New here and need opinions

[sleepery]

I have a 1978 Chevy Van with a 6 cyl 292 . When I start it the engine sounds ok but after 5-10 minutes I hear a lifter noise or say a tapping sound . I use 10w40 now should I switch to a different type ? Not sure if it is related to oil weight .

I tried some products that were additives (Rislone and gunk) but heard no difference . Thanks for any info .

 

[StevieC]

Lifter ticking isn't necessarily a sign of your engine wearing. It may get quieter with a thicker or thinner oil.

I would try running an AUTO-RX clean/rinse cycle in it and using a conventional 10w30 oil with a high moly content as your regular oil.

Does this engine have Flat-Tappets in it? If so then you need a higher ZDDP content.

to BITOG!!!!!!

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

This is THE place to come when it's opinions you're in search of.

 

[Papa Bear]

Everyone is entitled to my opinion.....

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
New here and need opinions


Ask and ye shall receive, my friend

Does this get progressively noisier as it warms up?

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: sleepery
I have a 1978 Chevy Van with a 6 cyl 292 . When I start it the engine sounds ok but after 5-10 minutes I hear a lifter noise or say a tapping sound . I use 10w40 now should I switch to a different type ? Not sure if it is related to oil weight .

I tried some products that were additives (Rislone and gunk) but heard no difference . Thanks for any info .


If the engine sounds normal at startup but after it warms up and runs a bit you get engine noise that can be bad! You "might" have some low end bearing issues. I actually had this happen to me on a vehicle. I would get a garage( or do it yourself )to hook up an oil pressure gauge and see what happens to the OP as the vehicle goes from cold to warm. If it drops the lower end is going/gone.

A change in oil doesn't fix the kind of issue you are talking about.

 

[mechtech2]

A little lifter tick is pretty harmless, as is a bit of rocker noise.
This may be a simple adjustment to center the lifter plunger in it's bore, or a lifter with a little too much leakdown. Maybe the rocker or pushrod is worn and causes a click where they meet.

But since it is a hot only issue, lifter adjustment or leaky lifter is my guess.

 

[NHHEMI]

Any lifter issues I have ever had or seen have come all the time not just when hot. I suppose it could be rocker arms. I would check the OP before I messed any further. As I said it "MIGHT" be lower end bearing issues. I didn't say 100% it was but that is where I would start first to rule it out. JMO.

 

[Gary Allan]

If it's low oil pressure, all the lifters should be tap dancing. If it was oil pressure alone, then the condition should go away with bringing the idle up. The noisy one should quiet down. He's got high visc stuff in there ..so I guess he could go to 20w-50 and see if the condition goes away. I suspect it will just take longer for the onset.

This is truly an antique in automotive years.

Did the 292 have side covers?

 

[sleepery]

Thank you for the replies guys . Interesting things to consider .
StevieC I am a novice when it comes to engines . I am not sure about the motor having flat tappets .
Gary Allan I am not sure about side covers . (I will look into what the engine has ) . The noise usually begins as I am still in park warming the van up and stays about the same for the whole time I drive it .

I use it for work locally . My last oil change was a 6 month one and when I logged the mileage it was less than 1k for that period . I have never put over 3k on it in a year(owned it for 3 years) . I also spoke to a mechanic nearby and he said that in those old vans and trucks people never took care of them and the lack of oil changes clogged up the oil in the motor preventing it from flowing to some areas .He did not seem to want to get into it .
Due to the economy work has been slow so I will have to keep this van alive for at least 2 years so I am trying to give it some tlc. One note I got hit real good by a Maxima about a foot behind the driver door about a foot above the rocker panel . Since then The motor kept stalling and I had to install those non- fouling plugs to keep it running . Thank God I was in a big van or I would not be writing this . I was knocked into the engine hump an me and the cover wound up half in the passenger seat .And yes I was belted in .

Again thank you very much for the help . I appreciate it . This is a pretty cool site .

 

[Jeepinjason]

As a side note I own a newer 5.7 HEMI. I know all to well of a tick! Been told it completely normal in my engine and I seen a lot that have the TICK.

 

[river_rat]

I thought all chevy 6's of that era had a lifter tick...maybe I'm thinking of the straight six?

 

[bcossa2001]

Put a vacuum gauge on it and see what it shows...

I just bought a vacuum gauge so that is my answer to everything right now...

 

[river_rat]

^^^ Hey, they are awesome little diagnosis devices with a bit of practice.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: river_rat
I thought all chevy 6's of that era had a lifter tick...maybe I'm thinking of the straight six?

This is an in line 6 ..

292

The 292 was only used in Chevrolet and GMC trucks; the block deck is taller, along with a relocated passenger-side engine mount. These were produced between 1963 to 1990; production of the engine shifted to Mexico after 1984.

[edit] L25

The L25 was GM's "last" pushrod straight-6 engine, produced from 1977 to 1988. It was used in Chevrolet trucks, displaced 292 cubic inches (4.8 L) and produced 115 hp (86 kW) and 215 ft·lbf (292 N·m).

 

[river_rat]

^^^ OK, then I never hear one not tick. Just my experience.

 

[sleepery]

This is truly an antique in automotive years.

Did the 292 have side covers? [/quote]
Yes it has side covers . I did a search on google and I saw some real nice clean looking 292's . Makes me want to get it back in good running condition . I looked in thru the filler cap and saw it was dirty looking in there but my oil is very clean looking even when i put miles on it .