78stan

My passenger side valve cover, there is a ticking sound. When you rev the engine it ticks faster. I just recently replaced my valve cover gaskets. Someone told me the lifters can get stuck at times, so they pointed me in the direction of something called Marvel Mystery Oil. I poured half a quart with new oil on an oil change, but the ticking sound continues. How would one go about fixing this? Or is it just a matter of time before the lifter becomes unstuck? Appreciate all the help on this.

Worst case scenario on what needs to be done to change the lifter is appreciated.

TWINRAY

Well, you could try adjusting them. IIRC, with a hot engine, loosen nut until it clatters - tighten in 1/4 incrediments (slowly), until clatter stops and then I go 1/2 turn more ( in 1/4 turn increments - slowly) - I think the book says a full turn. Hydralics should be quiet (more or less) and if suddendly it goes noisy, something more serious could be your problem. You might even have lifters or a cam that is going south. You might want to ask others for an opinion.

oldalaskaman

http://web.archive.org/web/200310031...=116&TopicID=3

jman1

just throwing this out there... i had a pretty good tick...i was thinking lifter.... i was my exhaust manifold gasket...check for leaks around it just to be sure...

78stan

Thanks guys, will take a look.

0Paul Ruggeri

If you check and find one of the rockers is loose, check for a cam going flat. With no zinc in most oils now, this is a fairly common problem.

78stan

Will do, one thing I also notice. I am losing about a quart of oil a week... but I can't find the leak anywhere... that is there is no oil leaks. Leads me to think I am burining oil... is this a seal issue... and if yes... could the ticking be related to this?

blckslvr79

How many miles on this engine????

74modified

I assume you checked your oil pressure first, as low pressure could cause noise. Find the noise location by using a hose to you ear as a stethoscope. If the noise is inside the valve cover, it could be a number of things. Remove the cover and inspect. Adjustment (check the nut for locking function), worn rocker & ball or push rod (check both ends), worn cam lobe, broken valve spring, bad lifter, even a backed out rocker arm stud.

Vette5.5

Since you're trying oil additives, recall as a kid, getting a highly solvent additive, that that looked like paint thinner for freeing up stuck lifters. Stuff worked pretty good, but not intended to be left in very long, and your needed to drain out all the oil in a couple days. Sure the stuff is still being made.

78stan

Just to update: I used a vacum nozzle as a stethoscope to locate the ticking noise (put one end on the vave cover and the other end to my ear whil enegine was on), found the noise on passenger side near the cabin (eight cyclinder). Engine has 60,000 miles on it. I removed the valve covers and got the lifter on the upside and began to tighten down the loose rod. After tightening I started her up and the noise went away, but then returned. This is hydraulic on a 350 small block. The ticking returned... I kept adjusting it but am afraid to have it go flat as Im sure these arent meant to be with the connection to the rod and oil pressure and all. At this point... I am thinking of pulling the manifold off (maybe a 4 hour job) and replacing every lifter. Any thoughts of a solution that can clean this out without me going in their and changing everything? Should I apply some sea foam to this lifter, sure thre is some residue buildup.

78stan

Yes checked the oil pressure it looks good between 20 to 40. So its just a stuck lifter at this point... tried to tighten it but it continues to tick.

74modified

Was the pushrod (that you adjusted) pumping oil up and into the rocker? If not, pull the rod and clean out the passage. Then you could try ( I know this sounds crazy) using some carb cleaner (red straw) through the pushrod down into the lifter. Then run it awhile re-adjusted. This will sometimes free up a sticky lifter. And yes you could replace lifters. Check their bottom face for wear, or it could be a cam too. If you do replace you will need to do cam break-in.

'75

Check to see if the noisy one has more threads showing above the nut than the others, it's possible the stud is pulling out of the head.

63mako

Don't keep cranking the nut down or you will wipe your cam lobe out. At this point I would pull the intake and the lifters on #8 and check them and the cam lobe if the rocker stud isn't pulling out of the head. Make sure the lifters go back in the same lifter bore they are removed from.

TWINRAY

You need to take the intake off and see what is going on in there.

63mako

You can't put new lifters in or at least I wouldn't. New lifters on an old cam is a recipe for disaster. If you have a problem with a bad lifter since you have the intake off replace cam and lifters as a set. I know someone is going to chime in and say replace the bad lifter and run it. I wouldn't. If you decide to do it anyway you need to use a quality moly cam lube on the lobe and lifters you replace, make sure the lobe is perfect, make sure all lifters rotate freely in the bores, cold adjust them properly, use break in oil and follow the new cam break in procedure. Always run a high ZDDP oil. And cross your fingers.

78stan

Might try the carb cleaner as a last resort before the removal of the intake and the replacement of lifters. The pushrod was pumping in oil, just that damn ticking noise wont go away.

TWINRAY

Dumb question - you're positive it's a lifter noise and not something else, right?

78SilverCam

Try using a piece of fuel hose or a shortned broomstick - stick it to parts of the engine to isolate where the noise if coming from.

If you are still at the valve covers, then you need to take it off and stick a piece of cardboard over it (oil shield) - run the engine and see what's going on.