Does this sound like lifter noise or piston slap?

[outatime88]

Just changed oil for the first time since I bought my truck ('97 2.3) and I'm now hearing a new clatter sounding noise. Can't tell if it's the lifters or piston slap or something else? Here are two videos, please watch both. One is from the top of the engine and one is from below. It's seem easier to hear from below without all the other engine noise. I put in Motorcraft 5W30 with FL1A Motorcraft oil filter. I'm not sure what previous owner ran, but the truck just reached 200,000 miles.

Video from the top:

Video from the bottom:

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Its alittle hard to tell where its comming from. If you get yourself an automotive stethoscope oy should allow you to track it down better, however it does sound like it could just be lifter tick, sound seams to be consistently there through each rotation. The one engine i had with diagnosed piston knock, it it would slap each time it was at the limit of movement, top, and bottom of stroke.

 

[outatime88]

Its alittle hard to tell where its comming from. If you get yourself an automotive stethoscope oy should allow you to track it down better, however it does sound like it could just be lifter tick, sound seams to be consistently there through each rotation. The one engine i had with diagnosed piston knock, it it would slap each time it was at the limit of movement, top, and bottom of stroke.

Ya I think I'll get a stethoscope tomorrow. So you mean with piston knock sound is consistent or with lifter tick it would be consistent? I don't hear anything once I give it a little gas, only at the lowest/calmest idle rpm do I hear anything The noise goes away after warmed up.

 

[franklin2]

If the noise does go away after it warms up, that points more to piston slap. But a engine with 200,000 miles is going to make some noise. It doesn't sound severe in either video, I would not worry about it unless it gets worse.

 

[gaz]

Have you adjusted your valve train lately

 

[sgtsandman]

The sound you have going on there sounds like lifters to me. My CR-V sounded like that before I adjusted the valve lash. After they were adjusted properly, the noise when away.

 

[outatime88]

Have you adjusted your valve train lately

The sound you have going on there sounds like lifters to me. My CR-V sounded like that before I adjusted the valve lash. After they were adjusted properly, the noise when away.

The last owner neglected doing maintenance so the valve train may never have been adjusted. Wouldn’t the noise be constant though if it were poorly adjusted valve lash and not change depending on the temperature of the engine?

 

[sgtsandman]

Engine temperatures can make a huge difference due to material expansion. As an example, I had a bad idler pulley squeak that only showed up when the engine cool at temperatures below 20 degrees but would go away when the engine warmed up.

 

[rubydist]

That sounds more like lifter noise to me. In my experience, piston slap is more of a "hollow" sound and more of a rattle than this is.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I use a three foot long screw driver to "listen" to the engine.

At 200K... and no idea what kind of abuse/maintenance it's bound to make a little noise. Strange it started right after you changed the oil... but it's a clue. Who knows what they had going on to keep it quiet. I don't believe in fixes being poured out of a quart jug... but maybe drain out a quart and add a jug of Lucas oil conditioner and see if it goes away.

 

[outatime88]

I use a three foot long screw driver to "listen" to the engine.

At 200K... and no idea what kind of abuse/maintenance it's bound to make a little noise. Strange it started right after you changed the oil... but it's a clue. Who knows what they had going on to keep it quiet. I don't believe in fixes being poured out of a quart jug... but maybe drain out a quart and add a jug of Lucas oil conditioner and see if it goes away.

I did actually add half a quart of Lucas oil additive, but it didn't seem to have an effect.

I'm guessing maybe the last owner ran 10w30 or 10w40 to cover the noise, but I'm a bit hesitant to run thicker oil as I read that it can cause much more wear at start up due to the slower flow of oil. Gets me thinking if this is the lifters, do I want to use thin oil to prevent excessive engine start up wear or thick oil to prevent the lifter clattering and speed up their wear?

 

[Bgunner]

I have seen, on a Dodge 360cid, where a half QT of Marvel Mystery oil added to the oil helped quiet a noisy lifter. The hydraulic lifter was starting to get a bit plugged up and the mystery oil needed to be added every oil change. While this was a temporary fix it did come out of a bottle, the real fix would of been a cam and lifter replacement.

I agree a stethoscope is the best way to find the noise so drop the 10-15 bucks at a harbor freight and find where the noise is the loudest. Being a 4 cylinder adjusting the valves would not be that difficult. Of course this will depend on if they are adjustable or torqued.

EDIT: that engine is a single over head cam engine which means no lifters. It is direct cam on rocker arm style so there should be adjustment for valve lash.

 

[19Walt93]

Atf in the oil will help clean out sludge, too. Lifter noise would be worse warm, piston slap would be worse cold and wouldn't be as steady. If you burp the throttle piston slap would get louder and the stop or quiet down for a second when you release the throttle. 97 2.3's didn't have adjustable lifters but it's not a bad job to replace the cam, followers, or lifters. At that mileage I do a complete rebuild if you're going into it.

 

[outatime88]

I have seen, on a Dodge 360cid, where a half QT of Marvel Mystery oil added to the oil helped quiet a noisy lifter. The hydraulic lifter was starting to get a bit plugged up and the mystery oil needed to be added every oil change. While this was a temporary fix it did come out of a bottle, the real fix would of been a cam and lifter replacement.

I agree a stethoscope is the best way to find the noise so drop the 10-15 bucks at a harbor freight and find where the noise is the loudest. Being a 4 cylinder adjusting the valves would not be that difficult. Of course this will depend on if they are adjustable or torqued.

EDIT: that engine is a single over head cam engine which means no lifters. It is direct cam on rocker arm style so there should be adjustment for valve lash.

Ah I see so they are hydraulic valve lash adjusters, and after a little research it appears that like 19Walt93 said they are not adjustable. From what I was reading it says they can get stuck or clog causing the noise and should just be replaced. So I'm guessing the thicker oil from the previous owner just masked the sound.

The only real engine knowledge I have is flat tappet V8's so this is new to me haha

Atf in the oil will help clean out sludge, too. Lifter noise would be worse warm, piston slap would be worse cold and wouldn't be as steady. If you burp the throttle piston slap would get louder and the stop or quiet down for a second when you release the throttle. 97 2.3's didn't have adjustable lifters but it's not a bad job to replace the cam, followers, or lifters. At that mileage I do a complete rebuild if you're going into it.

Interestingly it's worse cold and revving makes it go away. Only really can be heard at the lowest idle rpm and as you can probably tell it has a steady rhythm to it so it makes me lean pretty much towards the lash adjusters.

 

[black_demon69]

the 2.3 has hydraulic lifters and roller rocker there is no lash adjustment as the lifters are hydraulic. if you have lifter noise then you need to replace the lifters. powerstering fluid or hydraulic oil added during oil changes will quiet them as well not a fix just a bandaid.