lifter ticking

[tlihou]

Hello all...

I have a question regarding lifter ticking for my Merc 3.0...1995.

I had some ticking diagnosed recently as lifter noise. An oil swap, which included putting 25w into the engine seems to have solved the problem...sort of.

The ticking was intermittent to begin with. It has been 95 per cent cured by the oil swap (filter was done too).

But...at around 3700-3800 RPMs it remains. I can run it at just about any other speed, including WOT and can't hear it. And it seem to be intermittent once again, as we went out for another ride the next day and I couldn't hear a thing at 3700 RPMs.

I'm guessing the lifter issue has only been "band-aided" and not completely fixed. Should I be concerned about doing permanent damage to my engine?

As luck would have it I begin a three-week vacation today and want to use the boat as much as I can. I will look at getting the problem completely fixed later this sumer, but I want to use the boat now.

 

[tlihou]

Re: lifter ticking

I should have probably mentioned this too...

Oil pressure is good...performance remains constant and boat does not overheat. Beyond the ticking everything seems fine.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: lifter ticking

If you think it is a hydraulic lifter sticking, you could try putting a quart of automatic transmission fluid in to see if the detergent in it can clear it up. After you try this, do an oil change. I have done this trick on a couple boats and a couple cars and it has worked each time.

 

[tlihou]

Re: lifter ticking

Thanks for the tip.

Does anyone think permanent damage can occur if I run for an extended period of time in the RPM range that creates the ticking noise? Or at any other speed for that matter?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: lifter ticking

If it truly is a lifter ticking, then you should have no big issues using the boat for now. They are easy to change in the 3.0 engine should you decide to do so.

Who diagnosed it as a lifter?

 

[tlihou]

Re: lifter ticking

Mechanic at the marina...we went out for a spin and the intermittent ticking began within about 10 minutes.

He's been working on marine engines for something like 20 years. The marina is also a Merc dealership...

 

[Fishermark]

Re: lifter ticking

Did you ask the mechanic who listened to it if it was okay to run? Is he the one who suggested using 25wt oil?

 

[tlihou]

Re: lifter ticking

Yes on both...he said it was fine...but I was kind of looking for more opinions...

 

[happycamper]

Re: lifter ticking

But...at around 3700-3800 RPMs it remains. I can run it at just about any other speed, including WOT and can't hear it. And it seem to be intermittent once again, as we went out for another ride the next day and I couldn't hear a thing at 3700 RPMs.

I wouldn't worry. My '97 3.0L has made a similar noise at similar RPM's for almost 10 years. It still runs fine. It's almost like there's a mechanical resonance in the valves/lifters within that narrow RPM range.

 

[tlihou]

Re: lifter ticking

Oh...well that's certainly good news...thanks to all for all the help/advice...any other tips/comments are welcome...

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: lifter ticking

Yea my old 2.8 or 3.0 I cant remember what it was seemed to be a noisy little motor too. It ran fine even when I was trying to kill it. It would soundt tickey under the valve cover but smooth out at WOT.

I think its just an inherent GM 4 bager thing.

 

[MikDee]

Re: lifter ticking

If you put Marvel Mystery Oil (an upper cylinder lube) in at 1/5th of the oil capacity, (5qts capacity-replace 1qt with MMO) as it says right on the can, it is safe in your engine it has the consistancy of sewing machine oil, it will clean all the built up sludge in your engine, and free up any stuck lifters, and you won't have to drain it out, until your next oil change, unless you really decide to do so sooner, after it frees up the lifter.

I swear by it, been using it for years every oil change, ever since I had this same issue resolved on an old (very neglected) 78' Chevelle 305V8.

It is also a friction proofing, you might notice more power, & rpm on the tach, once you start using it. I did, it gives me an extra edge in performance, like synthetic oil.

 

[tlihou]

Re: lifter ticking

Just wanted to close out this thread...

Got back from two weeks at the cottage today...boat ran just fine the whole time...thanks again for all your help/advice...