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valve train clatter


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tractorboy
User
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Nov 7, 2005, 7:50 PM

Post #1 of 5 (2528 views)
valve train clatter Sign In

I have a 2003 chevy impala 3.4 L , 50K MILES . When I start the car in the morning there is valve clatter, which I believe is the lifters. it is NOT a knock AND it only sounds like it is the front bank of cylinders. It will go away in 3-7 seconds. I use 5-30w oil, changed 3-6k miles, the recommended anti-drainback oil filter is used. Checked the oil pressure at the sending unit, 43-45 lbs with a guage. I noticed that the bottom of the AC compressor is a damp with oil and road dirt and where the crank pulley is very slight misting . There is not any oil on the ground and I do not have to top off the oil level.
so what do you think ?


DanD
Veteran / Moderator
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Nov 8, 2005, 12:53 PM

Post #2 of 5 (2508 views)
Re: valve train clatter Sign In

Haven’t we gone through this once before?
If it’s the same car change the lifters.
Dan.

Canadian "EH"






tractorboy
User
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Nov 8, 2005, 1:06 PM

Post #3 of 5 (2501 views)
Re: valve train clatter Sign In

hello Dan How could all the lifters go bad ? what about if the bolts that hold the rocher arms were lose a 1/4 of a turn, never tightened down. ?

Finally bought a DVOM ...It is an ES595, also bought a probe kit

I guess to replace the lifters the manifold needs to be pulled ?


DanD
Veteran / Moderator
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Nov 9, 2005, 3:18 AM

Post #4 of 5 (2487 views)
Re: valve train clatter Sign In

I didn’t say all the lifters were bad, but do you know exactly which one(s) are? For the cost of the actual lifters I would be changing them all.
You’re in there anyway with both valve covers and all the rockers off to install the new intake gasket aren’t you? It would only take you a few extra minutes to change all of them in compared to the hours in having to do the job again if you guessed wrong on the couple that you did change.
So I guess my question to you is why wouldn’t you?
These lifters or rocker nuts are non-adjustable, you tighten them down to a specific torque and that’s it. If you had one that was “never tightened down” it would likely be noisy all the time or by now have come apart.

Dan.

Canadian "EH"






Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Nov 9, 2005, 8:29 AM

Post #5 of 5 (2474 views)
Re: valve train clatter Sign In

I agree with Dan - replace all the lifters if you get in there, and the push rods too.

To really diagnose this is near impossible. A 50K car with a noise that goes away in 5 seconds!! If it were mine and the noise not too bad I think I'd change its oil a couple times real early and see if that helped.

Is there something funny in the car's history? Could this noise be confused with a rattling heat shield? Just some thoughts, - T







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