Thread: Lifter Ticking, How to identify which one.

I have a 2002 Grand Prix 3.1. It needs a lower intake gasket. One of those gradually losing coolant, but can see it going anywhere. I did it when it was about 60,000 now that it has 240,000+ I guess it needs it again. The other day, it was hot and the car had been idling for about 5 minutes and I heard what I think is a lifter. If I revved it up slightly it would go away. Then when it was cooler in the evening and I drove home, which is about 45 highway miles, got home and no ticking. It almost has to be a lifter getting weak on me. The oil looks clear and clean. I was going to send the car to auction, but I have been looking for a first car for my granddaughter. I have had this car since 20,000 and have done all the maintenance on it. I know everything else is sound, well as sound as a 240,000+ mile car can be. In all my searching I can not find anything in her price range that as clean as this one. So I am thinking about changing the lower intake gasket, set of plugs, wires, and while I am there the lifter. Lifters are $10 a piece, but I am more concerned putting a new lifter on an old cam (new wear surface on an old one), than the cost.

Questions is, how to tell which one.

Probably the best way to guesstimate it is with a mechanics stethescope before pulling it apart.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Probably the best way to guesstimate it is with a mechanics stethescope before pulling it apart.

If I could get it to do it all the time, I could pull the valve cover and push on the rocker and see if it quits, my problem is it does not do it all the time. In fact it has only done it that once. Of course, my luck it would be on the back side bank. :-)
Spoke to one person and his suggestion was to inspect the lifters, but the way he talked, if one was worn that much it would need a cam also. Not sure if you can slide a cam out the fender well or have to pull the engine. Then do you freshen the bareaning and rings if you are that close? Next thing it's like remodeling a house, you paint one wall, now the others look bad, then you done a room, now the hall needs it, ... :-)

Maybe like he said, inspect them, if I don't see any thing put it back together and see what happens. It's not like it would strand her any more than anything else could go wrong.

I've heard of people fixing ticking lifters by adding a some seafoam to their oil, add about half a bottle or so to the crank case and drive it around for about 30-40 min then change the oil. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

Paul.. keep in mind this is a 3.1, the fact that it didn't self destruct already is surprising to some of us. (the ones that hate that evil little motor)

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Paul.. keep in mind this is a 3.1, the fact that it didn't self destruct already is surprising to some of us. (the ones that hate that evil little motor)

I did keep the oil changed every 3000 and transmission every 60,000 to 80,000, it was a lot of highway miles, and it was not hot rodded. That is why I don't think the seafoam will make a difference. I think there is a lifter, Oil pump, mains, rods, and such are all worn just a little bit. Maybe on the hot day at idle there was not enough pressure.

Talking to the transmission guy he is surprised that I have that much on the transmission. I sold another 02 (3.8) that had the same milage (240,000+) with the same original transmission. My 06 has 158,000+ and have changed the fluid in it also. In fact it is time to do it again, maybe this weekend. :-)

Highway driving will do that. It's amazing what not shifting or constantly going through rpm and just maintaining one speed etc does for a car.

Not really sure what to suggest.

Here an update. It's has been about 3 weeks since I used the car. Started it last night and the noise was loud and constant. I am starting to think now it might be piston slap. I made a recording and I thought maybe we could tell when it was coming from by moving the phone around. Didn't work, but you can still here the noise. Also at the end when I revved it this time it did not get quite. It's kind of hard over the power steering noise, but you can pick it out. Anyway I guess back to the auction.
20130613_061834_zps9adfaa0b.mp4 Video by penright | Photobucket

I thought I would take a second to update this thread.
First, Slick2500 I did the seafoam and at first did not seem to make a difference. I left the engine running while I gave it a bath. As I was washing the car, it just went away and I never heard it again, even when it was cold. Of course I sold it 3 days latter, but never heard it again. :-)

Bill, it did give me an excuse to buy one, at least a cheap one. You know how on a 3.1 the intake runners kind of curve around. The loudest was on top of the curve and they all seemed just as loud. Do you think a valve was sticking a little and the seafoam loosen it up?

Either way, next time I will try the seafoam and I have the other half of can for it. :-)