Liqui Moly, MotoDoctor, etc.

[Gobowiec]

I have problems with valve lifters. It seems that some of them get stuck after accelerating. Turning off the engine and after a while again they get “released”. First start of the engine is problem less. Second start is usually a little problematic, need about 2-4 seconds, or press acceleration pedal.
Is it possible that it’s caused by Liqui Moly - Oil thickener (to prevent oil leakage)? http://www.liqui-moly.de/liquimoly/p...id/e_1005.html After the previous owner added this to the engine there where at least 3 oil changes, each before 15kkm (10k miles) (Midland 10W40 –previously Quaker State). Someone told me that it still might be the cause, that it gets into the lifters and block them. In one post wiswind wrote: Personally, unless you want to clean the engine.....using the Auto RX....I would STAY AWAY from additives to the oil. They will most likely cause more harm than good.
What is this Auto RX? Could it clean the engine from the stuff?

[tripletdaddy]

Try doing a search here and on google for Auto Rx

You might also want to amend your subject title to include your valve lifters are not working, stuck, etc., as that seems to be what's happening and may draw more interest in your problem, say "Valve lifters sticking - is additive to blame?". This sort of edit has to be done in the advanced editing page.

[wiswind]

There do not seem to be many posts at all about valve lifters sticking on the windstar.....not that it cannot happen.....but it is not common.

I have used the AutoRX....and it DOES work.
You need to follow the instructions that they have on their website........use a NON-SYNTHETIC oil with this product as a synthetic oil additive package will compete with the AutoRX.......not cause any harm.....but it will reduce the effectiveness of the product.
BOTH the clean AND the RINSE phases are critical with the AutoRX process.

I am suspecting that the problem with the camshaft position sensor syncro gear is related to sludge buildup....preventing fresh oil from lubricating it.

As far as the valves.......and I may not use the best terminology here......so those more experienced feel free to correct where needed.
The 3.8L windstar has a pushrod system for opening and closing the valves.
A spring holds the valves closed......and a push rod presses UP on one end of a rocker arm....which pushes DOWN on the valve....opening it.
You can see this when you look down into the oil fill cap.
Also......If you look down in the oil fill cap location with the engine running......you will see a little squirt of oil come up on the pushrod end of the rocker arm with each activation.
This oil runs down the rocker arm and runs over the valve spring....etc....providing lubrication.

The pushrod goes down into the motor at an angle toward the center of the motor.
At the bottom of each pushrod is a small "lifter?" with a small wheel on the end.......the wheel riding on a smooth lobe on the camshaft.
The lobe on the camshaft is off-set......so that the lifter.....pushrod will move up and down as the camshaft turns.
Now......the "lifter" is a small oil pump....which pumps a small squirt of oil up through the hollow center of the pushrod......through the little hole in the rocker arm......

I have a picture in the series of pictures that show the lower intake manifold job.......that shows a view down into the center of the motor with the lower intake manifold off.......

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2406...11220610bjzjxv

There is a large counterballance shaft that goes across the middle.....and the camshaft lobes are visible at the very bottom.....below the counterballance shaft.

You will see in the picture.....that the inside of my motor is very clean......which is what you want.
We have had several people post that they had low oil pressure due to sludge buildup on the oil pump intake screen........imagine what the rest of the inside of their motor must look like!!!!!
Keeping all the oil passeges CLEAN is critical to getting the oil to the places that it needs to be in order to provide the required lubrication.
A GENTLE cleaning is in order.....