Lifter/valve tapping w/Maxlife & sitting

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Ramblin Fever

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Curious to what you all have to say/suggest.

Truck is a '97 Isuzu Rodeo with 175k miles; yes, Isuzu's are famous for valve/lifter tapping issues, but not this truck. The only other time I've had tapping issues was prior to waterpump/timing belt failure.

Anyhow, truck is running Maxlife synthetic 5w30, about 3,500 miles into the oci, with a Napa Gold filter; truck does not, has not burned any oil, nor does it have leaks. I simply started using Maxlife because of all the hoopla on this website, but I may change away from it for the following reason.

While I'm currently unemployed, truck has sat for 2-3-4 days at a time stationary. 3 times now, within the last 2 weeks, truck has started up with a moderate valve/lifter tapping problem that lasts for 5-20 seconds or so.

This is a new problem, but it did NOT start until just recently. Oil/filter combination is at least from 2-3 months ago.

My question is - is the maxlife synthetic dripping back into the sump so well that it's leaving the lifters up top dry?

Is the oil - with the 100F temps, proving too thin for this engine? I usually run a 10w30 or even a 5w-40 in summer temps, as this truck is NOTORIUS for thinning a 5w30 into nothing.

The only absolute different things are, using Conoco gas of recently instead of Shell, and being unemployed, meaning truck sits for longer periods between driving.

This is a mild concern, because it occured again just yesterday, and the truck had been driven the day before.

Truck has had a life of Havoline 10w30 and Rotella 5w-40

Suggestions are more then welcome - thank you!
 
How many quarts does this motor take...?....If the Havoline and Rotella worked better I would use those...also my engine made a lot of noise at startup...when I switched to a different filter it quieted down quite a bit...
 
I found ML synthetic 10W30 SL to be excellent at quieting valve train noise on start-up, but not the SM variety. Switched to GC gold SL with great success after a couple of hundred miles into the OCI. GC gold might be a good choice for you too with winter approaching soon. If GC isn't avaolable in your area of Colorado, give AMSOIL ASL or ATM a try. An HDEO synthetic might be a good option too. Also, letting my car sit for extended periods of time caused the valves to flutter more on start-up with ML syn SM.
 
Well, there certainly are some differences in what the truck is used to. Different gas brand, different oil, how about the filter. Although I don't think that it's the fuel or the oil, I do think that the filter may have a little something to do with it and the fact that the truck sit idle for a few days. In the past, has the truck ever sat for a few days without starting ? Although the NAPA Gold filter is held in high reguard, I think that over a period of 3 days sitting, the oil filter(at least your example) may have a faulty anti drain back valve(ADBV). Is the oil filter mounted vertical or horizontal ? If it's vertical, I will be puzzled to say the least.
 
I have the same tapping issue with my 2002 GMC 2500HD, my brother inlaw has the same tapping with his Chevy 1500. Is this a systemic GM issue? I'm running synthetics in my truck. Also, it only happens during the first 5 min of operation.
 
Couple of answers for you:

Truck holds exactly 5.7qts with a new filter.

I've been using Napa Gold filters for about 2yrs on this truck.

Yes, the truck is normally drove daily, occasionally - while we're on leave away trips with another truck - this truck has been known to sit in the past for 3-5 days, but not more then 3-4 times in it's 10yrs of life with us. Not once do I ever remember hearing this even on those occasions.

Truck grew-up, if you will, on Havoline 10w30 for 7.5yrs/150k miles, but, during the last year I ran Havoline, I could swear engine was starting to develop a hot tick, even in winter after the engine would warm to normal temp.

Switched to Rotella synthetic 5w-40, hot tick no longer present, however, I thought that this oil may be too thick for our winter temps, which can get as low as -15F in an OHC engine.

So I switched to Maxlife 10w30 regular oil for last winter, and even with temps down to -13F on a few occasions truck ran/started beautifully, thing is, I can't remember if that was the SL version or not.

Point being, I have ran at least 3 oci's with Maxlife *regular* - 2 oci's with 10w30; 1 oci with 5w30 - all 3 with Napa Gold filter.

Truck has a way of shearing the 5w30 blend down to nothing; so I thought to try 5w30 synthetic - which is where I'm at today.

Filter is mounted horizontal.

I do know, a high-tech Isuzu engine expert highly recommends Rotella synthetic for this engine, but can someone guarantee me that it's not too thick for our sometimes brittle cold temps??

I HATE to keep switching oils, but I do not like what I'm hearing, even if it is because of being stationary for a few days.

I ran GC in our newly acquired Toyota and found it very hard to come by; that truck is running on Castrol 5w30 flawlessly, with the same oil filter.
 
keep the maxlife but bump it up to a 10w30 if you know that it thins the 5w30.. does ML make it in a 5w40?? it maybe draining so well that it does this but rest assured your valves arent "dry". i would bump up in weight
 
I'll be honest, if I need a 5w-40 oil, I'd rather use the Rotella synthetic - I still believe it's a much more robust oil then the Maxlife.

A Group III 5w30 synthetic should NOT be shearing this fast; if it's doing it, per my next UOA, I will not be happy with Maxlife. Prior to this, my oci's with 10w30 maxlife were of the blend, not synthetic - so, relatively speaking, the synthetic 5w30 should hold up better????

Also, I have always been a fan of 10w30's versus 5w30's, but why would I need to run a 10w, when they're both 30wt's??
 
I'll assume you never had a valve job and it has hydraulic lifters. So at 175K the lifters are likely worn. Sitting for a few days may allow the ADBV on filter to seep.

First, I would not worry to much about it. Second, I would check to Wix filter for red silicon ADBV. I know what the website says, but check it visually (it can be new filter). Third, at 175K on an engine known to be hard on oil...the Rotella 5W40 is no brainer for operating temp's. The 5 is what is the concern for winter, not the 40. BUT check the 40C viscosity of each oil you have expereince with. Thin oil at start you won't help your problem. Maybe consider the dino Rotella 15W40. Finally If you have been doing extended drains, do a few short ones perhaps with the 15W40. Consider pulling valve cover for a quick cleanliness inspection.
 
I completely appreciate your thoughts, but I have a question to this, IF the truck was beating down the *synthetic* version of maxlife, wouldn't it *look* about shot, AND wouldn't the truck be using the oil??

Just curious, cause the oil is getting dark, but still a nice brown color, AND, I never have to add any oil at all to this truck irregardless of viscosity.

Truck, on average, gets driven 200-500 miles per week, so, it's not being diluted by fuel either; I've had that checked too.

I'm generally all for the 5w-40, BUT with so many reports from some experts here saying that not all engines actually require 40wt oils, couldn't I be doing more harm then good by switching to a 40wt oil when it doesn't even register that it's *using* 30wt oils??.....It does beat them down, however; i.e. turned Maxlife 5w30 blend into a low 20wt within 2k miles.

I'd be all for a 15w40 if I lived in the desert; living in Colorado, I only use that viscosity for my diesel.

I generally do not go more then a 4k oci AT MOST on this engine from the first day off the lot, irregardless of oil choice.

Nope I've never had a valve job, everything on truck is all original; yes, they are hydraulic lifters - thus, the original thought to needing a thinner oil to get to the top-end fast, in the winter anyways.
 
Lifter tick is caused by 1 of 4 things:

1. Oil inlet hole at lifter blocked by a piece of debris.

2. Insufficient oil flow to the affected lifter.

3. Plunger spring inside lifter worn out or broken.

4. Plunger spring forcing oil back out through inlet hole.


The last one is unlikely, but can happen when the viscosity of the oil is too thin to overcome the exerted pressure of the plunger spring; thereby forcing the oil back out through the inlet hole.
 
I understand what lifter tick is, but how come it's only doing it on *this* oil/oci?

I've ran Maxlife 5w30 blend before, and it did not do this. I thought the synthetic was thicker then the blend??

Anyways, guess I just don't understand why it's only just started doing it and it's an intermittend issue. Started her up today, ran just fine - who knows.....

Thanks for all the help.

Think I'll go back to either Maxlife blend 10w30 or Rotella; not thrilled with the noise of late for so-called synthetic Maxlife.
 
Quote:

Curious to what you all have to say/suggest.

Truck is a '97 Isuzu Rodeo with 175k miles; yes, Isuzu's are famous for valve/lifter tapping issues, but not this truck. The only other time I've had tapping issues was prior to waterpump/timing belt failure.

Anyhow, truck is running Maxlife synthetic 5w30, about 3,500 miles into the oci, with a Napa Gold filter; truck does not, has not burned any oil, nor does it have leaks. I simply started using Maxlife because of all the hoopla on this website, but I may change away from it for the following reason.

While I'm currently unemployed, truck has sat for 2-3-4 days at a time stationary. 3 times now, within the last 2 weeks, truck has started up with a moderate valve/lifter tapping problem that lasts for 5-20 seconds or so.

This is a new problem, but it did NOT start until just recently. Oil/filter combination is at least from 2-3 months ago.

My question is - is the maxlife synthetic dripping back into the sump so well that it's leaving the lifters up top dry?

Is the oil - with the 100F temps, proving too thin for this engine? I usually run a 10w30 or even a 5w-40 in summer temps, as this truck is NOTORIUS for thinning a 5w30 into nothing.

The only absolute different things are, using Conoco gas of recently instead of Shell, and being unemployed, meaning truck sits for longer periods between driving.

This is a mild concern, because it occured again just yesterday, and the truck had been driven the day before.

Truck has had a life of Havoline 10w30 and Rotella 5w-40

Suggestions are more then welcome - thank you!

Click to expand...


This is just my opinion, and I'll probably be torn apart for saying it, But the last two Napa gold filters I've used have caused startup noise after sitting a day or two (starting around 2500 miles on the OCI). I cut one open and the anti drainback was shot on it. Each time when I replaced the filter on the next oil change it was gone instantly. Personally I'm not going to use Napa filters anymore. I'm using a Fram extra guard at the moment with now problems but will be looking for something else in the future.
 

This is just my opinion, and I'll probably be torn apart for saying it, But the last two Napa gold filters I've used have caused startup noise after sitting a day or two (starting around 2500 miles on the OCI). I cut one open and the anti drainback was shot on it. Each time when I replaced the filter on the next oil change it was gone instantly. Personally I'm not going to use Napa filters anymore. I'm using a Fram extra guard at the moment with now problems but will be looking for something else in the future.



Interesting....thanks!
 
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