[Codeman]

Ok, I have been having a sticky lifter on my car. It has been annoying me. Will seafoam help unstick the lifter? Any other recommendations?

[ESG-642T]

Remove & clean
or
replace if needed.

[Codeman]

I would rather not remove it. I was hoping that maybe using seafoam or top engine cleaner would help? Ok, NVM, I just remembered a little tip my teacher told me in school. He said to add 1 quart of tranny fluid to your oil. Then beat the heck out of it and drain the oil.

[Rich J]

How can you tell you have a sticky lifter? Just curious.

[Codeman]

I can hear it click. The click increases with engine RPMs. I have a stethescope and held it on lower intake and it sounds like it is coming from there.

[Rich J]

Originally Posted by Codeman I can hear it click. The click increases with engine RPMs. I have a stethescope and held it on lower intake and it sounds like it is coming from there.

I think I got one too then lol. Except I hear it when I put the stethoscope over the drivers side valve cover and I hear it. Possibly same thing? It started right after my last oil change, I was thinking they put in 5w-30 instead of 5w-20 which is what my car calls for.

[Codeman]

Hmm... That sounds like it could be. I will try the automatic tranny fluid and see if it fixes it. I want to wait till im almost due for my next oil change.

[Rich J]

Let me know how that goes, I am tempted to try that myself to see what happens. But I don't want to mess anything up. Maybe seafoam, change oil with tranny fluid, hit the highway or an abandoned street for a little bit then another oil change?

[Codeman]

I will ask my teacher on monday. That way I can get an idea for sure what exactly to do. I don't want to mess anything up.

[9986paulk]

At least it's easy and fairly cheap ($160 with gaskets) if you have to put in new lifters. I got mine knocking each time a changed the cam, I assume just because they had air in them when I put them back in. How bad is the ticking? I know a lot of cars go with that ticking for tens of thousands of miles just fine.

[Codeman]

It is not too bad. I am not too worried about it. It has been like this for awhile. And ya if you let the oil bleed out of the lifters when you put a cam in you will get a clicking.

[clidefr0g]

that trick your teacher taught you doesnt sound like an amazing idea to me

[BlueScreaM]

Originally Posted by demon_54 I think I got one too then lol. Except I hear it when I put the stethoscope over the drivers side valve cover and I hear it. Possibly same thing? It started right after my last oil change, I was thinking they put in 5w-30 instead of 5w-20 which is what my car calls for.

Honestly, I think the 5w-30 is the best for a mustang. Ive used 5w-20, 10w-30 and 5w-30 all synthetic and I like the 5w-30 the best 5w-20 is a weak oil IMO.

[Rich J]

Originally Posted by Ahoboscheese Honestly, I think the 5w-30 is the best for a mustang. Ive used 5w-20, 10w-30 and 5w-30 all synthetic and I like the 5w-30 the best 5w-20 is a weak oil IMO.

Well it says 5w-20 on the oil cap so I figured thats what the engine was built to use.

[white03v6]

Originally Posted by demon_54 Well it says 5w-20 on the oil cap so I figured thats what the engine was built to use.

I believe Ford did that because it offered a slight increase in gas mileage, although it provided less engine protection, but i may be wrong.

[Rich J]

I have just noticed that 01's are a mixed bag. Some have 5w-30 on the oil cap and some have 5w-20. I am pretty sure the 2001 1/2's are 5w-30 and the ones made in the first half of 01 have 5w-20 because mine was built in 05/01 and I have 5w-20 but who knows.

[v6kid]

As most of our engines are high mileage, I would suggest 5w-30 in all of them.

[ag11hockey]

regardless of the cap ive always used 5w-30 mobil 1

[Codeman]

I don't think that it seems like a bad idea. Tranny fluid has better detergents in it for cleaning. I use it to clean the grease and grime off my tools. It still offers a lot of lubrication. He just said you use it to clean some of the varnish off a stuck lifter. He said it doesn't work all of the time. But it is worth a shot.

And as far as oil goes, I recommend going with what the manufacturer recommends. That is recommended for a reason. Are you going to hurt anything running 5w 30? More than likely no. But the manufacturer recommends certain things for reasons.

If you look at most newer ford vehicles they run 5w 20.

And back to the tranny fluid. You don't leave the fluid in there. You just run it for 15 to 20 miles hard and try to get the lifter to free up, then change the oil and add just normal engine oil. That is why I said I will wait until I am almost due for an oil change that way I will just change my oil immediately after.

[Rich J]

When you do it, let me know how much tranny fluid you put in, and how it works.