Hydraulic valve lifter noise

1
Hullo Syncro members,
 
I am having trouble with what I think is one of the hydraulic valve lifters in my Syncro engine. I have had this clatter on occasions in the past when starting the engine but the noise soon went away and I have been told that this is not uncommon. After a few days of not being driven the engine is now making the clattering noise which will not go away even after driving for long enough to get the engine hot.
Has anyone had or heard of this problem and what fixed it?
 
JonE
2

Jon,

Fairly common.  Run some good quality hydraulic lifer cleaner through it.

Les

 

From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jon Elliott
Sent: 06 March 2012 15:40
To: Syncro T3 Australia
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Hydraulic valve lifter noise

 

 

Hullo Syncro members,

 

I am having trouble with what I think is one of the hydraulic valve lifters in my Syncro engine. I have had this clatter on occasions in the past when starting the engine but the noise soon went away and I have been told that this is not uncommon. After a few days of not being driven the engine is now making the clattering noise which will not go away even after driving for long enough to get the engine hot.

Has anyone had or heard of this problem and what fixed it?

 

JonE

3
What oil are you using?
What brand of oil filter?



> Jon Elliott <ellcart44@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
>
> Hullo Syncro members,
> ��
> I am having trouble with what I think is one of the hydraulic valve
> lifters in my Syncro engine. I have had this clatter on occasions in the
> past when starting the engine but the noise soon went away and I have
> been told that this is not uncommon. After a few days of not being
> driven the engine is now making the clattering noise which will not go
> away even after driving for long enough to get the engine hot.
> Has anyone had or heard of this problem and what fixed it?
> ��
> JonE
4
Phil'
 
My filter is a Mahle and the oil is Agip 20W50. All my servicing has been done by the same VW mechanic for the 17 years I have owned the vehicle. he has kept the Syncro in good order but now I live some 270Km away from Perth and I can't just 'drop in' when I have a problem although I time my service intervals to coincide with business in Perth.
 
JonE

From: "plander@optusnet.com.au" <plander@optusnet.com.au>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012 1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Hydraulic valve lifter noise

What oil are you using?
What brand of oil filter?



> Jon Elliott <ellcart44@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
>
>
Hullo Syncro members,
>  
> I am having trouble with what I think is one of the hydraulic valve
> lifters in my Syncro engine. I have had this clatter on occasions in the
> past when starting the engine but the noise soon went away and I have
> been told that this is not uncommon. After a few days of not being
> driven the engine is now making the clattering noise which will not go
> away even after driving for long enough to get the engine hot.
> Has anyone had or heard of this problem and what fixed it?
>  
> JonE


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5
Well that sounds OK.

I have a similar problem due to infrequent use. I found that Mobil 1 solved the problem. Mine always fixed itself after about 5kms.

It might be worth a try????

Phill



> Jon Elliott <ellcart44@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
>
Phil'
��
My filter is a Mahle and the oil is Agip 20W50. All my servicing has been done by��the
same��VW mechanic for the 17 years I have owned the vehicle. he has kept the Syncro in good
order but now I live some 270Km away from Perth and I can't just 'drop in' when I have a
problem although I time my service intervals to coincide with business in Perth.
��
JonE

From: "plander@optusnet.com.au" <plander@optusnet.com.au>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012 1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Hydraulic valve lifter noise

What oil are you using?
What brand of oil filter?



> Jon Elliott <ellcart44@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
>
> Hullo Syncro members,
> ��
> I am having trouble with what I think is one of the hydraulic valve
> lifters in my Syncro engine. I have had this clatter on occasions in the
> past when starting the engine but the noise soon went away and I have
> been told that this is not uncommon. After a few days of not being
> driven the engine is now making the clattering noise which will not go
> away even after driving for long enough to get the engine hot.
> Has anyone had or heard of this problem and what fixed it?
> ��
> JonE


------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links



�� �� http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
6
First thing would be to put a 'hydrualic lifter cleaner' additive in the oil.
Pretty common at any car parts store where I live.

next....it's not usually needed ...but you could check the rocker arm screw adjustments.
And..
I just had a syncro engine that I had to do that one to get it to be quiet.
I acqured this engine by putting a DOHC 2.5 subaru engine into a guy's Syncro Westy .
When I got to get his old engine running in another van ...
just cranking it there was a almost clanking sound ...
when checking compression ...defenitely not sounding right at all on the left side.

the lifters were not pumped up , since the engine sat a while.
If you position each cylinder to fire ..you can wiggle the rocker arms.
If the lifters are not pumped up ............there's light spring pressure that's part of the travel inside the lfiter.
At most of the rocker arm screws...
there was a LOT of clearance ...over 1/8 inch ...more even than that.

I turned all of them in ( each cylinder positioned to fire of course ) until rocker arm screw clearance was a bit over 1/16th inch.
Once I did that ..
it would crank just fine and not make a weird noise.

after running hald an hour ...it was fine.
I also put in Marvil Mystery oil to clean the lifters.

if they are pumped up ..
then do it like it says in Bentley ..
position each cylinder to fire ...
back out screw untl there is clearance..screw it back in until it just touches the valve stem .
then turn in one half turn further. ( I think Bentley says 1 1/2 turns .  )

there is a third level of repair I have seen for noisy valve mechanism on a waterboxer engine.
It's quite rare..
but I have found a pushrod out of place..
and bent push rods too. Though that's pretty rare.

start with just treaiting the oil..
like with Marvel Mystery oil

things that contribute to clattering hyd valve lifters ...
crudded up oil ...like not enough oil changes.
short periods of operation ...
 fire it up to move the van 25 feet ..
do that 3 or 4 times in a row, and often that will bring on an episode of lifter noise until you drive it enough again.

also , infrequent operation.
If you drive 'er most days ..isn't likely to happen.
Let 'er sit a few weeks...and lifter noise is likely for a while.

on 'really bad' engines ..I have had it take weeks of regular operation and clean oil and an addtive to get them to be regularily quiet again.

Scott
www.turbovans.com


On 3/5/2012 8:40 PM, Jon Elliott wrote:
 
Hullo Syncro members,
 
I am having trouble with what I think is one of the hydraulic valve lifters in my Syncro engine. I have had this clatter on occasions in the past when starting the engine but the noise soon went away and I have been told that this is not uncommon. After a few days of not being driven the engine is now making the clattering noise which will not go away even after driving for long enough to get the engine hot.
Has anyone had or heard of this problem and what fixed it?
 
JonE
7
Jon, my engine has had frequent oil changes before I bought it and in the couple of years I have owned it I change the oil every 5,000kms. The oil stays clean between changes so I have no reason to think any type of cleaner will help my situation. If I run any brand of 20/50 and leave the car to sit for a spell or if the ambient is low one of my lifters will bleed down. No amount of driving will cure it. To this end I run 15/40 and never have a lifter problem. Even on a cold Melb morn. I still have good oil pressure too. If you are willing to wager an oil change on the fix I would recommend going to 15/40. I even tried going back to 20/50 for the summer and it reoccurred. If that fails the next logical step is doing the lifter base settings. Its not a hard process but buy a couple of rocker cover gaskets before hand. There are possibilities that a lifter, cam, tappet or push rod have failed but I would do these things first. Greg E

From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <ScottDaniel@turbovans.com>
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Jon Elliott <ellcart44@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Hydraulic valve lifter noise

 
First thing would be to put a 'hydrualic lifter cleaner' additive in the oil.
Pretty common at any car parts store where I live.

next....it's not usually needed ...but you could check the rocker arm screw adjustments.
And..
I just had a syncro engine that I had to do that one to get it to be quiet.
I acqured this engine by putting a DOHC 2.5 subaru engine into a guy's Syncro Westy .
When I got to get his old engine running in another van ...
just cranking it there was a almost clanking sound ...
when checking compression ...defenitely not sounding right at all on the left side.

the lifters were not pumped up , since the engine sat a while.
If you position each cylinder to fire ..you can wiggle the rocker arms.
If the lifters are not pumped up ............there's light spring pressure that's part of the travel inside the lfiter.
At most of the rocker arm screws...
there was a LOT of clearance ...over 1/8 inch ...more even than that.

I turned all of them in ( each cylinder positioned to fire of course ) until rocker arm screw clearance was a bit over 1/16th inch.
Once I did that ..
it would crank just fine and not make a weird noise.

after running hald an hour ...it was fine.
I also put in Marvil Mystery oil to clean the lifters.

if they are pumped up ..
then do it like it says in Bentley ..
position each cylinder to fire ...
back out screw untl there is clearance..screw it back in until it just touches the valve stem .
then turn in one half turn further. ( I think Bentley says 1 1/2 turns .  )

there is a third level of repair I have seen for noisy valve mechanism on a waterboxer engine.
It's quite rare..
but I have found a pushrod out of place..
and bent push rods too. Though that's pretty rare.

start with just treaiting the oil..
like with Marvel Mystery oil

things that contribute to clattering hyd valve lifters ...
crudded up oil ...like not enough oil changes.
short periods of operation ...
 fire it up to move the van 25 feet ..
do that 3 or 4 times in a row, and often that will bring on an episode of lifter noise until you drive it enough again.

also , infrequent operation.
If you drive 'er most days ..isn't likely to happen.
Let 'er sit a few weeks...and lifter noise is likely for a while.

on 'really bad' engines ..I have had it take weeks of regular operation and clean oil and an addtive to get them to be regularily quiet again.

Scott
www.turbovans.com


On 3/5/2012 8:40 PM, Jon Elliott wrote:
 
Hullo Syncro members,
 
I am having trouble with what I think is one of the hydraulic valve lifters in my Syncro engine. I have had this clatter on occasions in the past when starting the engine but the noise soon went away and I have been told that this is not uncommon. After a few days of not being driven the engine is now making the clattering noise which will not go away even after driving for long enough to get the engine hot.
Has anyone had or heard of this problem and what fixed it?
 
JonE


 
8
Hullo all,
 
I have just made a quick trip to the nearest Automotive shop and purchased some Nulon 'Lifter Free', the only suitable product they had. A quick pour down the oil filler pipe, start up, a 7Km drive and hey presto! no more lifter rattle.
Many thanks to Les, Phil, Scott and Greg for your advice. Should I leave the oil as is (4000Km to the next service) or change the oil in a few days?
Greg - my service mechanic says stick with the 20W50 oil for our long hot summers (39 degrees today). I also change my oil every 5000Km.
 
JonE
9
There is no issue with leaving the additive in. If and when you do change the oil you may find the noise to reappear, I did. Running 15/40 in 40c ambient in Melb I still have 35psi on original engine with 192k. Greg

From: Jon Elliott <ellcart44@yahoo.com.au>
To: Syncro T3 Australia <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012 8:02 PM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Hydraulic valve lifter noise

 
Hullo all,
 
I have just made a quick trip to the nearest Automotive shop and purchased some Nulon 'Lifter Free', the only suitable product they had. A quick pour down the oil filler pipe, start up, a 7Km drive and hey presto! no more lifter rattle.
Many thanks to Les, Phil, Scott and Greg for your advice. Should I leave the oil as is (4000Km to the next service) or change the oil in a few days?
Greg - my service mechanic says stick with the 20W50 oil for our long hot summers (39 degrees today). I also change my oil every 5000Km.
 
JonE


10
Greg,
 
Thanks for your comments. I'll certainly discuss the oil choice with my mechanic at the next service.
 
JonE

From: greg esposito <gregespo73@yahoo.com>
To: "Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 7 March 2012 5:14 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Hydraulic valve lifter noise

 
There is no issue with leaving the additive in. If and when you do change the oil you may find the noise to reappear, I did. Running 15/40 in 40c ambient in Melb I still have 35psi on original engine with 192k. Greg

From: Jon Elliott <ellcart44@yahoo.com.au>
To: Syncro T3 Australia <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012 8:02 PM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Hydraulic valve lifter noise

 
Hullo all,
 
I have just made a quick trip to the nearest Automotive shop and purchased some Nulon 'Lifter Free', the only suitable product they had. A quick pour down the oil filler pipe, start up, a 7Km drive and hey presto! no more lifter rattle.
Many thanks to Les, Phil, Scott and Greg for your advice. Should I leave the oil as is (4000Km to the next service) or change the oil in a few days?
Greg - my service mechanic says stick with the 20W50 oil for our long hot summers (39 degrees today). I also change my oil every 5000Km.
 
JonE