Lifter tick

[Turbo2g]

I'm trying to tackle the infamous lifter tick that several Mitsubishis I've owned have had, and still have.. This may be more of a general informational thread than a direct question in regards to my vehicles. I have done a lot of research and read the doubtful fixes that many have come up with. Switching to k/n oil filters, using restore or sea foam, etc. I have tried these and thicker oil etc. to no avail.

The most common answer I've read seems to be switching to 3rd gen lifters on a 1g/2g, (actually called "cam followers" on these engines from what I understand). That being said. The worst vehicle I have with terrible lifter tick is a 01 Eclipse 4g64. Are the 3rd gen lifters spoke of out of this engine generation or is it an Evo 4g63 people refer to? Because I rebuilt the head on it and put in brand new lifters (cam followers) and the valve tick is just as bad as before. I am down to the rockers being the issue.

I am looking to find the cause of this noise and the actual fix because I go through tons of these cars. I don't think many have actually done any repairs to fix it and simply regurgitate information they've read online. I have had the heads rebuilt on several 1st, 2nd and 3rd gens now. New lifters installed because everyone says they are the issue. This doesn't fix the valve tick. Does anyone know the rockers to be a common issue? I haven't read that they are, but I can't think of anything else at this point.

 

[dustyboner]

lifters aren't out of a 3rd gen, they use the little ones that are like 1/3 of the size of a normal 4g63 lifter. 3g lifters on a 4g63 is meaning the 3d generation of the lifter.
the last 3rd gen 4g64 i took apart had 4 or 5 lifters that were bad, they just suck, they will come apart when you clean them and are easily ruined.
did you pump them up with diesel before you installed them?
you could always go with solid lifters. its just a pain in the ass to have to adjust them, at least on hondas.

 

[Turbo2g]

Thanks for the 3rd gen clarification. I have the new lifters installed when the heads get sent to the machine shop for their valve job. They put them in, not sure what they do before installing, but I'd assume they know what they are doing. You soak lifters on any engine you're working with. Either way, they should quiet down after a while.. the process is to run the car at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes if I recall to pump them up.

The 01 I have has been just as noisy since before the head job, and now three years after the head job. Car runs perfect, just never a change in the valve train noises. No additive or thicker oil, nothing helps. This car does it all the time. And increases with rpm, audible going down the road. It's funny, it sounds like it's on its last legs, but it is the most smooth, dependable, and fuel efficient Mitsubishi I've ever owned.

By tick I should really be saying "clack" . It's loud clacking all the time!

 

[Th3ory]

You say you have used "new lifters" in the past. New as in OEM, stock lifters? Or GSC or revised?

You say you have used "thicker" oil, what brand and weight?

Have you tryed GCS zero tick lifters? I have had 3 dsms, none have had lifter tick to bad, my 98 will have some tick while warming up, then its gone. My red 97 tsi did have some tick issues though... But it would be nice to have ZERO tick, even on cold start ups.

Also, are you 100% sure your not getting any other tick sounds? I have heard the EGR valve can have some tick sounds also. I personally delete all the emission systems asap. They seem to be cloged and out dated for the most part.

I have heard there are two main brands of lifters that help with lifter tick, "GCS" and "ITM revised" lifters.

 

[chrysler kid]

Oil pressure and oil contamination can cause lifter tick. You have to rember the lifters are fed oil through the oil regulator on the head, and if those passageways are cloggued you're going to get lifter tick. Many times the hla is contaminated in the head and the passage ways to the lifters are gummed up

My 96 and my 98 are both on the original lifters and don't have any tick. They all received regular oil changes and never suffered from any sludge or contamination issues.

Really the worst lifters are in the first gen 3000gt, they had a needle size opening on the head of the lifter to pressurize the lifters to the rocker

The square looking piece is the HLA which controls oil distribution in the cylinder head and lifter passages

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[dustyboner]

By tick I should really be saying "clack" . It's loud clacking all the time!

if a 3rd gen car is "clack"ing, check the auto tensioner for the timing belt.

 

[dustyboner]

if your using the PDF of the 97 service manual, the HLA section isn't up to date.

i attached the revised pages, from the 1999 FSM, to this post for anyone needing them

 

[AWD-Tony]

I had lifter tick but it has been quiet. I added seafoam for a few hundred miles before an oil change. Then did a straight oil change and added marvel mystery oil. Did another oil change last week and it has been quiet since the first oil change.

 

[motomattx]

Use a factory Mitsubishi oil filter, it has a good check valve setup in it, pull the lifters and clean them in diesel fuel and then refill them with light weight oil, then bleed them and re-install them. Thicker oil in my experience tends to increase lifter tick but its worth the added protection, and the lifter tick can be fixed.

 

[Dsm panda]

the process is to run the car at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes if I recall to pump them up.

I was under the impression you had to manually prime by pumping them full of light weight oil before install and to bleed all the air out if you don't they won't compress. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

 

[dustyboner]

i always fill them with diesel.

now that i think about, its probably best to go by the EVO FSM for servicing the HLAs

here is the section out of the EVO 8 FSM

 

[arrowhead]

Hydraulic lifters of any kind should be installed with no oil, you can use the method you choose to clean them. ( taking them apart, seafoam , diesel or whichever way you choose).
You also run the risk of bending valves .
There are quite a few write ups about this problem, and solutions in the forum.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I bleed new HLA's (lifters), they typically have a mineral oil in them from the factory.
I like the 3g lifters for quietness.
Bleed them, soak in normal engine oil, bleed oil out and install. ALWAYS bleed your HLA's or you will suffer bent valves and that makes you sad! Ask how I know...no dont.

 

[Dsmkauai]

I’m using a kiggly hla and itm revised lifters and have no noise at all! Like said above make sure you soak and bleed them before install.

 

[Turbo2g]

As far as the 01 eclipse I have, it's just valve train noise. The common ticking, but very loud on this car. Ive had the head off and new timing components etc throughout the time I've owned it. The ticking clacking noise has always been there. Even after a new set of OEM lifters, that's why Ive been thinking the rockers could be the issue.

My 98 gst, I tried the process of an engine oil cleaner and refill with additive. Supposed to clean out lifters and un-sludge etc. Didn't seem to make a difference. Just ticks at idle. It's my 01 that does it really bad.