Tapping Lifters

Heads, valves, pistons, rods, crankshaft, etc...

Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators

Post Reply
entirelyturbo
quasi-mod-o
quasi-mod-o
Posts: 6000
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2002 7:06 pm
Location: Tampa, FL

Tapping Lifters

Post by entirelyturbo »

In relation to this post I discovered I now have very quietly tapping lifters. My oil is fresh, full, and the proper weight (actually a bit heavy).

I have absolutely no idea why my lifters are tapping. I've been a rabid anal freak when it comes to oil changes, I've never had the same oil in that engine for more than 4000 miles. When I pulled my valve covers a couple years ago, it was hard to tell the engine had even been used, the valvetrain was so clean. The car only has 138k on it, and it seems like some of you have 160k-180k on your engines with no such problems.

I guess I have two options at this point:
1) Pull the oil pump, and might as well rebuild it (new set of rotors and reseal). It's possible just the backing plate is loose, but if I have it off, I might as well maintenance it.
2) Actually pull the rocker arms and replace the lifters. This will be expensive I know, but I refuse to half-ass things and dump mystery oil additives in my engine to shut it up.

This is extremely frustrating and deems the future of this car uncertain, as it's already got waaaay too much wrong with it already. I've already got two other Subarus in mind that could replace this one, and I'm not afraid to just eat the cost of what I've put into this car and just start over.
"Der Wahnsinn ist nur eine schmale Brücke/die Ufer sind Vernunft und Trieb"

*Formerly DerFahrer*

@entirelyturbo on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok
evolutionmovement
Knowledgeable
Knowledgeable
Posts: 9809
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2003 11:20 pm
Location: Beverly, MA

Post by evolutionmovement »

The lifters aren't too cheap to replace, but the job's not too bad. I had very occasional noise at start up with mine and I go about 10k between oil changes (Mobil 1 5W 30), so you could try a lighter weight, but you probably have bad lifters (not just aerated lifters).

Steve
Midnight in a Perfect World on Amazon or order anywhere. The first book in a quartet chronicling the rise of a man from angry criminal to philanthropist. Midnight... is a distopic noirish novel featuring 'Duchess', a modified 1990 Subaru Legacy wagon.
tris91ricer
Title Whore
Posts: 2692
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2003 7:19 am
Location: Valdosta, GA

Post by tris91ricer »

Wow, Steve, 10K!?!?! Even I don't go that long..
My buddy was just telling me yesterday about using a different weight oil for the colder months.. I've only used 10/40, thinking that it was all I could use.
Is a lighter weight oil better for a colder season, and if so, which do EJ22s like?
Is the lighter weight also better on things like the lifters, or what?
[b]'92 L Sedan[/b]
EJ20g 4.11 5sp LSD

[quote]e46 owners tend to be twats.
[/quote]
scottzg
Knowledgeable
Knowledgeable
Posts: 2278
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 8:19 am
Location: Saint Joe, CA - Redlands, CA

Post by scottzg »

check your handy dandy owners manual!


Its got a chart for oil.
[url=http://www.thawa.net/gallery/albums/album108/DSCF0330.jpg]90 legacy of awesomeness[/url]
WRXdan
Second Gear
Posts: 273
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 5:03 pm
Location: IL

Post by WRXdan »

I have a new in package lifter for sale. $15.

Dan
92 Turbo Legacy 4EAT
02 WRX - lightly modded (Gone but not forgotten)
Post Reply