Editing Forums/Z31P/z31-repairs-forums engine-mechanical/Lifter Noise with Rotella

{{ForumImport
|op_user=Twisted`Z
|op_date=2013-09-11 16:58:25
|post_count=15
|archive_url=/Z31performance_archive/forum/z31-repairs-forums/engine-mechanical/22573-lifter-noise-with-rotella.html
}}

'''Twisted`Z:''' <small>(2013-09-11 16:58:25)</small>

Last few days I've noticed a new lifter noise with the slicktop. Running the Rotella 15w40. It only does it when cold and it will start to faintly knock at idle, then slowly get louder then disappears for a short period of time then starts over again. Once it gets up to temp (or has been run long enough?) It doesn't happen.

Would this be that my Z's motor might not be ready for something as thick as the Rotella 15w40? Or should I look more-so at the lifters themselves (since they do make a knocking noise when they get air inside them), or the oil pump? Seeing how it starts quietly at a cold idle (i.e. first start up of the morning) and gets slightly louder then stops would make me think maybe the lifters are just worn out? But it also makes me wonder if the 15w40 is just a tad too thick?

This didn't start until a few days ago, when our weather started to change with the season and it hasn't been as hot (and actually had a lot of rain that brought in cool temps). When warmed up I don't hear any knocks or ticks coming from the motor, except for injector noise and a exhaust leak I've been too busy/lazy to fix lol

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'''jaqattack02:''' <small>(2013-09-11 17:51:57)</small>

Which Rotella? T5? T6? I'm running the T6 5w40 in mine and I get a little bit of tapping when starting up cold or after sitting for hours, but no odd noises otherwise.

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'''slammedfc:''' <small>(2013-09-11 19:55:17)</small>

My brand new lifters and 15w40 has me quiet as a mouse. Cold start to 180*F.

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'''Axel kain:''' <small>(2013-09-12 03:23:51)</small>

if the lifters are depressurizing, you would notice them rattling upon initial start. and chatter until pumped back up. how long since your oil change? what filter are you running? what is your pressure like through all these stages of issue, how about oil temp? how many miles on the setup/engine? have the rocker assy's ever been messed with - removed and reinstalled? are you sure its a top end issue, and not the rod bearings being well worn? (going back to psi, and mileage....)

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'''Twisted`Z:''' <small>(2013-09-12 15:46:35)</small>

I usually run Fram, was going to run Wix this go round but couldn't find one so settled for a Mobil1 filter.

It's the Rotella-T 15w40 (what it says on the jug.) I changed oil maybe 1500 miles ago if that.

Oil pressure is like ~28 lbs/in when I first start up, and slowly drops down to like 20 as it warms up. While driving when its warm it sometimes gets low but usually stays around 15-30 lbs/in.

186,XXX on the Odometer, I've put close to 13,000 of them on. I had originally taken apart the entire motor (13,000 miles ago) and replaced all seals, timing belt etc., but I made sure to number the lifters and did my best to hold them in place per FSM procedures (though the wire trick didn't work well for me…).

This issue has started probably not even 100 miles ago. Not sure about oil temp I will have to check that. I was noticing some lifter chatter so when I did an oil changed I tried the rotella and the lifters quieted down, but now I can hear a faint knock that gets louder and goes away, only when cold. I'm thinking maybe I need to do an engine flush and some fresh Rotella? Or go with something thinner like 10w40 ?

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'''jaqattack02:''' <small>(2013-09-12 19:00:14)</small>

Step 1, never buy a Fram ever again. Purolator, Mobil 1, CarQuest, Wix are all good. Just no Fram…

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'''Twisted`Z:''' <small>(2013-09-12 19:09:44)</small>

{{Quote|user=|}}

I already know that everyone says Fram is crap. I've used 1000s of their filters without problem. I only used something different this time for the sake of that argument. Though I have noticed my oil pressure hasn't dropped to 0 with the Rotella and a Mobil1 filter, but my eyes are set on switching to Wix filters.

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'''slammedfc:''' <small>(2013-09-12 19:37:47)</small>

I'm using a brand new blue nissan brand oil filter. Not sure if that matters or not. Also i've increased spring tension on my oil pump with shims and have a rather large capacity pan. Holds 10 quarts. =D VERY paranoid about spun bearings, collapsed lifters, things of that nature.

Good little article that covers shimming.

[http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/1604/PageID/2124/Oil-Pump-Blueprinting.aspx http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl…eprinting.aspx]

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'''Twisted`Z:''' <small>(2013-09-12 20:31:27)</small>

Well I'm pretty positive my issue isn't a spun bearing, haha.

It's a top end knock from the 185,000 mile valve train. I'm just wondering if it because I switched to the Rotella or if the motor is just getting older. It didn't start immediately after the Rotella oil change though.

Going to give the motor a good flush and put in some fresh Rotella with a Wix filter and drop some sea foam in there with it.

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'''Axel kain:''' <small>(2013-09-13 03:49:50)</small>

I doubt you'll need the seafoam (its better before changing the oil anyway), as the Rotella has a tendency of cleaning your engine pretty well on its own! Im just really hoping running a junk filter for so long didnt cause oil coking/sludging and is now clogging up your passages, while pressure stays good, the flow is diminished. but one way to find out - oil change, and cut the filter open to see. (or caused a lifter/lifter passage to get clogged, causing the noise)

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'''Twisted`Z:''' <small>(2013-09-13 15:37:49)</small>

Well I'm going to do my own flush, which involves draining 2 quarts of oil and adding 2 quarts of universal ATF and letting car run for 10 minutes then draining it all. Works fairly well. Last time I did this the 2 quarts drained you could still see light through it, after the 10 minute ATF treatment when I drained the remaining oil/ATF it was pitch black.

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'''i r teh noobz:''' <small>(2013-09-14 01:53:22)</small>

My 85 ticked when I bought a FRAM as part of a special the parts store was running. Took it off, put on a Hastings from stock at work, noise went away.

Might be worth slapping another filter on and seeing what happens. Every brand has defects here and there.

Are you sure its not an exhaust leak? Manifold leaks tend to seal up once they get hot.

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'''Kingman:''' <small>(2013-09-19 14:39:15)</small>

28psi on cold start with 15w40? Seems low…

Fram is shit! Scary filters they are.

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'''Marissasimos:''' <small>(2016-03-11 01:38:16)</small>

This is interesting, I've never used Rotella (at least, not yet) myself but I seem to always be recommended it by others. I've been running castrol gtx 10w40 this winter as I developed an oil light issue in the fall which seemed to have fixed the issue somewhat, except I still have an oil light blink on during cold starts. On the coldest of days I would get a valve tick that would last 4-5 seconds and I was told by some it was because of the thicker oil and others told me it was just because of the age of the car. Surprised you would have this issue happen only after using the Rotella because I heard their oil is high in zinc.

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'''GodofRichy:''' <small>(2016-04-17 21:46:34)</small>

I haven't had an issue running T6 on the 86 with almost 200,000 miles on the motor. Only issue is my cam seals are going bad. T6 is the 5w-40, so you might've got the Rotella triple T or T5.