Alright, for some reason, Dolly is starting to go through some oil. Ran low. Heard the metalic sound, so stopped and filled the oil back up. Now we are good for about a week. Run low again. Filled back up. Now for additional info, I have been using the synthetic oil with Lucas additive. Well, two more days driving to work (about 50 miles each way). The other day driving home she developed a pretty loud clatter. I do not notice any power loss. There was deiseling only once prior to this. There is no backfires. Since it had a very soft clatter until it warmed up, I thought maybe a lifter. I pulled the cover to watch and listen. Other then a bunch of oil spray (exspected LOL) everything seams to be fine. Only the very first lobe is very slightly scored on the back side at the edge where the lifter rides. The noise did not seam to come from that area. It seamed to come from below in the engine area. Maybe the second piston area? Now I am not a true mechanic, so I do not want to tear my engine down looking for something I might not be able to diagnose just for the fun of it and accomplish nothing. So my questions are, has anyone else exsperienced this? What did it turn out to be, or anyone who knows something about the 2.3, what do you think it might be. Any help is appreciated! Thank you.
Sounds like it could be piston slap. Hard to tell without actually hearing it.
I forgot to ask, would a bad valve make it sound this way and sound like its coming from the block? I know the slight ticking sound previously mentioned sounded like a sticky valve but that was only when it was cold. This sound is always, but seames to be loudest when I am sitting somewheres in drive with the brake on. If I put the car into nuetral (when its warm) the sound decreases. When it is cold, the sound is very loud! Cant hear it as much at highway speads, but then again at those speads, theres regular road noise, wich makes it hard to hear. Maybe this info will help? Thanks.
My question would be, why is it going thru so much oil? At that rate either you would see a leak or would see it smoking out of the exhaust. In the past I've ran some heavy weight oil to help combat the noises and oil consumption. Valvoline 50 weight is what I use. I'm not so sure the synthetic oil is doing you any good. With the kind of noises and issues your describing it sounds like rebuild time. Just my opinion.
One thing I forgot to point out was touched on slightly by RSM. If you are using synthetic on a higher mileage engine that is not a good idea. Synthetic oil is so pure that when you put it in an older engine it will actually clean out the crap that is sealing that engine, as well as the crud that is holding it together. Unless you started using it when the engine was very very young (like around 15k miles or so)or on a complete rebuild it is a bad idea. I would go to a thicker conventional oil. If the sound is always I would also agree with RSM. rebuild time.
I've been a mechanic for a long time (I worked on NEW Pinto's). I would guess from your discription that it could either be carbon buildup on the pistons, piston slap, or a rod bearing is leaving this world.
Russ
rosion on the parts, so everything would need to take a bath and get polished! Hopefully this is my problem as my neighbor and I think. Just to go on a man hunt now probably to save me some time and elbow grease? Thanks.