Hydraulic valve lifter problems

[steveb@newkla.kla.com (Steven Buchholz)]

Haven't had a chance to read the voluminous files from the server yet, so I hope this one isn't fully covered there ... My '88 5000CSQ Wagon seems to have noisier valve lifters than I would expect.  I expect the tapping at start up, but there are often several lifters making noise when idling after the engine is warmed up.  I put some lifter de-gumming fluid in the oil with the last change, and that solved the problem for a while, but now it's time to change oil again and the lifters are ticking.  Should I replace them?  I understand aftermarket lifters are available (american-made) ... any experiences with them out there?

Thanks in advance!
Steve Buchholz
s_buchho@kla.com

'78 Audi Fox GTI
'83 Turbo Quattro Coupe (ur-quattro)
'88 5000CS Quattro Wagon
Vorsprung durch Technik!