Slight Valve Tap Question

[Law_Dawg_USN]

Been noticing lately that I have a small valve tap coming from my #5 cylinder. Just wondering if anyone knows if I can just adjust the rockers, or being that they're hydrolic lifters, I'll need to pick up a new set??

[black98V6]

yes you can adjust the valve lash on our rockers, however of course if the hydraulic lifter has collapsed you need to replace that

are you sure it's the rocker and just not a loud injector though? at idle you can usually hear our injectors over the engine noise...

now if you have pulled the valve cover and you know for sure exactly what rocker it's coming from then I'd try adjusting the valve lash first just be careful overtighen and you are gonna have big problems..

[Law_Dawg_USN]

Thanks Brad, and now that you mention it, I didn't even think of the injector ... any ideas on the best way to double check before I start pulling everything off the motor ?? I haven't pulled the valve cover off yet to check the valve lash. Plus it's a very slight tap, so I'm thinking that the lifter didn't colapse ... YET.

[ June 26, 2003: Message edited by: Law_Dawg_USN ]</p>

[black98V6]

umm you might be able to take a piece of tubing and put one end to your ear and move it around the injector then around the valve cover if it's louder closer to the injector then I'd guess it's the injector..

btw what I described is known to some as a mechanic's stethescope(sp?) well at least a shade tree version...

unless you have really high mileage, an aftermarket cam or maybe some big aftermarket valve springs I really doubt you have a collapsed lifter so long as you leave our motors stock they can really take a heck of a beating with few falures, thought it's entirely possible..

does it just seem to do this when it's cold but quiet down when the motor warms up? mine and many other people's cars on the board do this.. this is due to alot of things but sometimes valves will make a bit of noise while the motor is cold and as it warms up everything expands and tightens up.. that's just the way of things... also a ticking sound can be attributed to an exhaust leak so you might want to take the stethescope and go around your manifold and see if it gets louder there, because an exhaust leak WILL make a ticking sound, though it doesn't usually do it till everything warms up..

[Law_Dawg_USN]

Thanks for the info, I have the next three days off work (woo hoo [img]smile.gif[/img] ) so I'm thinking it's a good time to start poking around. Let's hope for a simple rocker adjustment, but I'll let you know the outcome...thanks again

Rod

[Bliggida]

I really hate the fact that on these motors you can't simply and easily pull the valve covers off, start the motor, an tighten the valves by ratchet.