EJ22T lifter noise

[Overclocked]

Hi everyone,
This is my new 92 legacy turbo. Just picked her up from a friend after sitting a year. It's got 300k km on it, and started up first crank after sitting for so long (seems promising).



Only problem is that it has a loud ticking noise from a lifter on the left side of the engine. Makes it sound like a poorly running TDI. Should I add "Marvel Mystery oil" to help remedy this (which I have seen suggested online), or is this asking for trouble (breaking free deposits and making it worse)?

It seems like the head cannot be removed with the engine installed in the vehicle, so it would be great to not have to remove it to bleed the HLAs. Thanks for any advice!!

[RoughDiamond]

Engine heads CAN be removed with pulling engine, but it's wait easier to pull it. And you only need to pull the ticket rocker assy to bleed it, not the whole head.

[rallyak]

Marvel mystery oil, or a quart of ATF in the oil to clean them out wouldn't hurt it. I would change the oil a put one of those two in and run it 3000 miles and see how it is.

[Alphius]

Lifters are super easy to change out, you just need to pull a valvecover and unbolt the rocker shaft.

[Overclocked]

Great, thanks guys! I have ordered some replacement HLAs and will replace the valve cover gasket while I am in there.

[bcmaxx]

Go through some bleeding threads. When apart i pumped oil through the assembly with a big syringe pump to make sure.

[Abeall2]

I also saw a youtube video on how to bleed the lash adjusters. I would post a link but I don't know if that would upset some people on the forums. It helps to have a visual aid at times it seems.

[cj91legss]

It's an easy process and videos are always welcome, as long as they're not dirty or mean.

Eh, well dirty and mean can be OK sometimes.......

[Overclocked]

Hey guys. The noisy HLA was on the rear left side of the engine. It moved when pushed, all of the rest were rock hard and would not move.
I installed the new lifter (pre-bled) and that fixed the situation right away. Ticking was completely gone, it seemed almost miraculous.

Before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0J7XxB ... e=youtu.be
After: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_v3WES ... e=youtu.be

Strangely enough, I took it for a 2 minute ride down the road and the ticking was back.

Ticking back after 2 minute drive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytBgkSD ... e=youtu.be

I thought maybe they had not bled the HLA correctly at the factory, but it is rock-hard and cannot be compressed. I pushed every single HLA, on both sides, and they do not move.

Anyone have any ideas? Seems VERY strange. Thanks again.

[lucas]

probably more bad HLA's Im gonna tear my wifes car apart and do all of them cause hers tick bad when she first starts it in the morning.

[cj91legss]

I have 4 or 5 if anyone needs some.

[Overclocked]

I just looked again, and the HLA I had replaced was completely squishy. So I then replaced it with the original lifter, after I bled it. No more ticking even after a 10 minute car ride down the road! Moral of the story I guess is to stick with OEM parts.

For anyone wondering, the new HLA was "Melling" brand from Rockauto. I would not recommend it.

[Alphius]

I have a whole baggie of OEM lifters I keep on hand just for this sort of thing.