Are the lifters adjustable on a 1995 KA24E engine? I just got through with an oil change, with the Nissan 300ZX filter, and 10W-30 oil, and the valves still clatter.
It's very odd. They'll start low, then increase in volume, get louder and louder -- then finally stop (all while the engine is idling). If I increase the engine speed, that same cycle continues, just at a faster rate. It's like a valve that allows the tapping sound opens further and further, then snaps shut. Then opens slowly again, further and further, until it snaps shut again.
It's a very mechanical noise (like a tapping lifter), but a very odd cycle that doesn't seem to indicate a mis-adjusted lifter. It is temperature dependent...it only really happens when it's below about 20* outside. I'm not too concerned...it's more of an annoyance than anything.
The valve cover is very easy to get to and remove on the 4-cyl. engine so if the valves are adjustable, it'd be pretty easy on this. Thanks in advance for any further advice.
valves are hydraulic. some chatter is normal. chatter is caused by oil not filling in the tappets. once the oil gets there the chatter stops. use a thinner oil in the winter and thicker in the summer. finally if the chatter is gone once the engine is warm then I wouldn't worry about it. however if the chatter continues after driving, I would look at oil pressure, oil level, and the possbility of the tappets needing changing (doubtful though).
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JoanJetta, thanks. The chatter comes and goes. Even after the engine is "warm", the chatter can sometimes continue if it's really cold outside. Note that this is just cruising around town, and even though the coolant temperature is warm, the oil probably isn't. Oil needs RPM to heat up. It seems to be very much a function of oil temperature, which is why I'm not overly concerned.
Driving around running errands today, the clatter has subsided since this morning. You know how cold it is today. We're probably 5* cooler than you (Blacksburg). The valves never clatter at higher engine speeds (2000 or above). Only at idle, and only when it's real cold. Interesting... I want an oil pressure gauge.
Is the oiling system unusually weak on the KA24E? Usually, when its cold out, the thicker oil will be TOO thick, and you get too much oil pressure. Usually when you hear tappets rattling, it's because the oil is too thin, or the pressure is too low (sometimes both). I'm surprised to hear that the oil might be too THICK for the cold. True, 10W-30 is thicker than 5W-30 when it's real cold out, but I would think that's a better thing in this case.
It never happens if it's 25-30 or above outside. 50 is a cake walk around here in the winter. I'm dreaming of 50* weather. The line at the carwash today was about 25 cars long -- all coated in a nice layer of grime. Yuck!
even at 0 degree weather hydraulic valve shouldn't chatter any longer than say 30 seconds (including the use of 10w-30 oil). I suspect that there is a mechanical problem with the tappets. If I recall you have a few miles on the truck and it wouldn't be unusual for the valve tappets to start failing. 5w or 0w oil may change it but I doubt it. Drive the truck for about 5-10 miles on I-81 at the speed limit and then let it idle for a few minutes to see if the chatter comes back.
And your right..........an oil pressure guage would be nice. I am sort of trying to find a nice gauge pod and place to put it. I am currently contemplating put the guages under the DIN tray in front of the gear shifter.
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That gauge location is a good idea. I might opt for an oil pressure gauge there. T'would at least let me know where the problem(s) may lie -- in the oil pump, or the cam followers, etc.
Yeah, the truck has about 173k miles on it now. Runs really good. And like I said, it makes no noise when it's half-way warm outside, so it's something that's just BARELY out of tolerance I think, because once the ambient air temperature is warm enough, or the engine oil is thoroughly warm, the noise subsides.
try a thinner oil.
I'm dreaming of 50* weather. The line at the carwash today was about 25 cars long -- all coated in a nice layer of grime. Yuck!
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