Anyone know a sure-fire way to free a sticky/noisy lifter? I dont really want to replace the lifters on a motor w/ 20,000 miles!!! The oil pressure is great, and I change the oil about every 1,500-2,000 miles!!! I dont see a cam/lifter change as a great idea on a fairly new motor. I'd rebuild the whole thing before I do that. It's the driver front lifter thats annoying the hell outta me!! SO DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO FREE IT UP??????THANKS!!!!!!


"Don't Laugh At This Truck Mister, Your Daughter Might Be In Here!!"
'78 F250 4x4/302/NP435/NP205
lifted/"35 mudders
'78 F100 2wd/360/C-6/"9 inch
4bbl int carb

 

I'd try a little Transmission fluid in the crankcase.
Mabe 6-8 oz.

Forte' has a product for Upper cylinder treatment (sticky lifters).

Dennis

First Came the Chicken,
Then Came the Egg,
Or Was It the Other Way Around?

78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

I would use Marvals Mystery Oil, if I was gonna try to do it. Read the label, it is safe.
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John

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[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group

In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

try 2 cans of "5 minute motor flush"

mechanic told me i needed a new engine in a 72 pontiac, two cans of that and a tranny and it ran like her old self.

 

Thanks guys. I was thinking about a can of motor flush. I'll do that, then follow it up with a little trans fluid.....HOPE IT WORKS


"Don't Laugh At This Truck Mister, Your Daughter Might Be In Here!!"
'78 F250 4x4/302/NP435/NP205
lifted/"35 mudders
'78 F100 2wd/360/C-6/"9 inch
4bbl int+carb

 

Georgia,
Remove the valve cover. At an idle drip marvel mystery oil down the push rod. It will puddle on top of the lifter and free it. If this doesn't work then change your oil with trans fluid and run it until it's freed. Do not put trans fluid in a motor that burns oil!
Good Luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher

 

ARE YOU SURE LIFTER IS STUCK OR THAT THE ROCKER AND FULCRUM BALL ARE NOT WORN. SINCE THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THEM IT WILL SOUND AND ACT LIKE A STUCK LIFTER, HAPPENED TO ME.

 

Sounds a little early in it's life to have a stuck lifter, but if it does...... Get two cans of Marvel Mystery Oil. Put one in the oil a couple hundred miles before a change (don't overfill). Pour half the other one down the carb while running at fast idle and the rest in the fuel tank. This did wonders for a clogged up Pontiac with 130,000 miles on it.
Bear

 

I agree its seems a little early in the motors life for a lifter to be stuck. Maybe it isnt stuck, just noises? In makes a steady "tap-tap-tap" I know its not a bearing. Definetly a lifter. It's more noticable at idle and lower RPMs, but maybe its because my exhaust overpowers the tapping at higher RPMs. If it isn't stuck, what the heck is wrong with it?!?!? It seems to young to be worn...

"Don't Laugh At This Truck Mister, Your Daughter Might Be In Here!!"
'78 F250 4x4/302/NP435/NP205
lifted/"35 mudders
'78 F100 2wd/360/C-6/"9 inch
4bbl int+carb

 

Georgia,
Do you know what a exhaust manifold leak sounds like? It sounds like a ticking. Have you tried the screwdriver trick yet? Take a long screwdriver and put it on the valve cover, put the other end in your ear and move around till you've located exactly where the noise is coming from. Another trick is the vacuum line. Put one end in your ear and move the vacuum line around the area you think the noise is coming from. You will have to be right on top of it to hear it. Thess are old timer tricks and they work, try'em.
Good Luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher

 

Just had the same thing happen, albeit on a 360. The engine has about 40k miles (give or take) and the valve noise turned out to be a worn cam lobe. Just food for thought.....

 

I forgot to mention earlier: That it might be a case of a plugged lifter hole from a piece of gasket or something.
Is there any oil getting to it at all?
Have you looked ?
Dennis

First Came the Chicken,
Then Came the Egg,
Or Was It the Other Way Around?

78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

I tried the screwdriver trick already. Thanks anyhow.... I see my front intake seal is leakin a little though. It is a slight leak, and I still have top notch oil pressure. This might be the cause, but I'm not sure 'cause it's so slight of a leak.


"Don't Laugh At This Truck Mister, Your Daughter Might Be In Here!!"
'78 F250 4x4/302/NP435/NP205
lifted/"35 mudders
'78 F100 2wd/360/C-6/"9 inch
4bbl int+carb

 

 

Georgia,
Your motor can leak all over the place like a gutted deer and it won't effect your oil pressure. Remove the valve cover and tell me what you see. Can you rotate the crank to a position where the rocker arm is so slack you can physically see the slack? If so, it's not the lifter. This is a low mileage motor. What Year? Stelite Seats? Tell me as much as you can about your motor. Year, Displ.,Modifications, Prior problems, Machine shop work, etc.?
Good luck, Have Fun,
KingFisher