Noisy Lifters

[GrandAmsBlow]

I have a 92 quad 4 that I recently purchased and it now has a set of noisy lifters in it when it runs for about 20 minutes. I tried supplementing a litre of transmission fluid for oil but to no avail. Are there any cures to this problem without having to buy a rebuilt unit. The car only has 50k miles on it. I will try and use a heavier oil as I was told that the heavier oil may quiet down the lifters?? Help!:???:

[HeyDace]

Are you sure its lifters? Noisy timing chains sound like lifters. In most cases it is the chain. The chain tensioner and shoe become worn which allows the chain to rattle against the timing case cover. The shoe and guides are neoprene and can be replaced which will quite down the chain. I'd investigate a little further.

[Brad97GS]

I agree with HeyDace. :) Timing chain problems are much more common than lifter problems on the Quad. Do you have an oil pressure gauge by chance?

[mwsriders]

what about on the 3100 is the timing chain still more common than the lifters?

[Brad97GS]

No. The timing chain on the Quad 4 is really long, and that's part of the reason why it causes so many problems (there are other reasons too). The 3100 has a short chain, and I've never heard of any problems with it in a general sense.

[ChevelleSSLS6]

on the old Saturn-SAturn engines (before they used the Opel v6, Honduh v6, and GM's ECOTEC), those 1.9ers cam chains would go bad real quick if ya let too much oil burn off (they had crappy piston rings, otherwise good engines) or if ya went slacky on maitenence.

[RocketFast321]

Originally posted by mwsriders
what about on the 3100 is the timing chain still more common than the lifters?

I agree with Brad, it has a short chain, so it "should" last longer than the engine it self :)

[BBT]

Quad 4 does not have lifters, being an OHC engine. Timing chain may be a part of the problem, but why not check valve lash as well? I had a 72 Mazda 808 that once in a while would get clackety. The fix was to adjust the valve lash. Of course, that was in the old days of simple engines. May not be so easy for you to do on the Quad 4.