Stop Valve Chatter

[crookshanks]

I have got a 1994 Continental with the infamous 3.8 V6. Anyways, what is the best way to stop valve chatter completely or at least make it a lot less noticable.

I have been adding Greased Lighting everytime I do an oil change and it helps but it is still pretty evident.

I drive up a mountain everyday to go to work and that is when it does it the worst. I understand that the mountain is probaly why the valve chatter is occuring but I would still like to get rid of it.

Thanks.

 

[Butch2181]

May guess would be to check oil pressure if that is OK (30psi@idle min.) than look into replacing the lifters which is not all that difficult. This engine has roller lifters so a cam change is not required unless the lobes are wiped out. If oil pressure is low could indecate a more serious problem like bearings.
Also watch the oil additive that you put in your engine they can do more harm than good if not mixed correctly (check out www.bobistheoilguy.com)
he has alot of good info regarding everything oil related.
other than what I have already said you may want to try a heavyer weight oil w/o additives see if that helps first.

 

[crookshanks]

It has got good oil pressue and it only does it when I am going up the mountain and having to push the car a little more. It is about a 10 minute trip up and listening to that for 10 minutes makes me a little nervous sometimes, like something is going to give out.

The additive does help but does not eliminate the problem.

 

[MichiganTeddyBear]

if it does it under a heavy(er) engine load, then its probably NOT valve clatter, but pinging... you would normally hear the valves regardless of the engine load.

if its pinging, you need to make sure you have no codes in the EEC, if so, check out what is causing them and correct (you may not have a check engine light but still have codes). also, a good upper intake and cylinder cleaning is good, I use Seafoam on all my cars, and has helped with carbon buildup. Be warned however, some have had bad results with it.. like causing O2 sensors to fail (probably were bad beforehand, but not throwing codes).

I use the seafoam not only in the tank occasionally, but I also run it thru the PCV valve.

if you seafoam, one thing you need to do afterwards, is take it out on the highway, and drive it hard. I mean HARD to help get the crude that is loosened up out.

However, if it is infact not pinging and your valves are rattling going up a hill (mountain), then you may have an oil pickup problem. thats all I can think of that will cause rattling when going up a hill, that you wouldn't hear while accellerating on level road.

 

[mikelemoine]

Hi there. Try running a tank of super unleaded or some octane boost and see if that quiets things down. Your car may just need more octane under load, especially if the miles are up there. Worn spark plugs, bad plug wires or a sensor out of spec or dirty intake as TeddyBear said (tune up basically) can also cause it to an extent. Mid-grade will usually do it if its cheap gas ping (lower octane actually burns faster so it explodes a little earlier than high octane-similar to affecting the timing slightly). You should definitely check it out as pinging is detonation, which is bad for your engine. Hope this helps. Mike

 

[crookshanks]

Thanks, I will try the gas thing first and see if that makes a difference.

 

[crookshanks]

Fixed...

After about a week of drivng around and the pinging still evident even after the better gas, I took it to my mechanic and he found that the timing was just a hair off of where it needed to be.