Questions and Answers

A Dodge Stealth With Noisy Lifters
Q. Sir, My subject line sounds like an old school singing group but it is what it is; my lifters on a 1993 Dodge Stealth. I read the article, "Dodge Is Noisy When Very Cold".

You had mentioned that if you hear the lifters for more than a few seconds we may have a problem, well I definitely hear them. I bought the car at the end of December when my car was hit and totaled. I have not had the car long and went away for business.

I had left my car sitting for a week and before letting it sit for a week the sounds of the lifters were faint and I did not think it an issue, but after letting the car sit they sounded like someone trying to get out of the hood! I had the high idling and knocking while I accelerated. I believe, after reading your articles, I needed the oil build up. My car kept the sound for couple of days.

I took it to my mechanic and he added an additive called "Gunk" that quitted the problem within 10 minutes. Now I am a little worried cause you say to use ATF, for no harm to your system. Also, you said if you hear the lifters for more than a few seconds we have an issue.

What is the issue, what would I need to look out for, would I be in jeopardy while driving the car, what can I do to repair the issue, what is an estimated cost? Anything else you can add would be great.

Thank you,
CJ

A. When you buy a used vehicle, you buy an unknown quantity. In other words you don't know what the history of the vehicle is, what kind on maintenance and repairs it has had. If the oil and filter changes were not done then dirt and sludge can accumulate in the lifters and either prevent oil from entering, or keep them from holding that oil.

An engine flush is a dangerous procedure and more often than not, creates more problems than it solves. I prefer a less drastic approach to clean out the inside of an engine. Run the engine up to normal operating temperature and shut it off. Drain the oil completely, be careful the oil will be hot, and remove and install a new oil filter. When the oil is drained, refill the engine substituting one quart of oil with one quart of transmission fluid. Do this every 3,000 miles.

The transmission fluid has a high detergent content and will do a nice, although a very slow, job of cleaning the inside of the engine. If after the third oil change the lifters still make noise, then a check to make sure the oil pressure and oil pump are good is in order. If the oil pump and pressure are good, then it may be necessary to replace the lifters.

The issue here is the lifters are not holding pressure and this cause excessive play in the valve train. This play creates undue wear on the valve train and could, over a period of time, damage these components. I very much doubt that this will leave you stranded on the side of the road, If all else fails, then a replacement of the lifters would be the only repair.

To replace all the lifters would require about 2.1 hours labor for the 3.0 liter SOHC engine, 8.0 hours for the 3.0 liter DOHC and 3.0 liter DOHC Turbo engine. The lifters themselves will run about $20.00 each.