lifter noise

[76bonanza]

In the morning when it is cold my lifter are very loud untill they pump up is this normal?

[QKENUF4U]

never had that problem in any of my trucks back home in PENNSYLVANIA. what oil weight are ya running ? might have to go down to a 5w-30 or so to get it flowing quicker.

[truckdude239]

depends on how old the motor is i'd never run 5w 30 in our trucks i'd run an min of 10w30 i run 10w40

[Green Machine]

Oil filter plugged ?? I'd change oil to a 10w-30 and put on a good Wix/NAPA oil filter and try that.

[76bonanza]

not oil filter changed it like 3 weeks ago (I use wix) did the same thing before and after. gets good pressure I could go down to 10w30 next winter not going to mess with it now. It has roller rockers not sure what kind of lifters.
but the valve train is kind of noisey anyway I dont think it will hurt to much do i?

[truckdude239]

just sounds like stiff oil to me because after it warms up it goes away right? durning cold weather the oil is stiff i.e. hard to push around so your lifters gona make noise till the oil loosens up. just my 2 cents

[76bonanza]

That is exactly what it is truckdude so I dont think I will worry about it to much maybe next winter I will go with 10w30 in the winter.

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by 76bonanza

That is exactly what it is truckdude so I dont think I will worry about it to much maybe next winter I will go with 10w30 in the winter.

You will eventually collapse a lifter. They are clattering because there is no oil in them to pump them up. Why are you not willing to run 10W30 now? Do you have a stockpile of the thicker stuff? It will eventually cause problems so if it was mine I'd switch oil now and I'd also go check the lash on the valves cold because you have some too loose otherwise they'd stay pumped up. Pull the valve cover and look for loose rockers (you'll have to spin it over to look at all of them closed) and when you locate the loose ones you'll have the clattering ones during cold starts, and give em a 1/4 turn. That will thinner oil will fix it as well prevent no oil at startup. if it is that thick the bearings aren't getting oil either and that will cause a problem.

[76bonanza]

Well I will have to look in to it. I am not a big fan of anything lighter than 10w40 in these motors (really like to run 20w50). I did not realize it was so seriuos most of the people I talk to said as long as goes away in a couple of minutes after cold start not to worry about it.

[70rs/ss]

I run straight 50 or 60 weight, but I lived in tucson and it was 110 degrees. I now run a 5w30 in the winter. the lifter has a spring inside it and when it fills with oil the spring doesn't bear the wight of the valve and spring, but with no oil in it the lifter comes up and the pushrod comes down, thus pushing that spring all the way compressed, over time the spring can break or loose its ability to spring, and again a thick oil does not circulate through the motor which starves bearings and such for oil. Idealy an oil pan heater could be used to pre-heat the oil before firing it up. Check the lash and use the thinner first number (it is only 5 or 10 weight untill it warms up, then it thickens up to 30 or 40 depending on what the bottle says) Look for 10w40, but I'd shy away from 20w50 if it gets real cold (it has been 3, 5, 7 degrees here in the mornings so I use 5w 30). When it warms up I'll switch back to 20W50 or straight 50. This is really only my opinion as are those of the guys saying it is OK, but I always err on the side of caution, because I am not willing to trash a motor on someone else's advice.

[ChevLoRay]

I have seen people use Risolone in the crankcase (comes in quart cans) of engines that had a lot of noisy lifters....any noisy lifters, for that matter. When I was pulling wrenches for "the world's largest department store", the shop boss would offer up an "enema" for an engine that he deemed needed it. Seems like a can of Risolone, a quart of diesel oil, a quart of kerosene, and a couple cans of something else, after which he would start the engine and let it idle for 30 minutes, then drain the oil and change the filter. This procedure was supposed to clean the engine. I wouldn't know. To me, the only way to clean one that is all gunked-up, is hot tanking it. Then, you will know it has been cleaned out.

Some people also pour additives, like Risolone, down the carburetor...which will cause some intense smoke to emenate from the exhaust system (do it oudoors, for sure!). Some will do that with half the can, then pour the rest in so that the engine floods and dies. Then, after it sets for a while (I don't know how long), it is restarted.

Whether or not this or any other miracle treatment additive will, or can, help a sticking lifter is debatable. I'll bet that there are lots of people who will chime in and say Bardahl, or Wynn's Top Oil, or whatever chemical is their favorite, is the only way to solve the problem. At the least, you've just wasted a couple of bucks.

[76bonanza]

timed it today, was in mid 30's dark stiff wind about 10 hours sitting. Tapped mid-loud for 5 secs and was completely gone by 15 secs. (seemed longer before I timed it LOL)

[jhwkns]

When I start mine in the morning I'll crank it over 'till I have oil pressure, then pull the choke and fire it up.

[86SILVERADO]

20w50 is way to thick for winter driving change it out asap.