Bad Lifter Click After Headgasket

[Two-Fortee]

Title says it all. I have a very bad clicking coming from my head after doing a head job. I got the head resurfaced and cleaned at a reputable shop. And they took out and put back the components in the head. Common Problem? Little help needed.

[dattodude]

They should settle down after some running. But the factory manual says to be darn careful with them, making sure they are always kept upright (the same way that they sit in the engine). I'd always recommend putting them in a bucket of old (relatively clean) engine oil while doing things to the head. I use the oil from the engine on which I'm doing head work ...it's good enough time for an oil change anyway..

They can get seized in a compressed state. But a lot of people talk about noisy lifters after having them out..even for a short time. So you are not alone.

In the US, these things are cheap..just spend a few dollars and get some new ones. :-)

[rico05]

I just replaced a seized one last weekend with one from Nissan and the noise is actually worse haha. It even comes in a little package with very thin oil in it.

BUT, the lifter cost $33 and the cam seal was like $6. All total it was about $50 wtih tax.

[Two-Fortee]

hmmm.... maybe because the head was all tried up when I put it back in. I know the shop lubed a lot of the head up though, saw it all over the cams. Maybe I should take the valve covers off and get some oil in there? I dunno.

[float_6969]

If it's being caused by air being trapped in the lifter, it should work it self out. If it's being caused by a seized lifter, you'll have to isolate it and replace/repair it.

You might try draining your current oil, and putting some VERY thin oil in it. Something cheap if possible, as you're not going to keep it in the motor long. Start the motor up and just let it idle. Don't drive the car or rev it. After rebuilding the head on my wife's Miata, it took like 20-30 minutes of idling to get them to quiet down.