[wa1dh]

I've got a 1999 Escort LX 2.0, 106k miles.

If I get a ticking only on cold starts, which goes away in about 20 seconds, is that a stuck lifter? It never happens on warm starts, only cold. I let the car sit a few days longer than normal (was carpooling) and started it up today and got a loud CLICK CLICK CLICK that lasted under a second before it reverted to its normal level ticking, which also went away within 20 seconds. Doesn't make a sound while warm other than the quiet sound the of injectors clicking off.

I know the car sat about a year before I bought it, so I'm thinking a stuck lifter. Just hoping it's not the dreaded valve seat gone south. My plan is to swap the head for a rebuilt this Fall but first I have to save to replace a damn cracked windshield..

 

[pextor]

sounds fine to me. when was the last oil change and what viscosity of oil did you use?

 

[wa1dh]

I used Mobil 1 extended performance in whatever viscosity the owners manual called for. I have the container in my trunk but I'm in work now and the car's out across the way.

I changed it about 2500 mi ago.

 

[white-lightning]

Mine started doing the same thing. Or at least I just noticed it after fixing the timing cover rubbing noise. I suggest putting in a bottle of CD2 engine detergent. If it is just a sticky lifter it should get cleaned in a couple hundred miles or so with that.

 

[wa1dh]

Are you supposed to drain the oil after using that? I was hoping to run it to 10k as it's the extended performance oil.

 

[white-lightning]

No. It is just extra detergents. Most oil has some in it to keep your engine clean. It says on the bottle to add every 2,000 miles as needed.

 

[97DragScort]

I dont trust CD2 - Marvel Mystery Oil works fantastic, will even clean the pan - dropped my pan last year for a new seal, 0 gunk, a quick wipe and it was clean. Marvel will also free sticky lifters aswell as lube the cylinders if added to the gas like 2 cycle oil but it burns much cleaner.

as for lifter tick, retorque the rockers to about 20 ft/lbs - trq spec is 18-22 ft/lbs - Ive had lifter tick in the past and a rocker retorque solved it.

 

[wa1dh]

FWIW, I tried the kerosene trick when I got the car. Take out a quart of oil and run a quart of kerosene in place - let it idle for about 3 minutes then drain the oil. I looked in through the oil fill hole and it looked pretty clean, no sludge or anything.

 

[97DragScort]

kerosene strips bearings of all oil - what you did was put about 10k miles of driveing on doing that little 3 minute cleaning job - never put diesel or kerosene in an oiled motor.

 

[wa1dh]

So what's the difference between kerosene and seafoam (both petrol derivatives)? I only did it because I read tons of posts on other forums of people who did it and swore it was safe. Some even discussed draining ALL the oil and running straight kerosene for a minute or two. I figured a quart mixed with the oil would keep the viscosity up and do no more harm than diluting your oil with seafoam.

 

[97DragScort]

seafoam is marketed and made more towards Marine engines which are mostly 2 cycle - 2 cycle motors inject oil with gas or are premixed - clean motor oil is the only thing I can swear by to clean a motors interior oiling system, change it at 3k and do it regularly and your motor will keep itself clean -

in 1997 I got my hands on all the "undisclosed" info from Valvoline corp. - running any type of motor cleaner strips the bearings and puts undue wear on all moveing surfaces. What is safe in YOUR motor? I cant tell you that, but, if it was bought used, chances are it may not have been properly taken care of. That said, just regular oil changes following the 3k, 3 month will clean a motor just fine - if in doubt, 2k mile changes for 2 times will do the same as a kerosene cleaning and not rob surfaces of needed oil impregnation.

never add a solvent (ie diesel, kerosene, gas) to oil

 

[wa1dh]

Alright, I've got you. I normally don't flush engines, but I did it because I just bought it and like you said, didn't know what kind of life it had. Now that I got the 'gunk' out (or whatever there was) I've been running my usual Mobil 1 with nothing added.

My old escort (2nd gen) lived on Mobil 1 and is closing in on 214k without burning a drop of oil. I don't recall ever flushing that engine because I knew the person I bought it off babied it.

 

[BOOSTER_PR]

btw... what oil filter are you using?????? i had the same problem and stopt using fram filters and went straight to motorcraft and wala! never heard it again...

 

[wa1dh]

I believe I put the Mobil 1 extended performance filter in (high mileage filter for high mileage oil).

 

[97DragScort]

Fram = disaster

k and n, wix, purolater, motorcraft = good

steer away from Fram, Fram = low flow = bad for motor

 

[pextor]

agreed, fram = bad news.

orange filter of death!