Lifters

[Tug]

Hello,

Engine is a 2.0 cu.

Have recently carried out a top end rebuild. Both cylinder heads reconditioned..guides..some valves replaced..some seats replaced.
New weber progressive carb fitted. Electric fuel pump fitted too.

Engine starts on the button runs nice and will accelerate up to 70 nicely.

The problem I have is the hydraulic lifters on number 3 cylinder will start to rattle when it warms up. I know its the lifters on that pot because I slackened them off to 1 turn on the adjuster screw and its quietens it down..but its still their..its so annoying.
The problem I have is that im off to Scotland in 4 weeks time and ive lost faith in the van for the first time since i have owned it..and I dont like the feeling.

I have even put the old fuel pump and push rod back on the engine just to see if it was an oil flow problem..This has not really changed anything..so that will be coming back off the weekend as it leaks oil and my engine is nice and clean now.


Any ideas what it can be..I did put 15/40 Semi in it when I first ran it but was advised to drain it and put 20/50 mineral..so I did. Do you think its a problem with the semi mixing with the mineral ?

When I start the engine from cold it sounds nice..no rattles..ticks..nocks rumbles...just nice..even My neighbour commented how nice it sounds. It just starts clacking/rattling when it warms up and mostly when under load but not all the time. I have a big hill dual carriageway by me and it ran quiet all the way up it then rattled and the noise stopped. Then it came back and went again.

Its driving me nuts.....

Please advise thanks

Glenn.

[kevtherev]

Your information suggests a few things.
1. the lifter is worn and once hot leaks down when the oil is thinner (hotter)
2. The Adjustment you made was done incorrectly. and with insufficient turns, 1.5 turns recommended by Ratwell http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[faggie]

i have new lifters if your intrested

[sarran1955]

Hello,

Don't worry about your Scottish holiday....

Thank you for a well scripted description of your symptoms...

By the sound of it you have a tired lifter. Did you have them all out during the rebuild, were all the circlips in place?

I set my hydraulic lifters at 1 turn.

As you now know.....

Dropping the rockers, de wongling the spring, pushrod , and tube is no big deal...

Pull out the lifter, (Lidl magnet on a stick), and take some photos of it.

Armed with your Little Lidl torch, have a look at the cam lobe.....

Photos are good.....

Look for wear on one side of the lifter....

Theyre only 15€ each.

As you have had some valve guide and seat work done, it is quite possible for the seats to be at different (ride) heights.....

Are the adjustment screws on the rockers at a different height to the other valves...

This is all no big deal, its all down to bedding in.....

Keep the faith...

After 200 km, drop the oil, check that the sump strainer is clean, refill with 15/40 mineral oil, ( I use API diesel spec, 15/w/40, but thats because I run everything on that, and it keeps the engine clean)

No drips...

Go round and check all the nuts and bolts....

Give it a thrash...

Then do the dipstick test.... finger in oil,, hot but not hurting is OK..

Check your drive shaft bolts.. and maybe change the gearbox oil....

Then Happy holidays....

Cordialement.

[Tug]

Hello Both,

Thanks for the replies.

All of the lifters were replaced about 500 miles ago. Engine sounded rattly before they were changed so I bit the bullet and replaced them all (Followers were not holding pressure overnight and I use it daily). This is when I noticed a valve seat pulling on number 3 hence my top end rebuild of the engine. I did approx 500 miles before I pulled the heads and it sounded lovely (Adjusted 1.5 turns on screw). This is what I cannot get my head around the before and after scenario.

Why is it rattling after I changed the heads..It can only be adjustment or a duff follower (Highly unlikely) as it worked before).
I drove it 6 miles last night from work and not a peep..sounded great. Drove it 6 miles this morning and yes..tap tap every now and then.
I am going to adjust all of them again today to 1.5 turns as per ratwell and take it from their. I may even pull them both out on 3 and dismantle them to inspect.

Im in the process of draining the box anyhow so While under their and dirty I will do the above. I must admit I was impressed with my Gearbox drain plug..it had very little metal bits on it. I changed the fluid 3 years ago and the new fluid has obviously paid off. I always use Morris Lodexol 75/90 Semi which I think is great fluid, It seams to suit this box well.

The fuel pump coming back off as its sprayed all everywhere from its little pipe..thats why I changed it....Do u think its worth cutting the pushrod and leaving it in their or just remove it completely..I dont think it made any difference with my oil pressure to be honest.

Glenn.

[Tug]

Sorted it !!!!

It sounds really nice. I just reset the lifters on that side to 1.5 turns. I must admit on the exhaust valve it started to compress the valve spring slightly as I was adjusting..this is one of the ones that had a new valve..guide and seat.

If I rev her hard it will rattle a little but I rarely thrash it..I just let it do its thing. I removed the fuel pump and fitted the blanking plate..Im sick of making gaskets..

Right next thing is to post some pictures of my engine bay and shiny fuel pump (Mounted next to the tank) and fittings..for reference for someone else..Could go in the wiki I suppose.

And finally a wheel bearing to attend to..I bought a FEBI one to fit..done these 3 years ago but used a Chocolate bearing from GSF..Silly me .

Thanks for your help all.

Glenn.

[sarran1955]

Hello,

Now you know your engine that bit better

Enjoy the Summer....

Cordialement,