[s-cars] RE: Lifter Noise

[CyberPoet]

The one thing that I have used with great success has been
Gunk brand oil flush before oil changes. Use as directed.
It's a petroleum based product which removes varnishes, oil
clumps and (for lack of a better term) gunk, liquifies into
the oil that is about to be changed. It can help an ailing
lifter.

Notes on this and similar products:

1. Had a old chevy 350 engine that had been abused (no oil
change from purchase at 5k miles to 32k miles by the
previous owner), and when I got it, there was one  -- one!
-- teacup worth of oil in the car. I did oil changes
regularly (every 2k miles) and flushed each time. At 60k
miles, the engine was yanked by the new owner (a friend who
had bought it off me) and in the process, they crushed a
valve cover. When they opened up the engine to check for
damage, the shop called him and then me, asking if the
mileage was a joke -- the engine appeared to be fresh from
the factory (no signs of wear, tarnish, etc). Caused me to
swear by the product.

2. Had an 12 year old volvo 740GLE with 188k miles on it
when I acquired it from a friend. Immediately set about to
doing the timing belt, tune up and oil change (with the
flush) before converting to a synthetic oil. The
combination of the oil flush (removing old,  dried on-oil
clogs) and the new synthetic oil (thin by it's nature,
5W50) caused the engine to leak oil at places where it had
never leaked before, such as the main crank bearings. At
such an advanced age, part of the seal of the oiling system
was dried-on oil at various seals. Whether to blame the
flush or the synthetic (I tend to think the synthetic was
most of the culprit after a diet of 20W50) is questionable,
but I won't necessarily recommend the flush for very old,
tired engines...

Best Wishes,
=-= Marc Glasgow


Cody Wrote:
Gents,
	In the last 48 hours it seems that I have developed lifter noise.  I
check=
ed my oil was a bit low (~1 qt) guess should have checked earlier..I
guess.=
   Anyway oil pressure reading good and even after topping her off full
w/ A=
msoil 0W-30 I still am getting lifter noise.

Thoughts? Suggestions (Besides Should Have Checked your Oil!),
Experiences?