ea82t noisy lifters

[subytur1987]

I have a noisy set of lifters on this engine, already checked the psi of oil pump. mechincal gauge screwed into ops port is 67 cold and 24 at idle. I need an idea about what to check next. I starting to wonder if the oil pump release valve is sticking or just worn. this engine has always ran good and i only use the subaru factory oil filters on her. thanks for any help.

[john in KY]

Pressure is great but the pump is still most likely sucking air. Reseal it first before doing anything else.

[yzerman19]

.5 quart of ATF in the oil did the trick for my 90 EA82 (thanks Gloyale).

Put the ATF in, gave it a good drive with occasional 5000 rpm revs and TA DA!

Then I changed the oil.

[subytur1987]

thanks for the atf trick, yes i tryied that. ran the car about 500 mi and that didn't help either. where would the oil pump suck air from, if the pump is sealed and the sump is sumerged? i even have gone as far as to remove the left bank cam holder and replace the lifters on that side. i pumped up the lifters before installing them. they pumped up in the engine for only about 1 mins, then kept ticking and still do.

[yzerman19]

If your pump isn't leaking (sealed), be patient, it may take awhile for them to fill. Have you verified good oil pressure? If that flimszy mickey-mouse gasket goes bad or is installed wrong you could get air in there. Did you do some high revs while in neutral too after you warmed the oil up from the drive? I spent a lot of time on this forum regarding my lifters. Turns out I just had to be patient. (I replaced one side of my lifters too. Turns out I could have saved some $$$)

 

I switched to 10w-40 oil (from 10w-30) too on the rumor that these Soobies like the thicker oil.

 

I also 'rinse out' each oil quart bottle with a little "Sea Foam" and dump it into the oil.

[Prospeeder]

also some seals in the camcases or what ever cause the ticking too.

[daeron]

also some seals in the camcases or what ever cause the ticking too.

Beat me to the bunch, good show old bean.

 

Cam Case O-rings. They are metal re-inforced O-rings that go in between the cam case and the cylinder head proper. They seal up the passageway that the oil travels into the camshaft lube channels from the lower portion of the cylinder head, and the first units were not all metal re inforced; nor non OEM replacement parts. They are available from thepartsbin (OEM brand) for ridiculously cheap..

 

Patience DOES often pay off, too.. but don't ignore a real problem by telling yourself "I am just being patient." In other words, I am not saying th Cam O ring IS the problem, but I am not saying that there is NO problem either. If you truly feel that this issue has persisted without finding its proper cause, thats the last place to check after mickey mouse seal, poor oil pressure, and the rest are ruled out. Once you have ruled out the cam case o rings its time to presume you have bad lifters, although they CAN be "checked" with the cylinder head dismantled. See the FSM for that procedure.

[subytur1987]

Thanks all of you! The help you people give is better than what you get most anywhere. I'll try anything, I like this car and have owned it for 7 years. I don't want to give it up, once you own a suby-theres nothing that drives like it. Thanks people, if I have to overhaul the engine i will.