Re: Clicking valves again... and synthetics

[PDQSHIP@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-06-04 16:00:55 EDT, you write:

>but it should end quite soon.  I told him that mine click and then go 
>silent until the first run of the day and then they click loud for the 
>entire day.  I have changd the lifters and it did not help.
>
>His advice was to switch back to non-synthetic oil.  He says that the 
>synthetics do not work properly and that Audi discourages their use.  Is 
>there any truth to this?  ANybody heard the same thing?  Does a clicking 
>valve equal lost power? more wear? or both

.......  Not sure I'd follow that advice.....   You could have a couple of
things happening the first of which is a scarey thought.....  It sounds like
before your first run, all things are fine, click, then none, driving
normally no noise....   Then that first run......    You could have air
getting underneath the valves causing the clicking you describe....  How does
that happen?  Well under high g turns you might get a hiccup in the oil pump
pickup, as in sloshed oil is not picked up for a half second, then fine.....
 Not enough to blow the motor or spin bearings, but enough to build up air
under your lifters.....    Couple of options:  Upgrade to a baffled oil pan,
retrofit a mechanical head, take the oil pan off and study it carefully and
install your own "baffle," talk to a knowlegeable audi dealer parts guy in
your area, he might have a stock audi part for you......

Now, I noticed after a couple of hot laps at Grattan a few weeks ago, that I
had the same prollum with my car.....  Never did it before, but sounded like
the valves clacking away....  This anomoly went away during cooldown
putt-putting, but disconcerting none the less.....  But I would certainly
keep synthetics in it even after you figgr the prollum, it is by definition,
better oil, so hardly think that advice I would take as gospel

 Francois blew his Ginster yeller '90 cq becuz of oil starvation, and he is
up to his eyeballs in prollums (audi does not sell 1 rod, youse buy them
all)...   Something to address, and as always, stay legal.....


Good luck

Scott