Last year one of my hydraulic lifters in my 91 SE started ticking constantly. I replace them all at the same time. Now after about 8 months one of them is ticking randomly again. Idling it will tick for about 10-15 secs then stop...quiet for a minute then do it again. It's very random. The car has 225,000 miles on it and has had its oil changed every 3k miles religously since it was new. The engine doesn't burn or leak any oil. After 3k miles the oil is still honey colored and clean. Would switching to a synthetic oil hurt or help anything? What do you recommend? I hate the random ticking from that one lifter. Thanks

 

having the same problem, but i have another motor with 85,xxx miles on it that i'am about to put in. but i just ran castrol gtx 10w 40. that helped a lil

 

Since I see you have a 94 SE with the VE...sounds like your problem is ticking VTC's.

 

3k is more than necessary. I use only synthetic (recommend, not necessary), replace 10k with filter.

Possibly filter - see the stickies. Only original Nissan filter has the right backpressure to keep ticking away. Stickies tell ? how that is not available ? and toyota has smtg to offer...

On my opel the reason was a piece of plasTics: possibly came with FRAM filter, blocked main oil channel, ruined the engine as oil did not come up... Cannot really blame anything, cause for plastic piece appearance is unknown.

 

I have this problem as well. Switching to the Nissan filter didn't quite things down any really.

 

try running a motor flush before your next oil change. remmember to use a brand new (cheap) filter for use when you run the motor flush solution. (follow the directions).

 

to ground the vtc's, is it difficult to perform because i dont wanna have the problem with the new motor and trans

 

Flush definitely makes a change to ol engine. In my opel case, the shmuck channels opened, and then no oil to valves (as the channel was blocked). Result: cacophony as if a exploding engine... terriblese. Had to be opened. Still, I'd try cleaning as it eases flow, thus increases pressure at lifters.


magicdonjohn : "to ground the vtc's, is it difficult to perform because i dont wanna have the problem with the new motor and trans"
- VTC has no connection with tranny, engine prbl.

 

So you guys would recommend flushing the engine? It is the same exact cylinder thats ticking away as last time.