I'm back!

[SparkandFire]

So, I've been off in the n'ether for a while, started a new job working constantly... I finally have a decent internet connection at home so I can rejoin the herd of oilburners...

This weekend I tore the top end down on the '94 with the knock, after checking compression (all were within 80 psi of eachother, mid 400's) I pulled the valve covers off again this weekend and found the rear most rocker on the drivers side quite loose. All the others felt pretty tight, rolled the engine over a few times to make sure.

Took the turbo, pump and lines, intake, valley pan, etc.etc.etc off and pulled the lifters out. As I loosened the rocker hold down bolts all but that one lifter in the back had pressure on the push rods. Push rods seem straight. No rocker arm carnage to speak of...

So, is it possible for one bad lifter to make so much noise? I pulled them all out and inspected and they all looked ok, just one that wasn't maintaining the correct lash I guess. Seems hard to believe???

Anyway, missed you all and glad to be back!

 

[The Warden]

So, I've been off in the n'ether for a while, started a new job working constantly... I finally have a decent internet connection at home so I can rejoin the herd of oilburners...

C'mon now, we know why you were really gone...please thank your wife for giving you a slightly longer leash for a few days

Seriously, welcome back I didn't have a chance to hear what your engine sounded like, so I don't know for certain...but I will say this, lifters can make some strange noises. I would recommend just replacing them all, to be safe...and, if there weren't any other symptoms, I think I would put the replacements in and button the engine back together and see if that was it. But, be prepared to tear things back apart...

 

[hesutton]

Glad to have you back Justin. These lifter are reliable, but anything can fail. The old lifters worked great in my 6.9... but with 326,000+ on the clock, I just replaced them all. Russ maybe able to help you find out what happend and/or rebuild them.

Heath

 

[icanfixall]

Yes... A lifter can cause some really big issues. A lifter is an odd mechanical item in any engine. They work by hydraulic fluid being pumped into them. They have a feed galley running all along the side of the bores as you can see. Now as they pump up the cam lifts them till this oil passage is closed off. Then they can't pump up any more. Some oil leaks out as the lifter is going thru its stroke. When it reaches the bottom again it refills what it needs because its going up and the fill port cloese again. They can leak down completely after shut down too. A new set of lifters is around $160.00 all the time on Ebay. Sometimes you can find them for $99.00 but thats not very often. These roller needle bearing lifters are found in early 5.7 chevy diesels. The 6.2 and 6.5 chevy diesels. Most Hummers diesels and just about every powerstroke engine from 94 to 2002 or 3.

 

[vegas39]

I still have the set we pulled out my 86 a couple years back, if you want them, their yours.

 

[RLDSL]

Some of the early ones had a bushing in them instead of needle bearings and were prone to failure via a lube flow issue I assume but It would be good to check if those are bushing or needle bearing type before putting them back in anything

 

[SparkandFire]

Thanks everyone! C'mon Tim, I've already told you who wears the pants in my house..

These look like the roller type, probably have never been out before, this is the stock factory turbo engine.

A little background on this, when I was towing my fifth wheel last time, going over a nearly insurmountable hill I got things a little hotter than usual and my oil pressure at 2800 RPM dropped to around 25...

Oil pressure has been good ever since, running around 38-40 hot, but I think I might have starved the upper end components.

I am debating pulling the heads while I am this far into it, and have a look. Might have them gone through as well.

This whole time I've been really, really hoping that the noise was top end, and not bottom end... I guess time will tell...

 

[hesutton]

I always like to see postmortums. Get good info on what failed and why it failed. It helps me (and the rest of us) know a bit more about these IDI's and how to keep them from having failures. Can't wait to see what you find.

Heath

 

[The Warden]

C'mon Tim, I've already told you who wears the pants in my house..

Yep...I remember alright. I remember exactly what you said. I also distinctly remember everything else I heard

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My comment still stands.

I got things a little hotter than usual and my oil pressure at 2800 RPM dropped to around 25...

YIPES!!! Any idea what the coolant temp got to? Please tell me you changed your oil ASAP after that adventure...sounds to me like that oil got way too hot You're right to be concerned about starving the upper end...I recall once on my truck, I was on the freeway and my oil pressure got down to 25 or so...my first warning was the lifters starting to clatter. Turned out the vinyl tube had cracked and I had pumped half of the oil out of the engine That was one of the reasons I decided to tear my engine apart back in '04...

 

[FordGuy100]

I always like to see postmortums. Get good info on what failed and why it failed. Can't wait to see what you find.

Heath

Didnt know you were in that line of business as well!