Does a 88 GM 2.8L engine have flat or roller lifte

[Ross]

I have a couple Pontica fieros with the HO 2.8L V6. Both are 1988's. I have read about the issues with low zinc and flat lifters. Do these engines have the flat type?

Both of these cars are not driven much. I noticed in the first one when I switched to the new SM oil (chevron supreme) that I started to hear more engine noise. It sounds like you have a wet belt. I hear it only when the car is warmed up and at idle.

Same thing happend to the second car when it was switched to Chevron Supreme 5w30 SM.

So I know it has something to do with the oil, cause the new noise wasen't there before. I plan on switching oils to something a little more beafy next time. Or should I try some SLOB or VSOT ??

Thanks

 

[Merkava_4]

Well, you had my curiosity going so I went to the NAPA site and brought up a picture of a lifter for a 1988 Pontiac Fiero with the 2.8L V6.

It's definitely a hydraulic flat tappet non-roller lifter.

Are you using the new 2007 Chevron Supreme formula? Did you not get the memo about their new formula? IT IS THIN! 9.7 cSt @ 100C for their 5W-30 and 10W-30

If you're having valve train noise, you need to go thicker; or at least change to a brand of oil that has a normal thickness for a 30 weight.

 

[Gary Allan]

If you're getting lifter noise, I'd do Auto-Rx on both of them. My mother ran M1 5w-20 for a good bit of her 2.8's life (220k before given away -quiet).

This is more expensive than just using a slightly heavier oil.

 

[Ross]

Actually one of the cars had 2 rx cycles to help solve a very minor rear main drip. It's hard to tell where the noise is coming from, but like I said, it sounds like you have a wet belt. That's the best I can describe it. The noise only starte when I went from SL to SM oil CS 5w30. I had a stock pile of the older SL and only recently switched to the SM, that's when the noise started.

I might just try a an oil with lot's of adds in it and slighly heavier.

Is it safe to use HM oils in low mileage cars?

this one above has 3,000 miles on it.

the one below is Canadian and has 30,000 kilometers on it. This is the one that had two cycles of RX. I know the engine is clean.

 

[Ross]

"his and hers fieros"

 

[Merkava_4]

Quote:

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Is it safe to use HM oils in low mileage cars?

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Yes and MaxLife 10W-30 would be a good one.

 

[mstrjon32]

GM did not introduce roller rockers on the 60*V6 engines until 1996, I believe.

Those are some extraordinarily clean Fiero's, BTW! Do you ever even drive the one with 3,000 miles?

 

[ikeepmychevytoo]

There are roller kits if you need a "project". That engine is my daily driver since '98. Once I tried Ford's diesel-only 5w 30, it pinged and I replaced the next day. When I tried Castrol GTX's SM 15w 40 it again pinged but after a some highway speeds it got quiet. I guess valve seals need to get used to a different oil on this aged engine.

No rollers but but this is not an OHC as well. I never heard a start-up noise with any oil. For the 15w 40 part... this engine -in my experience- do like the 5w 30, but 5w 30 wasn't avaible at the time and since 15w 40 is ok for my temp range per the manual, and while a hot summer was expected I thought I'd try it. But I feel that slight drag.

 

[mstrjon32]

IMO, the pre-96 engines run smoother and quieter than the later ones with the rollers. I had an '89 2.8L, it ran quiet and smooth; my '97 3100 was much noisier and rougher.

No idea why; it seems that GM has finally smoothed things out for the newest generation of 60*'s, though.

 

[addyguy]

Nice pair of Fiero's you have there! I always thought they were a cool car, and that GM gave up on them way too early.

 

[Bret Chase]

Quote:

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Nice pair of Fiero's you have there! I always thought they were a cool car, and that GM gave up on them way too early.

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I agree, but the problem was they were completely outclassed by the Toyota MR2 (I had an '87MR2), which was really it's only direct competition. You needed a 2.8l 2M6 to be as fast the 1.6l NA MR2, and when the SC came out in '88, it was all over, IMHO.

 

[Gary Allan]

They were a great adaptation. Chevette front end coupled with a Citation drivetrain. It's a shame they didn't work out.

 

[Ross]

Update: I think I have the problem solved on both cars. I changed oil on both cars to Castrol GTX 5w30 SM. The noise on both cars improved about 50%. I had posted a question about home much SLOB was needed to bring the oil zn back to SL standards. I never had the noise when using Chevron Supreme SL. It was only when I switched to SM Chevron Supreme that I noticed it.

So I added 1/2 bottle per car to raise the the zn about 200 per car, or the old SL standards

NO MORE NOISE!!