replaced if they tap for long periods of time, I have a few suggestions on how to quite them down. First and formeost, use a good filter (Mann or OEM). Now run nice thick oil, like 20W50 and change it on time every time (2,500-3,000 miles seems about right for my car YMMV)

When I got my CGT, she had MAD lifter tick. What I did was start using Marvelous Mystery Oil before oil changes. MMO acts as a nice engine cleaner (solvent?) and cleans all the crud out of your engine. This crud may be what is keeping your lifters from pumping up properly. I'm sure some (many? most?) people will say that ALL oil addatives are pure snake oil, but I have had good experiences with MMO.

About a week before an oil change was due, I would drain out some oil and replace it with 1 quart of MMO. Then drive like normal for about a week and do an oil change. After a few treaments lke this over the course of 6 months, my lifters now only tick for 10 seconds of o upon a cold start. I know it's time for a MMO oil change when the lifter start to tick more, usually around 2,800 miles. When I first got her, fresh oil would be black within a week or two, now it stays clean looking for nearly the whole life of the oil.

Good luck!

Dave
1987 CGT Special Build
SE Virginia
> From: Ti Kan <ti at amb.org>
> Date: 2003/03/29 Sat AM 02:18:45 EST
> To: orsopers at attbo.com
> CC: quattro at audifans.com ('Quattro List')
> Subject: Re: Lifter noise in a '88 80q...
>
> ORSOPERS writes:
> > ...
> > The Bentley manual says that 'Unusual noise form valve lifter while starting
> > is normal' and then implies that it isn't a problem as long as the unusual
> > noise stops by the time the fan comes on for the first time.
> > ...
>
> I think the Bentley is being too lenient in this case.
>
> What brand/model of oil filter is your car running on?  A cheap filter
> can cause undue lifter tapping noises.  A few seconds of lifter tapping
> is OK after a cold start, but it should quiet down soon after that.
> If you are using the proper filter (OEM Audi, or the appropriate Mann
> or Mahle brand units), and the lifter still makes noise when the engine
> is warmed up, then the lifters should probably need to be replaced.
>
> -Ti
> 2003 A4 1.8T multitronic
> 2001 S4 biturbo 6-sp
> 1984 5000S turbo
> 1980 4000 2.0 5-sp
> --
>     ///  Ti Kan                Vorsprung durch Technik
>    ///   AMB Laboratories, Sunnyvale, CA. USA
>   ///    ti at amb.org
>  //////  http://www.amb.org/ti/
> ///
>
>