Sticky Lifter

[j_martin]

88 Dodge Dakota 3.9 V6. 1 lifter sticks for a few minutes when cold. What's the best additive to set it free.

Oil is fresh, 10-30 synthetic. Engine has a lot of miles on it.

Thanks
John

 

[robert graham]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Lots of good solvent additives for stuck lifters, but I personally would use a can of Seafoam, let the motor just sit there and idle for 20 or 30 minutes with the Seafoam in it, then plan on changing the oil and filter, as Seafoam will dissolve some sludge and varnish. If you're in a cold weather area you might want to go with a lighter weight motor oil during the winter. I've always used Gunk Engine Flush right before each oil change on my cars and it really seems to help with high mileage motors like mine. My 1979 Olds 98 with 403V8 had 347,000 when I sold it, ran like a top, pulled the boat to Florida dozens of times! The rest of the car was what was used up! My wife really hated that car! Good Luke

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Sticky Lifter

I had a sticky lifter or three which would slick for 20 minutes or so before going away.
Changed to synthetic and used a Wix filter.
Took about 10 days of daily driving it 15 miles a day before the lifter noise quit.
Then I changed the filter again (real quick) without changing the oil and just topped it off.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Never used the Seafoam but I have used Marvel Mystery oil.

Also if you want a slow clean, drain 1 quart from your oil and add in 1 quart of transmission oil. It's a nice detergent.

Gunk engine flush is great stuff. It cleans out lots of junk. But you have to be careful when using it. I've used it over the years and had 2 engines develop oil leaks after using the Gunk. It cleans so well, that it can clean the junk sealing some cracks in seals and gaskets.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Believe it or not, I have used transmission fluid to unstick a lifter as well

 

[windy5849]

Re: Sticky Lifter

As a teenager(many years ago)we used Bardahl top oil and it was fantastic for quieting tappets after a few minutes.I have heard that Wynns makes a similar product,but I have never tried it.Lots of mixed reviews if you do a search for Wynns.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Just keep this in mind regardless of what you use....... Marvel, sea foam, atf, kerosene etc ......... if you break up the sludge there have been instances I have personally seen where the oil pump pick up screen becomes blocked.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Just keep this in mind regardless of what you use....... Marvel, sea foam, atf, kerosene etc ......... if you break up the sludge there have been instances I have personally seen where the oil pump pick up screen becomes blocked.

It has to go somewhere right?

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Believe it or not, I have used transmission fluid to unstick a lifter as well

I believe it....MM Oil is little more than ATF and kerosene in a can with lots of convincing propaganda written on it.

 

[Bass Tracker TX17]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Bob_VT hit a very good point.

Another point is.

Once that motor is cleaner on the inside , it likes to prove it by peeing on the ground.

When they get some mileage on them it's not unusual to start to hear a lifter of two when cold.

The 3.0 was notorious for that as well. But they keep on going.

I have a 3.9
I have a 3.0

If they quiet down after a couple of min I wouldn't worry about it. Seen hundreds of these and not an issue.

ATF was the fluid of choice way back when. Sometimes it helped but most of the time it was bleed down. Can't do to much about that except change them out.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Sticky Lifter

88 Dodge Dakota 3.9 V6. 1 lifter sticks for a few minutes when cold. What's the best additive to set it free.

Oil is fresh, 10-30 synthetic. Engine has a lot of miles on it.

Thanks
John

I just read an article about this!
Are you using Pennzoil or Quaker State?

Do a search for 'yellow death'

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Sticky Lifter

The last time I had a lifter sticking I added some stp oil treatment and solved it. I also use seafoam in my gas to help clean the injectors.

 

[Adjuster]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Marvel Mystery Oil always worked for me. Put it in your oil a few days before the change. Run your boat an hour or so each day to get the oils all mixed and where they need to be and to let them soak in. On change day run the boat up to temperature and then drain the oil. This method has always unstuck everything for me.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Sticky Lifter

I just read an article about this!
Are you using Pennzoil or Quaker State?

Do a search for 'yellow death'

Super-Tech, best there is.

 

[CobiaXL]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Tranny fluid has worked everytime for me....

 

[gibletts]

Re: Sticky Lifter

My V6 Mitsubishi does the same, I find turning up the stereo untill she warms up will make the noise go away! Next oil change I am going to chuck in a can of solvent of some sort as an attempt at a more permanent solution.

 

[generator12]

Re: Sticky Lifter

I had an '87 Dakota that would give me lifter noise if I overfilled the oil sump during a change by 1/2 a quart. It's been a while, but I believe it called for 4.5 qts. If I put in 5 qts. I'd get lifters clacking. With 4.5 qts, it was quiet.

Never figured out for sure why this was. I'm guessing that overfilling resulted in aeration, and that I was pumping a little foam with the liquid oil.

If this is the case with your truck, try adjusting the refill quantity -- downward!!

 

[eldercaddy]

Re: Sticky Lifter

Hey robert graham. Would you mind if I request to you to post the can of Sea foam that you used? I want to see it.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Sticky Lifter

I just read an article about this!
Are you using Pennzoil or Quaker State?

Do a search for 'yellow death'

I don't know anything about Quaker State, but don't believe any hooey on Pennzoil being a bad product...I've been using it for 25 years with no problems. My boat is a 1985 and has had nothing but Pennzoil in it. My truck has 165k miles on it with nothing but Pennzoil. It still runs like new....I have seen the inside of the engine, too. At 154k, we replaced a leaky head gasket. The inside of the motor was very, very clean. As far as wear goes, there was little. The inside of the cylinders still had the cross hatch marks in them.