How much damage can a ticking lifter do?

[tweety2300]

I've had a lifter tick for a few years now with no issues, just did it above 3500 rpms or so and on cold starts. Over the past 2 months its gotten way louder. So loud I thought it was a rod bearing. Did an oil change stuck a magnet in the old oil and in the pan and there is no metal.

It now ticks cruising on interstate and its really loud when I let off the gas inbetween shifts, if I'm cruising in a parking lot in 2nd and it echoes off of stuff it sounds as if the rod is about to let go. Looking to rebuild the motor soon, but if the lifter may have damaged anything it may make up my mind to do a kl swap. I don't race or run the car hard it hasn't even seen 4k rpms in a few months. It burns a s*** ton of oil but still has plenty of low end power so I don't think I have power loss or anything.

 

[Tamn]

Generally speaking, it just means they are dirty or something along those lines, possibly not receiving enough lubrication. If the oil seems to be coming out clean I wouldn't worry about it myself if your looking to rebuild it sooner or later. I've seen two friends cars tick for several years with no damage now.

 

[tweety2300]

No, oil is always dirty due to previous owner never changing it.

It doesn't bother me that it ticks, it bothers me that its gotten louder

 

[Tamn]

No, oil is always dirty due to previous owner never changing it.

It doesn't bother me that it ticks, it bothers me that its gotten louder

Hm, yea it's probably really caked up in there then, you might try some kind of additive to clean it out. I've never had any luck with them personally. /shrug

 

[whatusername]

simple fix is to add a bottle of valve medic or marvel mystery oil they usually will make it stop ticking cuz they clean em off. my dad swears by marvel and i like valve medic

 

[tweety2300]

Last oil change got a bottle of moa, never heard if it. But slowed down oil consumption a bit