1998 S70GLT lifter or valve noise

macs70GLT · Post by **macs70GLT** » 10 Sep 2014, 08:32

Some months back my car started to get the diesel sound. I've done the seafoam treatment twice (2nd time to drive longer & let the treatment work).

The dieseling is essentially gone, but starting a few days ago I have a noisy lifter or valve. Very pronounced but it subsides after the engine is warmed up. This morning I didn't hear it at all. So I don't see a clear pattern.

I'm reluctant to drop the oil pan & replace the o-rings if I can avoid it. Mainly due to the mess involved & requirement to be meticulous in redoing the seal. It's not beyond my ability if it must be done.

I check the oil level at every fillup, have not seen any bubbles on the dipstick. Recently I replaced all the pcv parts so it should be breathing fine. Car has ~ 220K miles.

Is there something else I can do first to see if the top end is being starved for oil?

Thanks - appreciate all the tips & advice you guys have, you have saved me multiple times!

Mike

macs70GLT · Post by **macs70GLT** » 11 Sep 2014, 13:07

Updates: I do still have the dieseling sound when I start up first thing in the morning. It goes away after the engine is warmed up.

No lifter/valve noise this morning, so it is sporadic.

Is there a way to check how well oil is getting to the top end?

Thanks

Mike

Post by **rmmagow** » 11 Sep 2014, 13:38

You know, this could be the oil thermostat thing on the side of the engine. It can produce some pretty weird noises when the engine is cold. I don't know a 100% accurate way to figure this out but I have read here that it just doesn't matter regardless. The part is no longer supplied although I guess it could be junk yard sourced.

macs70GLT · Post by **macs70GLT** » 11 Sep 2014, 22:51

rmmagow wrote:You know, this could be the oil thermostat thing on the side of the engine. It can produce some pretty weird noises when the engine is cold. I don't know a 100% accurate way to figure this out but I have read here that it just doesn't matter regardless. The part is no longer supplied although I guess it could be junk yard sourced.

Thanks rmmagow, I have noise from the oil thermostat going on as well. It's more of a groan/howl type sound that also goes away when the engine is warmed up.

The diesel sound, and noisy valve is from the head. I haven't yet tried to isolate which cylinder the noise originates from but it's just one. The diesel sound is all cylinders.

I'm wondering if I should try a different oil with the next change; been using Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic 10W-30 every 5000 mi with Mann filter.

Thanks

Mike

Post by **hausmeister** » 15 Sep 2014, 05:42

I think someone mentioned that one shouldn't use mann filters because they lack some sort of vlave that stops the oil from running down from the head? Not sure if I remember that correctly though.

I always use Volvo filters, they are cheap enough. I also use 0w40 castrol oil, even though my mechanic recommended to use a thicker oil for the high mileage engine. I have the ticking noise maybe for 1-2 seconds then it goes away.

Sound from just one cylinder should be a sticky valve/lifter?

Post by **precopster** » 15 Sep 2014, 06:47

It's aptly named an anti drain back valve and is only an issue where the filter is side mounted as on the old 240s, 740s & 940s. On whiteblock motors the filter points upwards and this avoids any oil draining back into the block and potentially starving the engine of oil on startup.

The later 99+ cars use paper filters pointing up with no valves at all.

macs70GLT · Post by **macs70GLT** » 18 Sep 2014, 13:09

Latest update - conditions are dieseling till warmed up, occasional lifter tick.

After trying to get good compression numbers, as another health check, and having my gage fail I took the car to my dependable local Indy.

Here are the numbers:
ctl 1) 140psi; cyl 2) 140; cyl 3) 120; cyl 4) 150; cyl 5) 145

He also performed the leakdown - very revealing:
ctl 1) 6%; cyl 2) 6%; cyl 3) 14%; cyl 4) 5%; cyl 5) 5%
All of the leaking was into the crank case - worn piston rings ....

So, I've decided to just keep using it as my daily driver, take care of it, but will be much more reluctant to really put my foot into it. Have to admit there are times I really enjoyed the performance this car provided, however it has been lacking over the last few months - quite likely do to lower compression.

I was considering doing the oil pan o-rings, but have since decided it's probably not that critical. Car has some dieseling until warmed up, and the rare occasion of lifter noise. The oil light never goes on so I'll just live with these conditions.

Thanks

Mike