Noisy Lifters..non MIVEC. Any Opinions?

MuMan · Post by **MuMan** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:41 pm

OK, now that the stepper motor problem is out of the way..next biggest thing seems to be valve noise.
A ton of guys seem to trying to deal with this issue..noisy hydraulic lifters on 6A12's. Is this a problem with FTO's?..bad lifters.

I have one lifter..it starts up from cold and takes a hell of a long time to quiet down, then it's fine until next cold start. Sometimes it could almost sound like a big end it's that bad..other times it doesn't make a sound.
I think some guys confuse noisy injectors for lifter noise, but when you have it, there's no mistaking it.

There's all the usual suggestions like, thinner oil, heavier oil, detergent oil, syn oil, new filters, additives, flushes..5w/30 Mobile 1 syn + 1/2 bottle of STP seemed to help some. I was thinking of trying Wynns tune-up and then adding moly lube..but last resort.
I can only see replacing the lifters as the real fix, unless someone has overcome this PITA problem.
Has anyone pulled down the top end just to replace the lifters..and can you get lifters to fit (aftermarket)..if so what was the outcome?

JOeJOe · Post by **JOeJOe** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:23 pm

Since you can't get it adjusted because it's non-mivec, only option is to change them.

RallyMad · Post by **RallyMad** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:51 pm

and yes, seems they aren't real good in FTO's

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:39 pm

Go to www.kempys.co.nz

Buy a full set. If you were in NSW I'd do 'em for $200.

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 8:10 pm

why do u have a spare set ben!

got any goodies for me?

MuMan · Post by **MuMan** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:12 am

Pricey little devils..
Thanks for the link. Really hate pulling down a low K engine to do a set of lifters..but there you go..

Post by **Bennoz** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:42 am

You dont have to pull the motor that far down. You can do it without removing the rocker assembly

Really just ned to get the rocker covers off.

http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... pic&t=7258

MuMan · Post by **MuMan** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:50 am

Nice write-up..thanks for that!
Good to know you don't have to drop the cams out..
I might look at making a valve spring /rocker arm lever before I start..I don't work well when I get frustrated

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:28 pm

I prob was one of the first to change my lifters, Front banks easy! Rear bank was a pain in the arse just a screwdriver. Get a tool made up or buy one.

I would had paid someone to do it for me if I could go back in time! hehe.

Post by **Bennoz** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:20 pm

Have you done it again since payaya? And where did you get your replacements? Im beginning to think to ole' Kempys aftermarket lifters aint got the life that a genuine item does...

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:54 pm

Bennoz wrote:Have you done it again since payaya? And where did you get your replacements? Im beginning to think to ole' Kempys aftermarket lifters aint got the life that a genuine item does...

I got my replacements from Kempys

Nope have not done them since. Even when I did replace them I still had a tap here and there. It seems to be just one lifter as I know what an FTO sounds with two tapping away at the same time.

I remembered when i was changing the lifters i did not pre oil one of them up, so that could be the one which is noisy.

$200.00 bucks is a great price to change them. All I remembered was my back was stuffed heheeh.

Post by **Bennoz** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:57 pm

Yeah, done the whole lot once. Its still quiet now, but if my oil level drops even a couple of mm on the dipstick, they start clattering... especially on start up.

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:06 pm

I need to try some of your Penzoil oil. I find Magnetec still the quietest, just changed to Motul which is bloody hopeless.

MuMan · Post by **MuMan** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:17 pm

Did you find any problem with the OEM lifters when you removed them?
I'm starting to wonder if it's an oil feed problem. Oil pump flow/psi, by-pass valve or similar. The problem seems to be only at cold start/low revs. I've noticed in my case the oil filter used makes a difference..currently a Purolator 1 which isn't so bad, but with a Fram or particularly a Valvoline filter it's a lot worse (not good filters).
Just wondering what effect a high volume oil pump would have..

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:27 pm

Nah, its not a starvation issue, problem is the spring loaded tip gets pushed down & left down on certain tappets when you turn the motor off (dending on where the cams stop.) Then when you start up the next morning, if the centre bore of the tappet is worn, then the tip can get stuck in the housing. It then takes time for the unit to heat up & free the tip back to its spring loaded position.

MuMan · Post by **MuMan** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:43 pm

ok, thanks. Sounds like a PITA lifter problem then, don't want to be doing this every 12 months. What do you recomend..OEM or the aftermarket replacements?

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:50 pm

I'd love to say OEM, but they are just faaaaar to expensive. Mitsi Australia are now asking over $50 per unit, mulitply that by 24 & there's $1200 just on lifters...

I bought a full set from Kempys for about $440 from memory. As I mentioned above, I dont reckon the quality is as good, but I've had them in for a couple of years now with no major issue. I think I've done about 50,000kms on them & dont get any of the tips locking up yet. They just get a little bit noisy if my oil level is low.

MuMan · Post by **MuMan** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:46 pm

Thanks for the info..
One other thing that seems a bit odd is when you start up cold and the lifter does it's thing..you switch off and start up again..the lifter shuts up..

I think I'll locate the problem lifter & replace it before I commit to $500+ bucks for a replacement set..see what happens.

khunjeng · Post by **khunjeng** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:52 pm

MuMan wrote:Thanks for the info..
One other thing that seems a bit odd is when you start up cold and the lifter does it's thing..you switch off and start up again..the lifter shuts up..

I think I'll locate the problem lifter & replace it before I commit to $500+ bucks for a replacement set..see what happens.

is that the lifters of the OCV....is can makes noises on cold start only. Sounds similar...

MuMan · Post by **MuMan** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:42 pm

Sounds like a lifter alright, but seems to be noisy only when it wants to..not your usual bad lifter = permanent bad lifter noise.
Been wondering about the OCV or oil feed problems, but I'm not clued up enough yet on 6A12 problems to make an informed judgement..
What do you think?