2003 Concorde 3.5 HO lifter noise and skip

[bowhuntrrl]

Recently I have been having a problem with my Concorde Limited. If it sits for more than 1 day without running, when I start it, there is a pretty loud lifter noise. The engine also skips until the lifter quiets down and then it runs ok once it gets oil. I've never seen a lifter totally collapse like this .It seems like only one cylinder and has only started since it got really cold here in the Northeast. I tried to look up the parts online but can't see that these engines even have hydraulic lifters. Can anyone advise me on this?? Any idea of the lifter cost each?? Can one be isolated or will we have to replace all of them ?? The engine is a VIN G and has about 117K on it. I just had the timing belt and water pump, as well as the idler pulleys done. The car runs Pennzoil Platinum synthetic. Thanks.

[AWP9521]

The "lifters" as you call them are actually lash adjusters, they are located in the tip of each rocker arm and make contact directly with the tip of the valve stem, to replace you have to buy the rocker (which may operate 2 valves at one time depending on the rocker) as the adjuster and rocker is a single unit. Though I am told they (The dealer's parts guy) may make you buy the entire rocker set just to cure one noisy lash adjuster.

Truth be told, at 117K you can expect things like lash adjuster bleed down to start happening when the spring tension of an open valve forces the plunger back into the rocker arm, yes it is noisy for a second or two, but when the oil makes it to the adjuster and quiets it up, all is good again. It doesn't really do any damage as long as the adjuster does it's job when the oil gets there.

My 96 LHS is doing the same thing and it has 124K on the clock. I'm 3rd owner but I run Mobil 1 synthetic in her and yes it saddens me too to hear a valve or two click for a few seconds on first startup, but I'm happy when the noise is gone. It's when the noise doesn't go away is when I start worrying. Believe me, if a lash adjuster fails it will be a whole lot noisier than the clicking you hear now, it will be more like a rapping noise.

[clutch492]

Put 8 to 12 ounces of LUCAS oil treatment in the engine oil. Cures most problems like this. I am a believer in Lucas.