Bad Lifter Tick or Bent Valves

[Jordanbutter]

I have a tick that has gotten worse over the last few months it started by a few ticks here and there, to ticking for a bit at start up, to ticking until the car is all the way warmed up, to now during idle it ticks a few times then stops then ticks a few times and so on. I have changed the oil about three times over the few months using Moble 1 10w-30, 5w-30 and even Royal Purple 5w-30. Just by chance is this signs of a failing oil pump? The oil pressure seems a wee bit low in idle but its perfect the rest of the way. I just want to know this is NOT bent valves and if I can drive it with out causing problems. Thanks.

 

[assault187]

If the tick comes and goes, Its not your valve(s). I also doubt that you oil pump is failing, I read in the DEALER repair manual that Oil pressure at base idle should sit around 14-18 psi, and theres no real way to measure oil pressure on your stock gauge. You should not have a problem with drivability, But when you get the chance throw some new revised lifters in the head if it really bothers you. Lifter tick is common on DSM's so dont be worried

 

[Jordanbutter]

it has a bit past 80,000 miles on it.Well when I put the 10w30 it ticked the whole time it was in idle. I have an aftermarket oil pressure gauge with the little mushroom looking sender that goes in the oil filter bracket. it says the pressure is 70 psi at cold start and when it warms up its 5psi and even lower on really hot days. But i read that it should be 10 psi for every 1000rpm and when i rev it at idle it does that but when i'm driving anything over 3000rpm it usually is at 70psi. In case any of that info helps.

 

[Defiant]

Exhaust leak.

 

[BaliTSI]

+1 on lifter tick. I don't know about the oil pressure tho. I am about to get an oil pressure gauge installed and am really curious to see what my pressure is!

I don't think it is exhaust leak... On the other hand I do have an exhaust mani leak that makes a ticking sound until it warms up

 

[Jordanbutter]

Yeah well I can hear that it is between cylinders 3 and 4 on the intake cam so I doubt its exhaust related. The only thing is that I used the oil stabilizer to try and get rid of it and it still does tick really bad in warm up and just a little bit in idle.

 

[el guapo]

+2 lifters. you could try some heavier oil see if that shuts it up. but revised lifters will be the fix.about $80

 

[Jordanbutter]

Yeah thats what I'm gonna have to do. And by the way the stealership told me it would be like $200+ for 16 revised lash adjusters. Ha Ha Ha yeah right.

 

[BaliTSI]

I don't think the tick is going to go away by using different oil. I didn't for me. Go ahead and change your lifters or clean them first if you are on a budget. If you plan on buying new ones go on e-bay and you should be able to find a set of 16 lifters for around $70-80. I bought Topline lifters (I heard Mitsu buys their lifters from Topline), you can find those on e-bay right now for 100 bucks.

 

[BaliTSI]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOPL...008QQitemZ180159870499QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

I can't make it any easier for you, can I?