LIFTER NOISE

[Anonymous]

HI , I JUST HAD A NEW CAM,ROLLER CHAIN AND LIFTERS PUT IN MY 87 XF FALC. , NOW AND AGAIN WHEN ITS RUN AWHILE I CAN HEAR LIFTER NOISE (TICK,TICK,TICK ETC.), THIS IS ONLY AT LOW SPEED OR JUST OFF IDLE WHEN ITS WARMED UP. , SPEED SHOP RECKONS TO GIVE IT A WEEK TO SETTLE IN, AS OLD PUSH RODS AND ROCKERS WERE USED(THEY WERE IN O'K' NICK) WHAT DO YOU'S RECKON?????........

 

[xctasy]

Yes, the usual dry lifter noise stops over time. If it's not gone in a week, hassle them with no mercy!

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe a bad spring? Maybe they didn't treat the lifters before installing them?

 

[Anonymous]

I had a similiar prob.

If you have an adjustable rocker assembly, and this problem doesn't go away in a few weeks(give it a little more time to break in), check the adjustment screws on the rockers.

My prob was that after the rebuild I would have to adjust the rockers every other week cuzz my lifters weren't seated or something, the ticking did go away after adjusting the screws but would come back, it turns out the rocker arm adjustment screws weren't the same grade/hardness as the new pushrods. This went on for almost 9 months until I finally called the builder of my engine and he said it's a rocker issue not a lifter issue since the sound would go away after adjustment. After removing the rocker assembly(to get a better view) the old adjustment screws were worn away the same amount that I had readjusted them in the previous months.

I got the new adjustment screws at no charge, been driving my mustang for about 2 weeks now and no problems as of yet.

Just an idea though?
Chris Harris

 

[BIGREDRASA]

You could have low oil pressure. Could be oil thinning out. What oil are you running? What's your engine temp? How many miles on your engine and/or oil pump? :

 

[Anonymous]

THANKS FOR THE TIPS, IT SEEMS TO BE ONLY ONE LIFTER SO I DONT THINK ITS OIL PRESSURE. MY MATE RECKONS WAIT A WEEK THEN DRAIN STOCK (PROBABLE CHEAPY) OIL THEN FILL UP WITH CASTROL 20/50 I THINK HE SAID. ITHOUGHT THE STANDARD VALVE SETUP WAS NON ADJUSTABLE!!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

DON'T USE 20w50! This will starve those nice new lifters. If you feel the need to run a thicker oil, try 15w40 Rotella, but that is the thickest I would go. Try a synthetic, 10w30, just to see what happens.

Jared

 

[BIGREDRASA]

I've been using Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W-30 for the last couple of years. It's been worth about 1.5 MPG. The only complaint is that it has found leaks around my headgasket, and washed the paint off the side of my engine block.

 

[addo]

Yep, the Crossflow rockers aren't adjustable - they are factory Cleveland units. They have to be shimmed or pushrods changed. Tappets that don't rotate properly may not oil up. Cam break-in is an important part of this process, as well as de-gumming the lifter bores when changing them.

How is your oil pressure?

Regards, Adam.

 

[Anonymous]

WHAT DO YOU MEEN BY CAM BREAK-IN

 

[addo]

When you put in a new cam and lifters, you have to coat the rubbing surfaces of each with assembly lube (way better than oil), and then run the engine at a constant RPM of 1500-2000, for 20 minutes. Then change the oil, which will be full of fine metal dust.

This matches the surface of the cam to that of the lifters, for maximum life of the new parts.

Watch the engine run with the valve cover off, to see if the pushrods are spinning. They should pretty much all rotate at the same rate. Oil constantly jetting out the little hole at the top of one pushrod can be a sign of a stuck lifter.

Does this help?

Adam.

 

[Anonymous]

YEP THANKS ALOT FOR THE ADVICE. PS.... I THOUGHT THE LIFTER NOISE HAD FINALLY DISAPERED, BUT ALAS IT CAME BACK EVER SO FAINT AFTER ABOUT 20KM

 

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem.

My friend (mechanic) and I came to the conclusion that it has to do with one of the screws (only one valve) of the adjustable rocker assembly. Next week we will adjust again but this time use some locktite on that screw. Hopefully this will fix the problem.

Vas