Excessive lifter noise

[Gerry Wolf]

I have a 1994 Subaru Legacy with the 2.2L engine that, has excessive lifter
ticking on the passenger side. It seemed to occur after an oil change at the
local tire store. Has anyone been through this? All levels are fine, no
leaking, and I can't adjust the valve lash as the lifters are hydraulic and
self adjusting.

Suggestions?

Thanks....

Gerry
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Edward Hayes]

You may have some sludge in the side that feeds the rocker assembly
oil. I would try some Reslone (Wal-Mart~$5) or Marvel Mystery oil. You
may want to ask the question on the www.NASIOC.com site as they have
several experts on this and other issues related to Subaru's. Ed

 

[Bonehenge]

You may have some sludge in the side that feeds the rocker assembly
oil. I would try some Reslone (Wal-Mart~$5) or Marvel Mystery oil.

Aren't those products at opposite ends of the scale?

AFAIK, Rislone is a type of oil thickener, MMO will thin the oil out.
I wouldn't add either of them to crankcase oil until I was sure where
the new sound came from.

 

[Rick Courtright]

AFAIK, Rislone is a type of oil thickener, MMO will thin the oil out.
I wouldn't add either of them to crankcase oil until I was sure where

Hi,

Rislone is a cleaner/solvent. It claims NOT to thin the oil, but it
certainly doesn't thicken it! I've used it successfully in a coupla
engines w/ noisy lifters, my Subie being one.

MMO is appropriately named, IMO. It is a "mystery" what that stuff is.
But it seems to work well enough to have been on the market for eons!

Other thoughts for the OP: is there a way to verify the correct weight
oil was put in? If they put in straight 30 wt from the bulk tank (a
favorite trick at one of our local quickie lube places) instead of the
proper multi-grade, that COULD be problematic. And, check the filter. A
number of "house branded" filters are built by Fram, and I've noticed a
drop in oil pressure AND increased lifter noise whenever my Subie got a
Fram. Not knocking Frams like so many people do, but my Subie's the most
"filter specific" vehicle I've ever driven: it just likes OEM best!

Rick

 

[JohnM]

Ive tried the so called easy fixes. The only way to fix it is take the valve
cover off ( 3 - 10mm bolts) check for slack lifters by hand. Note witch ones
are sus then remove the lifter assembly (more 10mm bolts).You can now see if
the sus lifters are stuck in a compressed state or can be compressed by
finger pressure. If so, they're the problem. You can buy new ones ($50 each
in Australia) or work each one a few times in a small cup of oil while
holding a pin against the release valve. Then let the valve go and see if
the lifter holds pressure. If it does it's good. Repeat with the others then
bath the whole assembly in petrol and blow the oil passages out well. When
re-assembled don't rev the motor too much it'll miss and rattle till the
lifters are pressurised ( 'bout 5 minutes). It only takes a very small
particle of grit to cause this problem.