Lifter Noise?

[Buffalosports]

Bought a 98 Ford Explorer Sport (V6 SOHC, 4 Wheel Drive) about a month ago. I have not had the time to get it on the road. So it sat in my driveway the entire month and for as long as the guy was trying to sell it (about 2 weeks). When I started it yesterday,I heard a clicking noise and smelled oil (what is weird is that there is no oil leaking). The noise was not real loud but noticable from the inside of the car and out. After revving the engine and driving it down the street, the sound went away. This morning I started it and heard the same.
When I rev the enigine (at first), the clicks are close together in time. However this afternoon I started it and heard nothing. Maybe because I had ran it earlier and pushed oil through (?). My guess is that I am hearing some lifter noise. What are some fixes for this? High Mileage oil?

 

[Buffalosports]

Anyone know if High mileage oil will fix this?

 

[35Remmy]

Buffalo, the only thing high mileage oil has is a greater additive package. No, it certainly will not help the lifter noise, if that's what it is.

It could be lifters taking too long to pump up with oil...in that case, they are probably worn and just need to be replaced. Although ANY time you replace the lifters, the camshaft should ALWAYS be replaced and broken in as a set since the two parts work hand in hand. I HAVE seen just lifters replaced on an old cam successfully, but I would NOT recommend it. You're just asking for more work in the end.

OR, you could try running a lower viscosity oil to fill those passages more quickly.

In any case, if there IS a mechanical issue due to worn parts, oil viscosities and products like Valve Medic are just band-aids. Do it right and fix the problem the right way.

 

[Buffalosports]

Buffalo, the only thing high mileage oil has is a greater additive package. No, it certainly will not help the lifter noise, if that's what it is.

It could be lifters taking too long to pump up with oil...in that case, they are probably worn and just need to be replaced. Although ANY time you replace the lifters, the camshaft should ALWAYS be replaced and broken in as a set since the two parts work hand in hand. I HAVE seen just lifters replaced on an old cam successfully, but I would NOT recommend it. You're just asking for more work in the end.

OR, you could try running a lower viscosity oil to fill those passages more quickly.

In any case, if there IS a mechanical issue due to worn parts, oil viscosities and products like Valve Medic are just band-aids. Do it right and fix the problem the right way.

How far down the engine are the camshaft and lifter located?

This noise just started and I am really hoping it is a one time thing. Would the truck sitting have anything to do with it?

 

[aldive]

Lifters? Didn't you say it was a SOHC?

 

[Firestorm]

Good catch, Al. Sounds more like valves chattering to me. How many miles are on the vehicle? Had you heard it run before you bought it?

 

[Buffalosports]

Good catch, Al. Sounds more like valves chattering to me. How many miles are on the vehicle? Had you heard it run before you bought it?

155,000. Yea I know a lot. To answer you question, yes I drove it and lissened to it run. No oil leaks and the noise just started yesterday. It sat in my driveway for the past month. Wondering if it has something to do with it. Once I drove it down the street, it quited right down but when I started it this morning it was back. It goes click, click, click and then the clicking speeds up with the RPMs of the engine. When I started it later in the afternoon it stopped but dont forget it was run in the morning, which pushed the oil up to the top of the engine.

Does the SOHC not have lifters?

 

[Firestorm]

SOHC means Single Overhead Cam. Without the cam being in the sump there is no need to have lifters.

Sounds like valves certainly. Did you actually drive it before you bought it is what I was trying to say. Have you changed the oil and filter in it?

 

[Buffalosports]

SOHC means Single Overhead Cam. Without the cam being in the sump there is no need to have lifters.

Sounds like valves certainly. Did you actually drive it before you bought it is what I was trying to say. Have you changed the oil and filter in it?

Yes I did drive it before I bought it and didnt hear anything. No I have not changed the oil or the filter but it does need to be done soon. I can tell my the grit in the oil. The oil filter looks fairly new but should I change it anyway since there is some grit in the oil?

 

[Firestorm]

Yes you should, and lets hope that this grit is not a lot of metal, even though I don't know what else it could be.

 

[Buffalosports]

Yes you should, and lets hope that this grit is not a lot of metal, even though I don't know what else it could be.

I know (or atleast I have heard) that overtime oil will collect grit in it from constatly being heated up and pumped through the engine and getting mixed with carbon deposites.

 

[aldive]

I know (or atleast I have heard) that overtime oil will collect grit in it from constatly being heated up and pumped through the engine and getting mixed with carbon deposites.

What is "overtime oil"?

 

[MustangP51]

What is "overtime oil"?

There should be a comma after overtime
I read it 3 times

What about Lucas Oil Stabilizer?

 

[BIGHVM]

As its your first oil change, I would use a decent flush before the oil change, would bet that poor quality oil has been used in the past and following a flush, use decent oil, 5-20 or 10-20 should do the trick with moving oil quicker in a cold start. That should sort you out, anycase it wont hurt your engine!

 

[aldive]

As its your first oil change, I would use a decent flush before the oil change, would bet that poor quality oil has been used in the past and following a flush, use decent oil, 5-20 or 10-20 should do the trick with moving oil quicker in a cold start. That should sort you out, anycase it wont hurt your engine!

I wouldn't recommend going with a 20 oil; stick to 5w30 or 0w30.

Good luck ...

 

[Buffalosports]

Thanks guys.