BG EPR to ease lifter tick on Miata

[AngryScientist]

"flyin miata" has recommended trying BG EPR to potentially quiet a lifter tick on my NA 1.6 Miata.

Anyone had success with such a treatment? It would make sense that if some narrow passages are gummed up not enough oil pressure is getting to the hydraulic lifters, so it's definitely worth a shot. No idea what oil the previous owner was using, but planning on going to Valvoline Restore and Protect for at least a while to try and further clean the internals up. 130k on the clock.

Just planning for Spring. Right now she's cold and depressed

 

[ctechbob]

Hot tick or cold tick?

Mine was always super random.

If I still had mine I'd just run Valvoline Restore and Protect and let it be. It doesn't really hurt anything.

 

[Revving2Redline]

The other product is Schaeffers 132 ep

 

[samven]

Try the Valvoline Restore and Protect without any additive first. I noticed that my 5.7 Hemi ran significantly quieter with Valvoline Restore and Protect. I dont know how long it will last but it has been noticeable.

 

[Ronsant]

Great color, cool wheels too. Let us know if you feel any difference with the shockproof mix in the transmission.

 

[AngryScientist]

Great color, cool wheels too. Let us know if you feel any difference with the shockproof mix in the transmission.

Thank you! Wheels and tires are new. I mostly do not know the maintenance history on the car, so I'm going through every fluid and refreshing. Flyin Miata has proven to be a great resource for all things Miata, and they also recommend the cocktail of shockproof and MTL in the trans.

 

[The_Jeff]

It's my impression the lifter tick comes from within the lifters.

Mine are clacky for a second or two but then quiet up. NA.8.

 

[f355spider]

Have you visited and asked on the Miata forums? I would suspect there are some seasoned owners there that could comment.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

Try the Valvoline Restore and Protect without any additive first. I noticed that my 5.7 Hemi ran significantly quieter with Valvoline Restore and Protect. I dont know how long it will last but it has been noticeable.

It’s not a constant tick to dampen with these engines, it’s a very loud tick that comes and goes. It’s a very common occurrence with these particular engines.

 

[Trav]

Are you running any additives like MoS2?

 

[AngryScientist]

Are you running any additives like MoS2?

Car is brand new to me and I have no idea what's in the crankcase, aside from the fact that I checked the level and the oil looks very clean on the dipstick. The gentleman who I bought it from seemed very competent though (he had a 2-post lift in his garage...) and knowledgeable, but we didnt get into the specifics of the maint history.

 

[CleanSump]

One of our BMWs developed lifter ticking at around 125k miles. I used HPL Engine Cleaner 30 cleaner mixed 20% with Castrol EDGE Euro 5W-30 and the ticking was gone in 100 miles.

 

[ctechbob]

There are two separate problems with the Miata lifter tick.

Cold tick, is caused by the HLA's bleeding down and taking time to pump up on first start. The passage that feeds oil to the HLA's are tiny, and very prone to getting restricted to where it takes more time than normal for them to pump up on the first start.

Hot tick is usually caused by high oil temps and thinning of the oil to where the HLA's will bleed down slightly while running and open up the clearance and cause a tick.

Thicker oil makes one better (hot) and the other (cold) worse.

Usually the opposite happens with thinner oil.

Best thing to do is keep the motor as clean as possible to keep those small passages flowing properly, hence the Valvoline Restore and Protect recommendation. Back when I was beating on my 1.6 we didn't have these newer oils and had to make due with playing around with brands and viscosities.

Flushes and additives usually just provide a temporary fix.

If you have just a small clatter on startup and then it is quiet, I'm not sure I would bother with much more than changing the oil on a regular schedule and being done with it.

If you are in a hot climate and end up with a hot tick during normal driving, you might want to bump up a weight.

BP Engines are really easy on oil and are far overbuilt for NA duty in the Miata, there's precious little you can do to hurt them short of straight up abuse. Don't be afraid to play around with different oils and weights to get what you want out of it.

Really some manner of tick on occasion is just a way of life with those motors. They'll all do it at one point or another, but unless they are doing it all the time, there's very little to worry about.

 

[wemay]

Another vote for Valvoline Restore and Protect

 

[Ronsant]

Thank you! Wheels and tires are new. I mostly do not know the maintenance history on the car, so I'm going through every fluid and refreshing. Flyin Miata has proven to be a great resource for all things Miata, and they also recommend the cocktail of shockproof and MTL in the trans.

I did the same thing when I bought my 2008. Had low miles, but who knows how long the fluids were in there. I did coolant, oil, MT, and rearend. We have a business here where you can rent a lift by the hour. I got all the fluids changed in less than the hour. Also got to check out undercarriage while up on the lift.
Miata’s are the most motorcycle like cars made. Sooo much fun!

 

[GI_GRIFF]

"flyin miata" has recommended trying BG EPR to potentially quiet a lifter tick on my NA 1.6 Miata.

Anyone had success with such a treatment? It would make sense that if some narrow passages are gummed up not enough oil pressure is getting to the hydraulic lifters, so it's definitely worth a shot. No idea what oil the previous owner was using, but planning on going to Valvoline Restore and Protect for at least a while to try and further clean the internals up. 130k on the clock.

Just planning for Spring. Right now she's cold and depressed

On the Valvoline Restore and Protect the instructions are to run a minimum of four OCI at 4000 miles each before determining if it worked or not. If you want, you can run that oil forever, whether your car is brand new or old.