The classic ticking Topic is solved

[hausmeister]

Yep, the ByeBye rod knock video is pretty helpful. I'll have to do this next year I guess.

Something else regarding ticking, I had the volvo sitting for a month or so (waiting for parts and bad weather) and starting it up it sounds like crap. One lifter is ticking but goes away after it warms up a bit and in general the valve train sounds rattily. When I drive the car regularly I do not notice this. But yeah, maybe the long time fix is to replace the lifters (& oil pan work). When driven regularly mine are okayish I would say, but after some downtime you hear it.

[jsrnsis]

If I recall the up to 98? white block engines used hydraulic lifters. These to harden and silt up with age. Add to that if the oil feed 'O' rings between the oil pan and block have not been replaced ever, you also get lower oil pressure to the head.

A few suggestions/points to ponder:

1) an oil system cleaning/flush product may help to clear some of the crud out from the lifters, but then the balance issue is will it just move the crud around?
2) An oil seal conditioner may help to improve the lifter condition after a clean.
3) If they have not been done consider replacing the oil pump seals on 'o' rings between the pan and block to increase oil pressure to the lifters
4) What oil grade are you using? If you are using say a 5W30 grade maybe try a 5W40 and see if that helps?

Neil.

The oil feed o rings were replaced and the oil pan and drains cleaned. I had a shop do it since at the time I didn't want to be messing with the oil pan on the cold garage floor, so I have no idea if I got what I paid for. Ive been using 5w30 Mobil1 high mileage since I got the car, and in a 97 GLT (that car has no lifter ticking). Most recent oil change I put liqui moly hydraulic lifter additive in, which was a very viscous liquid. I've also been using Mann filters until this last oil change.

I was going to go with a 5w40 but advanced auto had 5 quarts and a filter for $35 plus a $15 gift card rebate and only had 5w30 in stock. I've never done any cleaners or conditioners beyond whatever is in the high mileage formula and that lifter additive.

[jsrnsis]

Thought I'd come back and update this with my solution.
I bought 20 genuine Volvo lifters off FCP and swapped them in. I pressed down the center "nub" of all my old lifters, and found two that could be pressed down slightly with just finger pressure. One of them was on the exhaust cam on cylinder five, farthest from the oil supply. I saw no obvious wear to my cams (even after driving with ticking lifters for over a year), but I'm no expert and just used the eyeball gauge.

The new lifters solved my ticking, I don't know if using something like seafoam would have worked to clean out any gunk to save from having to take the cam cover off and spend days scraping off old anaerobic gasket, but if I was to do it again I'd give it a shot before the next oil change.

[scot850]

Really appreciate you sharing your solution.

Thanks!

Neil.

[jpb2222]

Mine went away after some seafoam and an oil change. Probably a dirty lifter.

Cheers
JB

[abscate]

having to take the cam cover off and spend days scraping off old anaerobic gasket, but if I was to do it again I'd give it a shot before the next oil change.

Ten minutes with paper towel acetone soak, then plastic scraper

[foggydogg]

The new lifters solved my ticking, I don't know if using something like seafoam would have worked to clean out any gunk to save from having to take the cam cover off and spend days scraping off old anaerobic gasket, but if I was to do it again I'd give it a shot before the next oil change.

With the top end freshened up, regular oil changes should do the job of keeping things clean. The secret ingredient in SeaFoam is...odorless kerosene. Big threads on the stuff over on BobIsTheOilGuy. Careful, there be rabbit holes there.