Will synthetic and thicker oils quiet the noisy lifters of an engine? To get the answer to this question, you should know these two terms (thicker and synthetic oil).
You should also know if these two terms are the same or not. You know that synthetic motor oil can help to reduce this type of noise.
Here, I have tried to share notes on this type of liquid material. I have also shared the noise-reducing activity for the ticking lifters of an engine.
You should know which type of liquid material is best to keep the lifters quiet.
So, continue reading…
Will Thicker Oil Stop the Lifter Noise of the Engine?
You may have a question: will heavy or thicker oil (liquid material) stop the engine from ticking?
There are two types of oil that people use in their vehicles. They are:
- Thicker (Heavy) Liquid Material
- Thinner/Thin Liquid Material
You need to avoid heavier oil if the engine valve lifters are hydraulic. Loud noises may be created if you use thicker oil. Because at the same time sufficient oil may not be available at the top area of the motor.
Besides, loads of high thicker oil may shorten the engine life and low oil pressure levels may also create engine knocking noise.
On the other hand, if you use thin oil, excessive wear may happen on the engine components.
Now, you may have a question: will synthetic oil make quiet the noisy valve lifters?
Synthetic oil is thinner as compared to conventional oil.
In this situation, oil changing is important if it is old oil and you can use a selected thicker synthetic oil for reducing sound.
The functions of the liquid material of a motor are to lubricate and run the lifters spontaneously.
You know that engine has the use of versatility in the industry for getting quick facility. That is why you should properly care for it with exact lubrication.
Most of the cases, Synthetic oil works well for operating lifters quietly. It depends on the engine type.
If you see that thicker oil makes noise, you can use synthetic oil in that case. Changing the viscosity of the engine oil may work in that situation.
After applying both types of oil, you can understand which type is best suited for your car.
You can get better facilities from thicker oil If your vehicle is old. You need to avoid crude oil for your vehicle.
N.B: If you see oil leaks in your engine, urgently fix it.
Now, you need to get basic information with a little description of lifters. After that, you will understand the right liquid lubricant.
What are Lifters (Tappets)?
The lifter is one type of engine part that provides force to the camshaft lobe for rotating motion. You can tell it as a tappet too.
If you have some basic knowledge about machines, you will understand the function and the position of the lifter. Here, I have attached an image for your better understanding.
Types of Car Lifters
Three types of lifters are seen in the car. I have shared some basic information about these lifters so that you can understand the issue of this type of noise.
1. Roller Lifters
You can see that there is a roller at the bottom side of this lifter. It can move easily without wearing out the bottom part. That is why low friction is created on the surface of the camshaft lobe.
2. Solid Lifters
The solid lifter has no ruler at the bottom end and It looks like a steel rod. It has no better advantage than the roller lifter.
The bottom side of it is directly connected to the surface of the camshaft lobe. High friction may create this type of lifter. As a result, car lifter noise is also created.
So the best decision is that you need to avoid this type of solid lifter if you can. Besides, in most cases, this type of lifter may be used in racing cars.
3. Hydraulic (valve) Lifters
This type of lifter is almost similar to the solid steel lifter. It also works for adjusting shock absorption too.
Some small mechanical parts are available in hydraulic valve lifters. These parts may wear out and create noise. In this case, you may use the hydraulic lifter additive as a requirement.
Is Tappet (Lifter) Noise Dangerous?
Tappet noise can reduce engine efficiency but the real truth is that you can fix it. If you don’t fix this sound, the lifecycle or engine performance may decrease.
Some Common Symptoms of the Bad Hydraulic Lifter
You can understand when the hydraulic lifter becomes in bad condition. For that, I have shared some important notes with tips that you need to read.
- Check engine icon: When you see the icon on your car dashboard, you need to check the lifters and related whole parts.
- Excess sound: When you hear the knocking sound, you need to focus on premium engine treatment.
- Misfire inside the engine: Sometimes misfire may happen and oil temperature is also an issue. If it happens, you should check lifters.
- The problem of the engine cylinder: By damaging the cylinder, noise may be created.
Can Noisy Lifters or Tappets Cause Damage?
Lifters play a vital role in energy supply. These parts can control the movement of the camshaft lobes.
If there is any type of friction created in the lobe surface area, the lifter may create noise. For that reason, lifters may not work properly.
As a result, the fuel supply will not work properly and the lobes don’t spin spontaneously. This issue affects the total engine and after some days it may stop its working function.
Some car enthusiasts or drivers ignore this type of noise and drive their cars but this is not the right way. The good news is that you can fix this type of sound at any time.
What Problems Make an Engine Loud?
1. Lake of Lubrication
The engine may create noise if you don’t lubricate it regularly. When you switch on it, different parts of that machine may create friction.
This friction turns to sound and you feel disturbed by it. In this situation, lubricant can stop that friction. As a result, less noise is reduced, when you start an engine.
2. Lifter or Push Rod Noise
Sometimes, there may be some problems for lifters. That is why these lifters may create friction to the surface of the camshaft lobes.
Some engines have roller lifters that create less noise. For you, the good news is that you can change problematic push rods, faulty lifters, and faulty hydraulic lifters at any time.
3. Cylinder Problem
There may create friction inside the cylinder of an engine. You know that the piston moves up and down inside that cylinder.
If the surface of the piston has any problem, then friction may be created. The friction may also be created on the inside surface of the cylinder if it has broken or cracked.
Then this type of friction automatically creates noise at that time and you can solve it.
4. Crankshaft Problem
Low oil pressure can damage the bearing surface of the crankshaft. For this issue, a rumbling or thumping sound may be created. (source)
N.B: You can use car damping material, to reduce sound in the car. You can also solve the squeaking of rear suspension, roof rack wind noise, and wheel bearing noise of a vehicle by following easy guidelines. If you want to break the glass of a car window silently, there is also a method.
Why are New Hydraulic Lifters Making Noise?
If you have a brand new car but lighter noise is created, you don’t need to worry. There may be adjustment problems in the area of non-hydraulic or hydraulic lifters.
If you readjust the setting, that sound issue may be solved. If your car is old enough, this noise may also be created.
Because you may see wear damage in those parts after running for a long time and don’t worry about it. You can replace these lifters and reduce noise instantly.
Best or Reliable Oil for Noisy (Bad) Lifters
You can get the best (reliable) oil additive to quiet noise from the marketplace. Besides, some people are also using Marvel Mystery oil (Oil enhancer) and fuel treatment for quick results.
You can get some benefits from that liquid material. But before collecting the required amount of this liquid material, don’t forget to read the important factors.
If you need the best oil additive for 5.3 lifter noise seriously, of course, you should read the reviews of products.
This is my suggestion and you can get the right additives that have good features by reading the customer’s reviews.
As my recommendation, You can also use synthetic or STP oil treatment for the noisy (tick) lifters.
Besides, reliable or best motor oil additives are important for timing chain noise.
How to Stop or Quiet Noisy Lifters (Tappets)
Here, I have shared basic ways with some steps you can follow.
1. Uninstall Pushrods and Lifters
First, you need to collect tools for separating the parts of an engine. Now, carefully, unscrew the lifter, pushrod bar, etc.
2. Check the Roller Surface of the Lifter
Now, inspect the roller surface of the lifter. If you find that there is a problem in that surface area, you need to replace it.
If you see that the surface area is smooth and polished, you need to reinstall that lifter again. If you see that pushrod knocks for a specific problem, you should also replace it.
3. Clean the Area and Uninstalled Parts
After inspecting, clean the selected space of the oil pump, lifter, valve lifter oil filter, valve train, rocker arm, pushrod, and other parts that have metal stamping with a soft cloth and oil additive.
Because dust and dirty liquid material may be deposited in that location. Now ready for reinstalling these parts carefully.
4. Replace New Parts
After collecting the new parts, be ready to install them.
5. Install Again Pushrod and Lifter (Tappet)
Swap out these parts and adjust (install) these parts again in their right location.
6. Apply Liquid Material
To remove frictional sound, you can add engine oil additives in those areas. Because it contains zinc that protects the parts from corrosion.
It also neutralizes available acids so that corrosion can’t happen. After following all these steps, I think you will be able to reduce lifter noise.
If any sound (without lifter) comes from the engine body, you need to focus on “how to quiet or fix a noisy engine”.
My Viewpoint
In the summary section, I will tell you that you can fix this type of noise by following some specific systems (methods).
I have already shared these methods that you can read to know. You know that different types of lifters are used in the engine.
In my opinion, roller lifters create less friction in the camshaft area. That is why this type of lifter creates less noise.
Besides, specific liquid materials can reduce that sound. In this article, I have also shared some common problems that may be the reason for creating this type of sound.
So, I think, you should read this total post, if you want to fix the engine noise. Some people also use Lucas oil stabilizer (a petroleum product) to reduce friction and wear of an engine.
I have added more questions and answers about this sound so that you can get some important notes. You can read the FAQ section if you have more time in hand.
FAQ: Quiet a Noisy Lifter
What Causes Lifter Sound (Tick)?
It may be due to the uneven roller surface of a lifter and you can also check it. Besides, pushrod and camshaft lobes are also responsible for creating this type of noise.
I have shared more details about this lifter tick in this post.
What Oil will Stop or Quiet Noisy Lifters?
The synthetic or synthetic blend can reduce the noise from the lifters. Besides, you need to fix the engine parts that have a problem.
Why do the Lifters Tick When the Engine is Cold?
This may happen when you start any vehicle’s engine after a long time. In that situation, the temperature of that machine is cold.
That is why the lifter may create friction and high noise in its area when you start the engine. After some time, when it reaches its ideal temperature (operating temperature), less sound is created in that area.
Can Using the Wrong or Poor Oil Cause a Ticking Noise?
Poor and wrong liquid material may cause the lifters more noise. So you should be alert about it and use the right liquid material to smooth lifters’ running.
Will Adding Oil Additives Stop Engine Knock?
You can reduce sound temporarily by using oil additives. But the better solution is that you need to fix or replace the problematic engine parts for a permanent solution.
Will the Seafoam Quiet or Stop Noisy Lifters?
I may suggest that you can use sea foam motor treatment to clean sludge, dust, oil varnish, etc. This seafoam may be useful for reducing engine knock.
But the best solution is that you need to follow some steps that I have already shared in this article.
Can cd2 Oil Additive (Detergent) Fix Lifter Tick?
It can clean the rust off the engine parts. If the lifter tick is created for rust and corrosion, then cd2 oil may help you.
How Long do the Lifters or Tappets Last?
If you provide the right engine oil, lifters may last up to 100,000 miles. But this is not a basic length that may vary for different brands.
Does the Lifter Tick Increase with RPM Increase?
When RPM or Revolution (rotation) per minute increases in the car, the lifter tick will increase.
Why does Your Car or Vehicle Tick When Idle?
When the lifter has a rust problem, then the engine may tick when idle and in running condition.
How Much Cost is Needed to Fix a Lifter Tick?
If you take help from any car technician to fix the lifter tick, the cost may be around $1000. But this cost is not fixed and the cost may be lower (cheapest) or higher. It depends on the parts that need to be replaced or not.