[Obin Robinson]

ok, it turns out that it WAS INDEED lifter noise. we took it to one of the import car garage specialists in town and asked their advice. these guys work on Porsches, Bentleys, Jaguars, and lots of classics so i know they'd at least have good advice.
they sold us a bottle of this stuff called "Mac's Valve Tune" from a NAPA for about $3.00 for the bottle. i thought "damn, i've already tried everything, but i'll give it a shot". they said it would take a little while, but it should do it. they indicated that of all the products on the market, this was the one they'd used for years and it was the best.
i went back out to my car and added it to the oil. wouldn't you know it, but about a half hour later, while idling at an intersection, the engine went from sounding like a hundred-piece military marching band... to relative silence!!!!
we were AMAZED! i tried every freaking thing for the past week and THAT is what did it. the bottle is blue, you can get it at any NAPA and it says "Mac's Valve Tune" on it. i don't know what the difference is between that stuff and others, but this worked! give it a shot!
obin http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

 

[Andrew Stauffer]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (Obin Robinson)

Good to hear it. I've used Lubromoly molydisulfide with similar excellent results.

 

[2035cc16v]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (Obin Robinson)

Id be curious to see if it lasts longer than a week... keep us posted...

 

[Obin Robinson]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (2035cc16v)

quote:[HR][/HR]Id be curious to see if it lasts longer than a week... keep us posted...[HR][/HR]​

i will, any change and i'll just append it to this post

. in the past, the sludge-remover fixes have lasted around a 15,000-20,000 miles at a time.
obin

 

[85gti1]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (Obin Robinson)

glad to hear it wasnt a rod bearing or worse

 

[130_R]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (85gti1)

quote:[HR][/HR]glad to hear it wasnt a rod bearing or worse

[HR][/HR]​

ditto http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

 

[Obin Robinson]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (2035cc16v)

quote:[HR][/HR]Id be curious to see if it lasts longer than a week... keep us posted...[HR][/HR]​

well, they're silent as a new engine. they decided to shut the hell up about 2 days ago. that stuff really works!
obin http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

 

[130_R]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (Obin Robinson)

quote:[HR][/HR]Id be curious to see if it lasts longer than a week... keep us posted...
well, they're silent as a new engine. they decided to shut the hell up about 2 days ago. that stuff really works!
obin http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif [HR][/HR]​

I'm assuming you added this after a fresh change of oil? I'm interested in updates after your next oil change too, keep us posted. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

 

[Obin Robinson]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (130_R)

quote:[HR][/HR]I'm assuming you added this after a fresh change of oil? I'm interested in updates after your next oil change too, keep us posted. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif [HR][/HR]​

correct! we changed the oil (but not filter)... it seemed almot to be temperature sensitive for a while... cold = tapping slightly still... and this latest bit of hot weather has quieted them down to "like new" quietness. i'm going to change the oil and filter in about another week or so, and do the "ATF trick".
but so far so good. this is nice because it was really driving us nuts!
obin

 

[tallpaul]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (Obin Robinson)

what's the "ATF trick"?

 

[dohc]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (tallpaul)

quote:[HR][/HR]what's the "ATF trick"?[HR][/HR]​

Automatic Tranny Fluid, soke the lifter in it and then replace it.

 

[B3sat16v]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (dohc)

So you take the lifters out put them in ATF for a while then put them back on the head?

 

[GTibunny16v]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (B3sat16v)

Ive changed oil minus one quart then add one quart of ATF then run the motor up to temp then go "beat" on it for about 10 miles and then change the oil. You'll be surprised on what you get out of the motor. Usually fixes most lifter noises. Remember using a thicker oil will also quiet the lifters.

 

[Electron Man]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (GTibunny16v)

What GTibunny16v said.
Almost all ATFs have excellent detergent packages. Longest I've left an ATF/fresh oil mix in the crank case is about 100 miles (of highway driving).
Works good. Thanks for the tip Obin; I've never seen/heard of Macs Valve Tune. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

 

[JettaManDan]

Re: noisy lifter clicking noise... SOLVED (Electron Man)

Actually - there is no real harm in leaving some ATF in the oil if your lifter noise is real bad - I've had 8V'S in the past that I put like 1/3 of a quart of ATF in the oil and just left it in there - with no problems - and a lot less lifter noise......the detergent qualitiies of ATF make it great to clean out the cylinder head......but I too might try Mac's tune on my next oil change on my 16V - i have found that AMSOIL'S engine flush works very well too - but only about 10,000 miles max before my lifter noise came back.....so....anything is worth trying once....