Do sicky lifters/valves occur often in the 3L?
what sort of oil have you guys to fix the problem?
Any sort of additives?


How about loud injectors? Are they common?
Does anyone know any sort of cure for them? Maybe low fuel pressure?

 

what kind of noises are we talking about? can you describe it further?

 

Lifter noises (and valves too sometimes) either come from gunk buildup due to oil not being changed regularly or just flat worn out from high mileage. A high detergent additive could free up a sticking lifter or valve. Something with a higher viscosity may quiet down a worn out lifter but you are only masking the problem.

A high detergent fuel additive might free up a sticky injector.

Marvel Mystery oil in the gas and oil may fix your problems. I'm not familiar with the history of your van. Search on it and read some success stories.

 

You could be knocking too. A timing adjustment may be in order.

 

I've already replaced the ditributor and re-adjusted the timing.
I really want to put some seafoam in my crankcase, but i just changed my oil and don't want to throw really good oil away.

I will try marvel mystery oil to see if it helps the issue.
PS. Getting electricuted by the distributor is not really fun ... my hands. arms and neck still hurt

 

Usually the shock isn't bad. It's the pain from the recoil into something metal and unforgiving that really hurts! :-)

 

quite true, vango. just for personal d-base....how did you get shocked by dist.? grab too high?

 

No... i was adjusting the timing by the base, when the a wire poped out and i got a shock which threw me in the back seat.
My wife hearing me screaming and the big thump, saw me in the back seat and in a great deal of pain.

 

ouch...
guess that would do it though. I'll have to watch out for that in the future.

 

Ray,
electrocution by these new hv electronic ignition systems is painful, spark duration is so long with multiple spikes, muscles cramp up for days from over compression.
I love this distributorless 4L, best invention of modern vehicle electronics, no distributor to try and adjust while engine running, the old GM products with the rear HEi dist were a death trap crawled in over the engine, many mechanics were thrown into the fan blade or belts, ugly. a good running magneto system on old tractors would throw a 2 inch spark and sound like a lightning strike arc bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

no you have great story to tell grandkids, will actually sound funny in 6 months

What was wrong with your distributor?

the engine noise problem, i've taken a tape recorder before, taped noise, then feed into sound card and save as a .wav file, post so we can listen, section of garden hose with microphone in end helps to localize sound.

 

Thanks.. I already have a digi recorder.. I'll do that tomorrow hopefully.