1997 chevy lumina 3.1L valvetrain rattle/noise?

[cfrank2]

I have a 1997 chevy lumina with a 3.1L OHV engine with 103,000 miles on it. For about the last 20,000 miles or maybe a little more i have been noticing a rattling sound and it sounds like it is coming from the valvetrain. I have taken it to several trusted and reliable mechanics that say this is normal and i do not think it is especially since it is an OHV engine and should run quieter. What could be wrong and how could i fix it. I would like to do it myself as i am pretty mechanically inclined.

Thank you

[gahunter33]

My wife drives a 95 with the 3.1 and I can tell you from our experience that if you use cheap oil filters (fram in particular) I could hear a slight valve train rattle, especially at cold start up. I went back to AC delco and the noise stopped completely. Also, has the timing set ever been changed? I ask this because we had a lesabre that had a badly worn timing gear and it had a valve rattle right before it failed. (gotta love the nylon teeth on those oem timing gears!)

[cfrank2]

No, i dont use cheap filters on any of my vehicles either. It's always been AcDelco or Wix/napa gold. The timing chain/gear has not been replaced on it.