engine clatter with video. Is it a lifter???

[speedracing944]

I was able to capture the engine clatter on video. Here is a link... Listen and let me know what you think is the issue?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppYIcCPa3Ws

Symptoms....
Engine sounds normal when initially started up but after it warms up I get this noise. It is a loud clatter/tick which kind of oscillates. If you listen to the video you might be able to hear it. I used a screw driver and put it up to my ear and listened to the fuel injectors and I can hear them tick but it sounds normal. When I place the screwdriver against the cam tower or head the noise is apparent but I can't tell where it is coming from.

I had the cam tower apart last year and replaced some lifters as well as resealed everything. I am running some very light weight oil right now 5W30 and I usually run 20W50. I wonder if switching to a heavier oil would help since the noise isn't there during initial startup when the engine is cold and the oil is more viscus.

Let me know what you think...

Speedy

[ERAU944]

Originally Posted by speedracing944

I am running some very light weight oil right now 5W30 and I usually run 20W50. I wonder if switching to a heavier oil would help since the noise isn't there during initial startup when the engine is cold and the oil is more viscus.

Let me know what you think...

Speedy

i'd agree, try a heavier oil and see if that doesn't quiet things up. hopefully you didn't collapse a lifter by using that wateroil

[Cking1975]

Sounds like the lifters...why would you run such light engine oil in an old car. You want to hear something crazy...my wife's brand new BMW runs on 5w30 and if I have not started it in a couple of days, the engine clanks on start-up. I think the
5w-30 should be reserved for the race track. I have always found that old engine love to run on stadard oils. The bottom line is you want your engine to last not try and gain .5 HP by putting some performace oil in your car.

[speedracing944]

OK OK I bought some SeaFoam and some ATF. I am going to put 1 quart of ATF and the can of Sea Foam in the crank case and run it for a bit, drain the oil, and refill with my normal 20W50 Mobil 1.

I will report what happens.

Speedy

[robm-951]

Have you checked the front cam sprocket and the bolt that holds it on. A loose cam pulley will make quite a bit of racket.

[bholmes]

hope the oil change helps. I actually had lifter clatter once from using a light weight oil. I usually run Mobil1 15w50 and it does fine, but once I tried a lighter oil and it made racket. good luck!

[2Tight]

Personally I wouldn't run 30W anything in a 944. In hot weather you are asking for disaster IMO. Have you tried the 15 or 20W-50 yet like others have suggested? I won't even run 40W, let alone 30.

[speedracing944]

I have always run 20W50 Mobil 1 before but this spring when I was oil shopping it was still very cold outside and none of the stores had their thick oils on the shelf yet. Kind of like department stores waiting to put out the swimsuits until after the snow melts.

Speedy

[speedracing944]

No luck! I ran it for 30 minutes, drained the oil and put in 15W50 mobil 1. It still is clattering. I may have to look at plan B.

Hmmmm what was plan B again?????

Speedy

[Slam]

Definitely lifters, given that racket. What are your oil pressure readings?

[speedracing944]

4.5 bar driving
4.0 bar at idle with the temp gauge at the 1/4 mark

Speedy

[speedracing944]

I think plan B is once I get the new roof on my garage I am going to tear off the cam tower and inspect the lifters and valve springs. If all checks out there tear off the head.

I AM NEVER BUYING PORSCHES CRAPPY IDA HYDRAULIC LIFTERS AGAIN!!!!!

Speedy

[unsigned]

hmm... Might be a good time to work on that LT1 conversion...

[bholmes]

How many miles on the engine speedy? Is it possible the cam lobes are seeing some wear finally and you just have some valvetrain slop? Sounds like an excuse for a webcams to me. I'm really not sure if there's any way to check the clearances on the valvetrain though...it's not like the ol' push-rodders i'm used to.

[robm-951]

Originally Posted by robm-951

Have you checked the front cam sprocket and the bolt that holds it on. A loose cam pulley will make quite a bit of racket.

Did you check this out? Especially since:

Originally Posted by speedracing944

I had the cam tower apart last year

[speedracing944]

I haven't had a chance yet. I am trying to reroof my garage before the storm hits and I also had a fellow Pelican out yesterday for timing/ balance shaft belt replacement.

Speedy

[speedracing944]

I haven't had a chance yet. I am trying to reroof my garage before the storm hits and I also had a fellow Pelican out yesterday for timing/ balance shaft belt replacement.

Speedy

[HondaDustR]

Originally Posted by speedracing944

I have always run 20W50 Mobil 1 before but this spring when I was oil shopping it was still very cold outside and none of the stores had their thick oils on the shelf yet. Kind of like department stores waiting to put out the swimsuits until after the snow melts.

Speedy

You might want to rethink using the Mobil1...

(...throws a grenade and ducks for cover. )

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=367300

[Slam]

Loose cam sprocket makes car sound like diesel tractor. Not what I heard (although the sound quality through this computer isn't great...). Would cam wear be audible with pressure-fed lifters? I'm really interested to know what the issue is.