loud ticking noise

[master m]

i have a 1994 rover. on start up it makes a rattling sound and the idle hand drops. then it will catch and run fine. then when i drive to the car is warm i get a ticking sound and sometimes its loud. i tried some additives and motor flush but didnt work. i have also noticed a leak maybe from a seal but it is coming from the oil pan area. i need help as i not a mechanic and i would like a general idea before i take it to one.is it ok drive it. as i getting ready to move from california to north carolina and that is 2400 miles. do you think it will make there before i fix it. i would appreciate all the help i can get.

 

[drive it forever]

Only a compantent mechanic, or someone who is mechanically inclined, that looks/listins at the rover in person should tell you whats wrong with it. I know alot of people on this board would love to know what oil filter you have on it and tell you that may be the culprit. But I would definitly have a mechanic look it over before I drove it one-way 2400 miles.

 

[master m]

i have on it a toughguard fram i think. i had the oil change about a thousand miles ago and i changed it again two days ago when i did the motor flush. the filter it self cost 7.00 it was the best one offered at pep boys for my rover. it sounds like a lifter ticking. and it gets loud at times then not so loud. i got a pair of those stethscopes and listen on the valve cover and the ticking was coming from there. i think the rattle is the cat converter.

 

[stogiedude]

There are folks here that will tell you it's bad stuff, causes foaming etc. but I have used Lucas Oil Stabilizer with good results in quieting noisy lifters. I have seen very fast results too.

Be careful, don't over fill your crank case. Drain out your oil and put it back in less 1 quart and add the Lucas. I also just had a very positive experience with Seafoam and would recommend it based on my personal experience. I wouldn't hesitate to put both in at the same time and at the end of your trip change the oil and filter and fill with a full sythetic 5w30 or 10w30 oil. I believe your lifter noise will disappear after doing what I suggest. JMO, there are certainly people on this board that know a heck of a lot more than I do. I decided to try the Seafoam based on recommendations I read on this board and I am more than pleased with the results. I would also recommend putting a can of Seafoam in your gas tank at the start of your trip or as soon as possible before you leave.

By the way, unless you have a really bad oil leak I wouldn't worry about it until you get to where you're going, I would just make sure that you have a couple of quarts with you and check the oil when you stop for gas along the way. Fixing a slow oil leak can be a lot more expensive than just adding a quart every now and then.

[ April 01, 2005, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: stogiedude ]

 

[master m]

hey,
forget to mention that i put 10,40 part synthetic in with 1 quart of lucas when i changed the oil again. i put only maybe 100 miles or less. how long does it take before it takes affect. went to clean bottom of rover and the leak is very min. but it looks like it is coming from the plug where the sensors goes in on the side. and i see a little on the transmission hump as well but none in the middle of the two. i just purchased some auto rx i will give it a try. maybe that will work if the lucas does not.