95 grand am engine knocking

[macpenguin13]

I have a 1995 Grand Am SE with approx 130,000 miles on it. I bought the car in 1998 with just over 30,000 miles. Over the last 50,000 miles my engine has started clicking, or running loudly. I describe it as a bomb waiting to go off. I have taken it to 3 different places for estimates on the problem and I have gotten 3 different responses: i need to rebuild or get a new engine, that i need to have my lifters cleaned and that there is nothing wrong with my engine thats just the way it is.

Is there anyway to clean the lifters in my 95 Grand Am to see if that is infact the problem? When I get my oil changed I get the 5,000 mile oil change and I use Valvoline DuraBlend 10w30 mixed with Lucas Lifter Cleaning something or another that I buy in a white bottle from Murray's Auto Store.

Any suggestions?

P.S. A mechanic did tell me to try to use 5w30 oil in my car to quiet it down some, I tried that for 2 oil changes (10,000 miles) and there was a little difference but after a few hundred miles the noise just got louder.

[Slade901]

Why change oil every 5,000 miles?

You should change the oil every 3,000 miles. You would want to last your engine for a long time. The longer the oil stays in the engine without replacing, there is a chance that it will suffer "black death". Oil turns into a hard gunk and will block all of the oil passage ways.

I would do this steps.
1. Pour 1 quart of Gunk Motor Tune-Up Flush into the existing oil. It will overfill but that is fine. Start the engine and let it IDLE for 5 minutes and turn it off.
Drain the oil and let it drain for 30 minutes or so.
Use 5W30 for now. Pour 1/3 quart of oil in the new filter itself and screw it in the engine. Fill the rest of the 5W30 and don't overfill.
Start the vehicle and see if the noise goes away.
If the noise goes away, drive the vehicle around 500 - 1,000 miles and change oil and use 10W30 this time.

2. If using the 1 quart Gunk Motor Tune-Up Flush did not quite down the engine, probably your oil pump/oil pump strainer might be clogged up. Try replacing oil pump/oil pump strainer. Use 5W30 oil and see if the noise goes away. Next oil change use 10W30.

Always get an oil change every 3,000 miles.

[macbunch]

I'm guessing that you have a v-6 3.1 engine. This is a very common thing with these engines my 97 does the same thing and to be honest I have yet to see a higher milage 3.1 that does'nt. The problem is piston slap. I wouldn't worry about it i'm pretty hard on my car and it hasn't gotten any worse in the last 40,000 since it started doing it. Also there is no problem with letting your oil go to 5,000 miles I read a motortrend (i think it was motortrend) article that said in tests there was no bennefit to changing it at 3000 over 5000

[achievasc92]

try what Slade said, and use straight 30 weight oil, that may quiet it down

[macpenguin13]

i get my oil changed every 5,000 for that reason
there is a special kind of oil something they do
i dont know a whole lot about it, i just know that if im taking my car and paying big bucks to have my oil changed and monitored they best not be lying about what is good and what my car can and can not handle.

i just hate that noise the car makes
people look at me weird!

[macpenguin13]

i read a few articles that did a comparison between having it changed every 3,000 vs 5,000. the only difference was the cost of the change and oil they use.

i dont mind having it changed every 5,000 because i keep up on it and have my transmission and radiator flushed when needed. they watch the build up!

i will indeed try what you suggested, but continue with my 5,000 mile oil changes. its more cost effective for me, as i drive 5,000 in 2-3 months where most barely hit 3,000 in 3 months.

thanks for the suggestion!

[Slade901]

Do your own oil change. That's one way to get to know your vehicle.

[macpenguin13]

"Do your own oil change. That's one way to get to know your vehicle."

i might just have my dad show me how to do that!
thanks