Hydraulic lifter issues.

[Koolkuts1]

Hi all,

I’m back again with another issue on the Astra,
It’s had a tap since I’ve got it was really bad but I thought I could make it better and i sort of have however I can’t get it to go away, I’ve done 3 oil changes in the space of 6k miles (one when I got it then one every 3k miles.) Trying different consistency oil every time first one way 0w - 40 a cheap brand as I had just lost my job then I moved to 5w - 40 shell helix stuff worked rather well and finally I’ve put 10w - 40 in her because I read that the thicker the oil the better. But the noise is still obviously there. really don’t want to pull the engine apart on a perfect car unless I have no other choice I’ve tried all the oil additives you can think of they don’t make much of a difference. I need suggestions ? The car runs and drives like a dream however I’ve realised that the harder I drive it the worse the tap gets when I calm it down again. I really dislike the previous owner because I’m almost certain it wouldn’t have happened if they kept up with regular oil changes like the first and second owner did (I’m the 4th owner).

I know this is lengthy trust me I’ve tried shortening it but can’t find a way without missing important bits of information. The car still has power I often have a bit of fun and find it can keep up with and even sometimes get ahead of a lot of cars I wouldn’t expect to. Just hate the racket it makes I’ve got a hornet back box and middle pipe delete but the rumbles ruined by the racket from the engine.

Don’t know if any of this will help but in the last 3 months it’s had :

Fuel filter
Air filter
2x oil filter
Coolant temperature sensor
Thermostat
2x coolant flushes
Hornet exhaust back box
Cleaned throttle body
New battery
Spark plugs
Injector cleaning additive (stuff you put in fuel tank)
2x hydraulic lifter oil additive
2x engine flushes
O2 sensor (bank 1 sensor 1)
Few new fuses for auxiliary’s (12v socket etc)
3x oil changes (0w-40, 5w-40, 10w-40)

Appreciate anyone who can be arsed to read all that and help.

Edited by Koolkuts1 on Thursday 18th April 19:59

[Boosted LS1]

How can you be certain it's a lifter? Could it be a worn cam lobe or something else perhaps.

[Koolkuts1]

Very well could be mistaken but been told by tons of people it’s most likely lifters as they are very common to go on these cars.

[GreenV8S]

Sounds like you already have a pretty strong theory about what's causing the noise. You just need to decide whether it's worth the time and money to address the problem.

[E-bmw]

Just repeatedly changing the oil is going to do nothing.

If it is a lifter you need to identify which one it is & change it.

If it isn't you need to find what it is as the more you drive it the more damage you could be doing.

[Coilspring]

E-bmw said:

Just repeatedly changing the oil is going to do nothing.

If it is a lifter you need to identify which one it is & change it.

If it isn't you need to find what it is as the more you drive it the more damage you could be doing.

This ^^^^

[Koolkuts1]

GreenV8S said:

Sounds like you already have a pretty strong theory about what's causing the noise. You just need to decide whether it's worth the time and money to address the problem.

It’s a mint car otherwise there’s not a speck of rust and it’s got so much service history would be a shame to get rid.

[Koolkuts1]

E-bmw said:

Just repeatedly changing the oil is going to do nothing.

If it is a lifter you need to identify which one it is & change it.

If it isn't you need to find what it is as the more you drive it the more damage you could be doing.

I have read that giving it a few oil changes will quieten it down hence why I’ve done so many, however a oil change every 3k miles isn’t bad for it that I know of. Do you know how much a mechanic would charge to replace a lifter because I’m lead to believe a lot hence why I’ve searched for a easier way to fix it.

[E-bmw]

Koolkuts1 said:

it’s got so much service history would be a shame to get rid.

Apart from the vital oil changes by all counts!

[Koolkuts1]

E-bmw said:

Koolkuts1 said:

it’s got so much service history would be a shame to get rid.

Apart from the vital oil changes by all counts!

It’s got full service history all the way up till 2014 when someone bought it and didn’t keep up with them.

[Koolkuts1]

It’s 14 years old and hasn’t got a single bubble of rust has had no rust repairs just been well looked after. There’s not too many cars you can say that about now days, my mates a body repairs mechanic and it’s one of the best he’s seen in the 24 years of body repairs

[Krikkit]

So fix the engine? A top end teardown and new lifters won't be that much compared to finding another.

Is it a VVT engine?

[Koolkuts1]

Going to a few garages today to get some quotes however someone I know had a full head rebuild on his Audi and I know that cost him a few grand, so I’m not expecting a good price.

I’ll keep people updated.

[Koolkuts1]

Garage can’t have a look till 1st may so just going to keep on living with it until they have a look and give me a quote.

[rigga]

Drain half a liter of oil, and replace with same of ATF, run for a couple of thousand miles, change oil.

[skeneo]

I had one of these and the cam lobes were worn so bad the mechanic I had fixing it was surprised it even started, I’ll upload pictures if I can find them. New cam kit from Eurocarparts with a timing belt and water pump and there was no more rattles.

[Koolkuts1]

How long did the job take and how much did it cost ?

[skeneo]

Took a couple of hours including timing belt and water pump. Ecp didn’t then show on their website they could supply complete kits for cam, tappets etc but they can get if not in stock. Kit was about 120ish with discount codes or an account.

[skeneo]

[Koolkuts1]

When my local mechanic has a look at it and tells me if it’s the same as yours I might get a lumpy cam put in as I’m planning on getting more power out this. Unless anyone has a reason I shouldn’t I’m new to this sort of thing. Glad to hear it will only take a few hours can’t go long without my car running as I use it for work.

Appreciate the help mate.