Lifter Tap in my M52

[evil_twin]

Whenever I drive my car hard I get lifter tap. Even if it's flooring the car in a straight I will get lifter tap. I tried putting the extra quart of oil in and I still get it. Anybody know a good sure fix?

[RVA e30]

what weight oil are you using?

[CarsSuck]

ATF flush? I've heard of this helping the m50 lifter tap issues. Or you could use some BG product...

[evil_twin]

Im using 10w-40 amsoil right now. I think I am going to try doing an ATF flush and see how that goes.

[evil_twin]

So, I put some ATF in my car, it quieted it down a bit, but the noise just came back. It sucks that I cannot adjust the valves or anything.

[evil_twin]

Alldata says that I can run 15w-40? Not sure if I want to run something that thick. Should I run an engine oil flush and stick with 10w-40 oil after that like I am now?

[rThor432]

I run 15w50 in my S52 during the summer, I've had no problems with it ever. I've run the Shell Rotella 15w40 in the car before as well, with no issues with that particular weight.

[evil_twin]

Hmmm, maybe I'll bump it another weight...

[dougsic]

I use 20w50, although I don't drive the car in the winter.

Lifter tick went away for about a year but has now returned.

The tick drives me crazy so I'll be replacing the lifters soon. Shame because I did cams and Dr. Vanos last year. Should have replaced the lifter then.

[hoveringuy]

Does the noise go away after the lifter pumps up? There's really not much to wear in a lifter. I think it's just a ball bearing and spring check valve to keep the oil inside.

I considered changing my lifters when I had them all out but it gets expensive for 24. No way to tell if they're bad, either.

[evil_twin]

So the only real sure way to get rid of the tick is replacing the lifters? I'm not trying to run diesel oil in my car lol.

[weaksauce]

rotella is fine to run in your car.
I ran 20-50 in my old S52.
The only way to truly get rid of the lifter ticking is to replace the lifters.

a good machine shop can test them and tell you if they are still good, but hell why not do them all? as soon as you go and replace 2-3 bad ones and get it put back together, another one will fail on you and the noise will be right back....

my .02

[z31maniac]

Does the noise go away after the lifter pumps up? There's really not much to wear in a lifter. I think it's just a ball bearing and spring check valve to keep the oil inside.

I considered changing my lifters when I had them all out but it gets expensive for 24. No way to tell if they're bad, either.

Yup, I think its a common problem for miata's as well. Old used up oil mucks everything up and you get the tick.

Pulling them out and replacing said internal parts will make them minty fresh again. If you search around on the internet, I've seen some good writeups on the Miata lifter "refurb."

[evil_twin]

Amsoil has a flushing kit. I wonder if I use the flush kit then throw more 10.40 at it, if it will go away.

[SpecM]

I've run the Shell Rotella 15w40 in the car before as well, with no issues with that particular weight.

^ this is good oil, no lie