Ever since I did the cam and lifters in my 3.4L, it's had a tick on startup. Seemed I had a bad lifter, not holding oil. #2 intake had a different feel to it and would compress when you pushed down on the pushrod, none of the others did that. So I replaced it. At the same time I put in new comp cams pushrods.
On the first start after reassembling the engine, it ticked loudly from that lifter so I brought the revs up to get the oil flowing. It ticked longer and louder than I thought it should, but eventually quieted. Still ticks when starting after sitting more than a day or so, pretty much how it was before.
This evening, I pulled the valve cover and observed the operation with the engine running. It didn't tick on startup because I had driven it earlier in the afternoon, but it did take a while for the oil to start flowing to that rocker where the other ones were flowing immediately. The oil volume was substantially less than the other rockers were getting.
What must I do?!
This is a junkyard engine that did have a ridiculous sludge and deposits. When I installed the cam, I spend some time chiseling and vacuuming the deposits off the heads and lifter valley. Only thing I can think of is that a bit of that crud found it's way into the passage feeding the #2 intake lifter. After I changed the lifter, I filled it with fresh 5w30 synthetic blend (Cenex Auto Gold, what they carry at the Ace Hardware down the road) PDF. Since I am getting some oil flow, think I should try running a detergent additive or "motor flush"? Change to Rotella 5w40 or 15w40? Both?
On the first start after reassembling the engine, it ticked loudly from that lifter so I brought the revs up to get the oil flowing. It ticked longer and louder than I thought it should, but eventually quieted. Still ticks when starting after sitting more than a day or so, pretty much how it was before.
This evening, I pulled the valve cover and observed the operation with the engine running. It didn't tick on startup because I had driven it earlier in the afternoon, but it did take a while for the oil to start flowing to that rocker where the other ones were flowing immediately. The oil volume was substantially less than the other rockers were getting.
What must I do?!
This is a junkyard engine that did have a ridiculous sludge and deposits. When I installed the cam, I spend some time chiseling and vacuuming the deposits off the heads and lifter valley. Only thing I can think of is that a bit of that crud found it's way into the passage feeding the #2 intake lifter. After I changed the lifter, I filled it with fresh 5w30 synthetic blend (Cenex Auto Gold, what they carry at the Ace Hardware down the road) PDF. Since I am getting some oil flow, think I should try running a detergent additive or "motor flush"? Change to Rotella 5w40 or 15w40? Both?
