Sticky Lifter, Drops Cyl At Startup

[Guest]

I know what I should do in this case...

I have a sticky lifter. No big deal, only for the first minute or 2, it drops a cylinder a bit, probably a stuck open valve from the lifter. After a minute of driving, more of a tick, then after a few minutes its completely gone. I just changed the oil recently, and I may have loosened up some sludge. It probably got into the lifter (some of it), and made it stick at startup.

No no no, definitely not a piston slap or rod knock, I know the difference. Its a high pitched "ticking" noise, and it goes away when the lifter galley fills with oil. I put in Kedall One straight 50 for summer (a penny a quart at AutoZone, I bought a case and did both cars!) and a cheaper filter, which is fine (theyre usually manufactured by a bigger company, like Fram, for instance).

I think, rather than water my new oil down with Rislone now, Ill just deal with the tick till it gets cool out or I hit 2,000 miles on the oil and put the Rislone in, probably a half quart. Its always done wonders for a sticky or ticky lifter for me.

No, I did not fill the filter with oil first, which probably caused it. The issue with that is, for a split second, pressure from the oil pump causes air to shoot through the dingy galleys (instead of oil, since no oil in the filter), loosening debris that this motor probablty has enough of. Some of it probably got into the lifter oil galleys and boom, lifter stick/tick. That info is from my father, whos worked on cars for 50 years, and some here may know what he races now.

Always fill your filter! Especially on older internally dingy engines.

Any other suggestions?

 

[wsa111]

Put a quart of automatic transmission fluid in the crankcase.

Hopefully the high degerent in the ATF will cut the blockage or varnish in the lifter area.

Why are you running 50 weight?? Do you have an oil burner or oil pressure problems from a worn out engine?? William

 

[MustangSix]

Sometimes a differnt filter helps. The paper anti-drainback valve on Fram filters is pretty poor. I use Purolator, Pure One, or Mobil 1 filters and in a couple of instances the startup clatter went away and oil pressure built up faster.

 

[Guest]

No, doesnt burn a bit of oil. Full engine overhaul last year. I mainly put straight 50 in it because the 2 speed auto runs at hingh rpms on the highway with the 2 speed. @ 65 mph its about 3500 give or take. I ran it on 50 for protection in this Chicago heat.

It was mainly my mistake by not filling the filter with oil, but its angled, so I really didnt want to spill any. What was supposed to be oil turned out to be an air pocket pushing air and debris in the galleys for a second or two.

Soon to come, Rislone, in about 2 K.

 

[LaGrasta]

My '98 Astro (105,000 miles) has a very rough idle while in gear at stop lights, mostly wih the a/c on. My Dad said the valves are sticking. So just last night I added Marvel Mystery Oil to the gas and oil. I never used it before. We'll see what happens.

 

[Soldmy66]

I have heard on another forum (FSC, a Full Size Chevy truck forum) that engine buildup is effectively (and almost amazingly) dealt with by using a product referred to as "Seafoam". I've not used it, but the reviews are impressive. I've also hear of temporarily running diesel oil, which is very high in detergent, to address sticky lifters.

 

[Anonymous]

i'm using marvel miracle oil since the last 3 oil changes only ( not pure marvel i use castrol gtx high milage and put marvel in). It quiets my lifters down quite a bit. Mine make a lot of clatter on start up with out it. Although unlike you guy's motors mine runs like a top.

My neighbor used to be a chevy mechanic and realy knows his stuff. He told me, that he would put chevy performance engine flush through the motor to clean up all the carbon and oil deposits in my motor. He said it's used by sucking it in through the intake. At least that's what i beleive he said.