?stuck lifters

My 97 transport has 130000km and last week a terrible clicking noise started under the hood. i did an engine flush and followed up with a new filter and oil.
Well the noise is back after a week but doesn't do it all the time....it there and then after about 10 minutes it leaves.
I've owned many cars and never had this problem....could it be lifters or oil pump. How would i diagnose the problem?

Any thoughts?
PAul

If there are no other symptoms except the noise, I'd live with it for a little while, in case a particle is stuck in the lifter ports and it could eventually go away by itself. If the lifter fills up within a few minutes then it is not really stuck, just slow to pressurize or sticky. Just by itself, lifter noise is annoying and..that's all. May be on the drag strip, it would add a few tenths or hundredths to the quarter-mile because the valve opening lacks 25 thousandths of an inch and a few degrees in duration.
There has been a broken valve stem case on this forum...but engine vibrations would show ; a compression test would totally clear this option out. And at 130000 km only, if the engine was never oil starved, I would not make the oil pump a likely suspect.

Today i ran the van for at least 20 minutes and the noise is still there. When i test drove it, it felt like it's running on only 4 cylinders....then back to normal power but still the noise. The van has never been oil starved.
Should i do another engine flush? Or is there anything else i should try?
I rather not take it into a dealership if the problem might work itse'f out.
Paul

One flush is more than enough. I'd arrange to have a compression test. Do you have a digital camera with sound capture? sounds can be posted as well as pictures.....here is an example: www.geocities.com/lmp4203/Snd_2403.wav
Just in case....since you talked of running "like on 4 cylinders"...is it possible the clicking sound to be arcking ?

great advice...i'll work on the digital with sound.
I don't believe it is arking...the sound is just too loud(but i won't rule that out). I can hear it clearing while driving the van and windows up. Now i live in London, Ontario so the temp this morning was -9 C....and it didn't make the noise when i started it but after it warmed up...there it was and then seemed to quiet down...no loss of power.
Could mixing regular oil with Synthetic cause this problem?
How long would it take to tear down the engine apart and clean the lifters or would this be a waste of time?
I'm truly baffled?

No problem mixing synthetic: they even sell the mix. All fuss about that is hysteria. If you are interested in oil, you can read this: http://www.natureaulac.ca/xport/oil.doc (3 Megs)

If this turns out just to be a noisy lifter, which I think most probable, live with it until you can't any longer. THis is annoying, but without consequence.

Thanks again.

Bottom line...can a stuck lifter cause lack of power...like running on 4 cyl??

Paul

Basically, no; that is why I questionned the possibility of arcking (this is a 3 coil system, isn't it..so one failed coil will leave you off with only 4 cylinders...I do not know if a rocker can be dislodged randomly....a remote possibility, but if and when one cylinder works on only one valve, it is difficult to appreciate if you are lacking 1,2 or 3 cylinders: harsh feeling is hard to quantify...

(this is a 3 coil system, isn't itYes

I do not know if a rocker can be dislodged randomly....a remote possibility,If a rocker popped of, you'd know it shortly before your valve cover had a hole in it about the size of a rocker arm. The way that it's designed basically rules out it coming off without making it self know very quickly.

I know this is a really old thread but I am going to add to it because I have a noisy lifter in my 3.8L. The old girl has 365,000 km on her. Fantastic motor!

I know valve lash is more annoying than it is dangerous but I prefer the quiet.
The noise began after an oil change a decade ago, and it never went away. I don't know if I tried a flush back then so I will try one before I try these other ideas. What is the best engine flush?

Originally I had tried some Lucas (thick oil aditive) but it didn't stop the noise.

Is there an adjusting nut on the rockers? Are longer push rods available? Maybe it could be wear on the rocker assembly?

The valve cover gaskets are leaking so the engine compartment is stinking. When I change the gaskets I will do this other stuff at the same time.

I wish they could come up with a design where you can access the lifters through the head without having to pull it :redface:


tinkering

...
I wish they could come up with a design where you can access the lifters through the head without having to pull it :redface:tinkering
hey..this forum is still. alive.....let me thinkj about that....will return...

I know on a 3800 engine, you remove the upper plenum, lower intake, and valves covers....loosen rockers and remove the push rods(keep them in order), and then there is a plastic retainer to remove and then the lifters come out...

Head does not have to be removed....

I know on a 3800 engine, you remove the upper plenum, lower intake, and valves covers....loosen rockers and remove the push rods(keep them in order), and then there is a plastic retainer to remove and then the lifters come out...Head does not have to be removed....
I agree on that. I was not sure to affirm it in the first place cause the last car I worked on lifters was an overhead cam...in that case, the lifter are real close, on top.

I know on a 3800 engine, you remove the upper plenum, lower intake, and valves covers....loosen rockers and remove the push rods(keep them in order), and then there is a plastic retainer to remove and then the lifters come out...

Head does not have to be removed....

Hi Tech II,
That is the kind of stuff I like to hear:runaround:
Thanks for that. I will do this job and then post the results. It'll be awhile before I work myself over to that job but then this is not a spring chicken of a thread. I can't bring myself to get rid of the TS.
Later,
tinkering

I agree on that. I was not sure to affirm it in the first place cause the last car I worked on lifters was an overhead cam...in that case, the lifter are real close, on top.
Good to hear from you again LPM!
That is grreat news that I can get my hands on the lifters high up. My first thoughts are to change just the noisy one. If it ain't broke...
I love these TPs.
I'll post how this goes.
There will other threads I am going resurrect too.
Thanks,
tinkering