Hello, I have just completed a complete engine rebuild at 85k miles due to a blown head gasket. Before the rebuild I didn’t have any lifter noise and now after the rebuild I have noisy lifters. The lifter cleaning process I disassembled and cleaned the lifters in Berrymans Chem Dip for carburetors for approximately 1 ~ 2 weeks. After removing the lifters components from the dip I flushed them with new Casterol 10W-30 oil and then soaked all components in new engine oil for a couple of days before reassembly. At reassembly I filled the cups with new 10W-30 oil and purged the assembly before placing them into the lifter cup. After all lifter were reassembled I turned them upside down in a 10W-30 oil bath for 2 days in an effort to remove any additional air pockets that might remain after the purging process. During this entire process I kept the lifter components together as one set and the lifter identified to the original head position it was removed from. I have made 4 engine oil and filter changes and have put approximately 300 miles on the car. During the 3rd oil and filter change I replace one quart of oil with a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil (MMO). During the start up the following morning there was no noise and it was running like a new sewing machine. I proceed to drive it to work and after about 30 miles I could hear the lifters sounding off again. This was also verified as I pulled into the parking lot. I continued to drive the car at varying RPMs no greater than 3500 for approximately 250 miles, change the oil and filter again adding a quart of MMO however the noise is still there. The cost for new lifters is approximately $800 plus my time to replace but it should be a lot faster the second time but my wallet can’t stand the $800 hit after new bigger and better everything during the rebuild. Going forward I will continue to drive the car as some people have recommended to drive it a month, while others have recommended Lucas oil treatment. Has anyone had the similar experience and provide a recommendation to make this noise go away short of replacing the lifters? Thanks for your time,
Follow Ups
Noisy hydraulic lifter help after rebuild - SammybTT(TN)10:23:58 06/03/12
