[s-cars] Lifter noise

[lebakken1 at netzero.com]

Mike wrote:

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

Mike, I have yet to experience the lifter noise issue with my 70K mile S4, but I sure did with the 86 4000Q I owned for twelve years.

Generally, this would make itself evident if I had not changed the oil for ~4K miles. An AUDIble oil change reminder if you will. I believe the noise stops with new oil because the old oil's detergent package becomes less effective with use.

As an engineer, I am particularly suspicious of "snake oil" products, but there is one that I buy and recommend, and that is Rislone. On my 4000, if I did not feel like changing the oil, a quart of this would stop the noise in 20 miles, and would be good for 2K more. Friends have had similar results on their Audis. My iron clad proof of it's effectiveness was with the Mazda MPV we owned for eleven years. These V6's have a valve lifter noise problem that was the subject of recalls, and was severe. Rislone silenced these as well.

FWIW & YMMV

Craig Lebakken
94 S4