Hey everyone, I know this topic has been done to death, but there are a few questions that I haven't found an answer to. I did search, but didn't come up with the answers I was looking for. Basically here's the situation, I've got loud lifters but it is intermittent. I've put Castrol super RX in there and here are my findings from the past 2 days: The lifter tick is 100% intermittent, sometimes I can even start it up in the morning and and the tick is gone. Other times, the engine will tick and after a bit of a drive and the odd squirt of throttle, they clear up. I have a dent in the sump just behind the sump plug, it looks like someone has tried to jack the car up from the sump. MagicMike suggested that the engine could be starving due to the dent. I agree that this is possible, but I'm also thinking that IF the engine was being starved due to the dent in the sump, wouldn't the tick be there all the time? It doesn't make sense to me, if the engine is being starved of oil then wouldn't the tick be there all the time? Once the tick is gone, the car can idle for ages, be turned off and turned back on and idle again and not have a drama. Where exactly is the pickup in the sump? As I said, the dent in my sump is just behind the plug. Here are some pictures: Any ideas would be appreciated! Thanks heaps.
The smallest dent can stuff with the pickup. Pick up might be loose too at the mounting point or where it bolts on. Just take the sump off and look it takes no time. And hit the dent out with a block of timber while its off. Change your oil filter just to be sure. If that fails the cams or a blocked passage. Ever had an oil stabilizer thru the engine? These tend to cause sludge build up and noisy lifters on cold mornings.
The pickup is in the middle, the dent looks like it's on the side. How long have you had the car ? When did you change oil last ? When was it changed before that ? If a car car not been driven much, lifters may get a bit stiff. Normally goes away after a couple of weeks with frequent driving. A couple of oil changes will also help removing a bit of gunk. 2 days is not enough to get any valid feedback
Thanks for the replies. I have only had the car for a few days, I did an oil change yesterday after I registered it and put Castrol diesel oil in it. I know that 2 days isn't long enough for real feedback. My main question is this: Is it likely that if the engine is being starved of oil, that the noise would be intermittent?? Anyone got a link to the tech section on how to wire up an oil pressure gauge? I have an electric SAAS one that my room mate will lend me, so I'll try to hook it up and get a reading.
It's a REALLY horrible noise when it comes on though, very loud? I am hoping you're right. It doesn't seem likely that the tick would go away if the engine was being starved, right?
OK, so here is the noise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem9FMgxn6g&feature=youtube_gdata_player Nasty right? Here it is again after a short drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcFHUR-ieBQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player Anyone got any clue as to why it's so intermittent?
WTF As for the noise, it sounds like a lifter may have a seized check ball. That would allow oil to drain out at a faster rate than normal, and could explain why it's such an intermittent issue. The dent in your sump doesn't look too severe in those photos. Besides, if the dent was too close to the oil pick up, you'd probably have seized bearings by now.
Oil I would not recommend using RX Super in a Zed. I use RX Super all the time in diesel applications, but I would not use it in a Zed. Decent oil, but wrong application. Try using something like a 10W40 oil made for petrol applications :br:
Nothing wrong with the RX Super's specs, like I said in my post it's a decent oil. And yes, I do know it's specifications and the requirements of the VG30, but that was not my point. I never said that it was not suitable because it meets diesel requirements. I don't see the point in quoting my post, then mis-quoting me for something I didn't say. Not trying to start a fight, or another oil debate , and I'm certainly not going to slag off a major lubricant manufacturer on a public forum. I simply said I would not recommend using RX Super in a Zed. Take it or leave it. Cheers, Steve Quick Edit: Also I believe the higher phosphorous content is bad for the catalytic converters
Who remembers my "what is this noise thread" as this seems very similar to mine ... I still haven't came across what my problem was but I ended up doing a full rebuild anyway
It completely goes away and can do for ages at a time. I have a filter here that came out of the car before I put the super RX in there. I'll cut it open tomorrow.
I'm going to say oil pump - mine sounded like that when it screwed up. Sump and timing belt off to fix. You don't need a crane, just get an engine support brace ($100-150 off ebay) Drop the crossmember and open her up!
If it was the oil pump that would make sense as to why the sound goes away after I thrash it a bit, because the oil would get pumped properly.
