[s-cars] Lifter noise

[Bill Clancy]

I'm not sure about the de-gumming part...I'll let someone else answer that.

But I at least wanted mention that I run into this lifter noise quite often
and possibly set your mind at ease.   I try to watch the oil level, but
every so often I can hear that the lifters are making noise -- usually as I
enter my garage -- and that alerts me that I need some oil.    When I first
bought the car, this lifter noise was a bit more chronic and it never went
away even with the oil level full.   After owning the car about a year, some
mechanic changed the oil and revved up the engine to 6000 in neutral and got
the lifters to pump up and the noise to go away.    Since then it only
returns if the engine is low on oil, and sometimes after adding oil, I also
have to go thru this same exercise to get the lifters pumped up again.
And...even after all that (owner) abuse, the engine continues to run great
with 115K.

Thanks Joern for the check valve info.  I'll have to look into that as well.

-Bill

Sometime I'll tell the story about the day I drove the car at 80 mph for 30
minutes with no coolant.   ;-(    Quite a rugged engine I have to say.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Claire" <mike.claire at gmail.com>
To: "Joern Amundsen" <joern.amundsen at online.no>
Cc: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 8:21 AM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Lifter noise


This is interesting.  How do you feel about the chances of an "engine
cleaner" de-gumming it without surgury?

I'd be interested in opinions about that, but to be conservative
here's my plan:  change the oil and replace with Castrol full syn
10w30 instead of Mobil 1, and an OEM filter.  I'm running an OEM
filter now, but this one may have a faulty checkvalve.  I've heard
several opinions about the Castrol oil behaving better in our cars.

A proper filter, and oil filled to the top of the operating range
ought to do it.  If not, I'll have to wonder about this oil gallery
check valve.


Thanks
Mike


On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 17:05:09 +0100, Joern Amundsen
<joern.amundsen at online.no> wrote:
> Mike,
> There is a check valve in the oil gallery which should prevent the
draining
> of oil in the lifters when engine is shut down. The check valve is located
> behind the adapter that holds the VDO gauge sensor and 1,8 barg oil
pressure
> switch on the left side of the engine. If this valve sticks in closed
> position it will reduce the amount omf oil to the lifters an noice will
> occur, and if it sticks in open position the engine will clatter for quite
a
> few seconds when engine is started until oil pressure is buildt up again.
>
> Part number is : 077 103 175B-oil retention valve. It is quite thight and
> difficult to get the VDO sensor out and you should probably change all the
> copper rings(10 mm) while you are at it. The retention valve is loosened
by
> using a 8 mm four square Allen key.
>
> And the engines are also very sensitive to low oil level, meaning at low
> level on the dipstick noice will likely occur when oil temperature is
> reaching 90 - 100 deg C.
>
> Best regards Joern, MTM RS
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Claire" <mike.claire at gmail.com>
> To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 8:18 AM
> Subject: [s-cars] Lifter noise
>
> > I work from home and rarely drive the car long distances.  Today I
> > went up north about an hour and 15 minutes on an appointment, and
> > drove back about an hour later.  This was steady interstate driving,
> > 75 or 80 mph.  That's probably the longest drive I've had.  Near the
> > end of the trip I was idling in a drive thru line, thinking to myself
> > what a piece of crap car is ahead of me in line, the valvetrain
> > sounded like the oil hadn't been changed in the life of the car.  Then
> > I noticed the car was actually brand new - still had the temporary
> > plates on it.... the noise was coming from my car :)
> >
> > I have NEVER heard this car (or any car I've ever had) sound the way
> > it did.  I immediately checked my gauges (all normal) and pulled into
> > a parking space, shut off the car and just sat there and thought about
> > things a few minutes.  Later I checked the oil and it was down at the
> > bottom of the operating range on the stick.  That's the lowest I've
> > ever let it get.
> >
> > Knowing I had enough oil, normal pressure, and normal temps, I started
> > the car.  It was still loud, but it was already quieter.  I drove the
> > last 5 miles home, and by the time I was there it was like it never
> > happened.
> >
> > Ideas?
> >
> > Also, it bothers the heck out of me when I start the car each day and
> > hear the same valve noise for the first 1 second until pressure
> > builds.  Anybody else get that?  After that first second, sounds like
> > a brand new car.
> >
> > BTW I'm running Mobil 1 10W30, and I live in NH.  It's not that cold
yet.
> >
> >
> > Mike
> > _______________________________________________
> > S-CAR-List mailing list
> > S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
> >
> >
>
>
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