Gentlemen,

Got a 351M in my 79 F250. This morning it had a loud ticking in the driver's side rocker cover on start-up. It went away when the engine was fully heated up - it was -25C this morning. Same thing this evening, only about -15C, but loud ticking under rocker cover on start up that had disappeared by the time I got home.

So, personally I figure sticking hydraulic lifter. These things DO have hydraulic lifters, don't they?

If it didn't go away once warmed up, I might think loose rocker.

Anyway -

a) Am I likely to be doing any damage driving it like that?

b) If that is the most likely candidate, can you replace them without pulling the heads?

c) OR, do those oil additives that promise to free sticking lifters actually work?

Thanks.

 

My 1976 inline 6 has a ticking also its in the last cylinder, I am thinking its a rocker arm, maybe you should check yours, it cant be the lifters in mine cause there all brand new.

 

I've had good luck with oil additives in the past, but I don't think they fix anything. It may clear it up for awhile though. How clean is the oil, could it be dirty?

 

Try adding 1 qt of ATF in the place of 1qt of oil at the next oil change. It has alot of detergent in it. It is a sticking lifter. What weight oil are you using?

 

Another option would be to drain 1 qt of oil and add 1 quart of Risolone - a high detergent oil/cleaner. Run for a couple of hundred miles and then do complete oil change. Risolone does a nice job cleaning the engine internals up.