sticking hydraulic lifter-what to do?

[Russell]

If you suspect you have a sticking lifter on a BMW overhead cam engine, what should you do? This is a 6 cylinder in-line M50 engine with hydraulic self adjusting lifters. Oil is routinely changed.

Just started to notice noise at extended idle this week. Blip throttle and the noise goes away. TIA

 

[shoz123]

I've added a quart of ATX fluid to the oil and my sticking lifter noise went away.

 

[handyman]

auto-rx it

 

[MrCritical]

Just a question. If you follow the maintenance reminder, how many miles between oil changes do you go?

 

[Russell]

Handyman, Been auto-rxed twice. may do it again just for giggles.

Mrcritical, I change the oil/filter every 4,000 miles or so with castrol 5w40 synthetic. Ignore teh oil change reminders as I do service on the car more often than BMW factory recomendations.

 

[mechtech2]

Why say it's sticking?
It seems to be filling up fine when the pressure increases.
It sounds like the opposite - a leaking loose lifter.

 

[Russell]

Heck I don't know. I was just using a term I thought was appropiate. So it seems I have a mechanical issue that can only be fixed by some sort of repair? Replace a lifter or all lifters? Or is soemthing that cleaning again(like Auto-rx) can help?

 

[another Todd]

Seafoam.

 

[XPR]

Quote:

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If you suspect you have a sticking lifter on a BMW overhead cam engine, what should you do? This is a 6 cylinder in-line M50 engine with hydraulic self adjusting lifters. Oil is routinely changed.

Just started to notice noise at extended idle this week. Blip throttle and the noise goes away. TIA

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Replace it if other stuff has failed.

 

[nel]

If what you're describing is a slight ticking sound, this is a common phenomenon with BMW M5x engines. It's almost impossible to isolate it to a particular lifter, and you can't remove one lifter without taking the camshaft(s) out. This also requires a special tool for keeping the valves down so that you don't damage the hollow camshaft when you start unbolting it from the head.

If the ticking goes away, I say ignore it. My wife's '97 328i started having this ticking sound after 110K miles. I never noticed any difference in UOAs, so engine wear didn't seem to be affected.

 

[mechtech2]

It's possible an Auto Rx program will fix it.
At least, a bunch of other good stuff will occur.
There is no immediate danger or harm from this ticking lifter, so you can safely try the long term Rx solution.

 

[Black Bart]

Quote:

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If you suspect you have a sticking lifter on a BMW overhead cam engine, what should you do? This is a 6 cylinder in-line M50 engine with hydraulic self adjusting lifters. Oil is routinely changed.

Just started to notice noise at extended idle this week. Blip throttle and the noise goes away. TIA

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The symptom that you describe is not a sticking lifter.
You either have a faulty lifter or a worn oil pump since you say when you speed the engine it stops making noise
If as one poster stated this is common for that engine then it has a design flaw.
Does that mean it will cause a problem???? Probably not especially since it works at speeds above idle.
You could try an oil that was a little heavier then the lifter that is leaking down at idle may be able to hold pressure.

 

[Russell]

Black Bart,
Excellent comment. I think it is a common problem with the Mxx series engines. My best results of oil with this engine (in terms of idle noise) is with a brew of Castrol Syntex 10w40 and 5w50. The slightly thicker oil than 5w40 seems to work a bit better. I put in the 5w40 as temperatures are starting to drop and I wanted a thinner oil. May not make any real difference here in Ky with a moderate climate.

 

[Lost1]

Just for fun you could try a good 20W-50, like Max Life, Havoline, or Pennzoil yellow bottle. I'd bet a beer it would stop most, if not all, of the ticking. If it doesn't, you're only out a couple bucks and the time for one oil change...

 

[Black Bart]

Quote:

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Black Bart,
Excellent comment. I think it is a common problem with the Mxx series engines. My best results of oil with this engine (in terms of idle noise) is with a brew of Castrol Syntex 10w40 and 5w50. The slightly thicker oil than 5w40 seems to work a bit better. I put in the 5w40 as temperatures are starting to drop and I wanted a thinner oil. May not make any real difference here in Ky with a moderate climate.

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Have you ever tried 10W40 Redline the HTHS on it is high maybe when hot it would stay in the lifter longer.
Since it is only doing it on idle I would not worry about it
but I know no one likes to hear their engine making noise.
My grandson lives near you he works at Toyota and lives west of Georgetown.

 

[Russell]

Thanks for the advice. I agree. I will try a 10w40, perhaps Redline.