Noisy lifters EA82

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:08 pm

Anyone found a reliable way to quieten down noisy lifters especially in an EA82 engine.
I am using Penrite 20W-50 Everyday driving oil.

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:49 pm

Use 10w30 here's why:
The noise is caused by air in the lifters. The air gets there because the oil pump is above the oil reserve and finds it difficult to pull the oil up on startup therefore it pulls air instead through the oil pump gasket. Using slightly thinner oil, it will be easier for the pump to draw oil up and not air but it's not a fix all. Also revving the engine on/near startup will just suck more air in and make the problem worse.

You can replace the oil pump gasket and this should solve the problem 9 out of 10 times.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:27 pm

Silverbullet wrote:Use 10w30 here's why:
The noise is caused by air in the lifters. The air gets there because the oil pump is above the oil reserve and finds it difficult to pull the oil up on startup therefore it pulls air instead through the oil pump gasket. Using slightly thinner oil, it will be easier for the pump to draw oil up and not air but it's not a fix all. Also revving the engine on/near startup will just suck more air in and make the problem worse.

You can replace the oil pump gasket and this should solve the problem 9 out of 10 times.

Yeah good in theory, but in real life it's not that easy! There have been many tricks to try and rid the EA82 of the dreaded lifter tick, my best method so far is to drop an EJ in there

and I'm not joking either, I got that jack of the lifter tick!!

A few things to try out: Have the oil pump's shaft seal, rotor assembly, mickey mouse gasket and the pressure relief valve spring replaced. Most over look the pressure relief valve spring, apparently this can become weakened over time.

The most important part of keeping the lifter noise down is to have a well maintained EA82 to start with - regular oil changes I think are the key here. You don't want any sludge to build up in the oil galleries.

One other thing to check if you're keen to remove the cams - not fun with the engine in-situ, with the cam removed check the oil passages that help lubricate the cam and the fill the lifters - in there somewhere is a ball and spring set up (from memory) that regulates the pressure of the oil to the lifters, you might want to look into replacing these springs too (one each side of course). Also flush out the oil galleries too.

Other than that it's put up with it - they have a mind of their own. My EA82 before the EJ went in was ok, one or two noisy lifters constantly. The day I picked up the EJ that was the catalyst for my conversion was the day all of them went noisy - for two weeks to the day for no apparent reason!! It had the appropriate amount of oil in it too

Cheers

Bennie

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:39 pm

search in here too will come up with a few questions the same with all sorts of explains and fixes. Mine is new HVLA's or reco from Mizpah engineering , or if anyone in Oz recos them ??

MTB92 · Post by **MTB92** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:02 pm

Silverbullet wrote: The noise is caused by air in the lifters. The air gets there because the oil pump is above the oil reserve and finds it difficult to pull the oil up on startup therefore it pulls air instead through the oil pump gasket.

You can replace the oil pump gasket and this should solve the problem 9 out of 10 times.

That is exactly what we found on mine. except the air was getting in from from a small scratch on the shaft (a good lesson to check everything before it goes back in), probably from a dodgy replacement of the oil seal previously. Had it machined down and a new seal put in place and its almost completely gone

. on startup on a cold morning i very occasionally get a tick for a minute or 2. (well i used to when i had the EA in there anyway(sorry, couldn't help it

))

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:11 pm

steptoe wrote:search in here too will come up with a few questions the same with all sorts of explains and fixes. Mine is new HVLA's or reco from Mizpah engineering , or if anyone in Oz recos them ??

Another good fix I've heard about that I would consider in another L series is an EA81

with the EA82 intake and pollution gear as factory - you just need a long block

Cheers

Bennie

subybrumby · Post by **subybrumby** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:13 pm

Plenty been said on this before and some good advice in here. Mine is an ea82T in a brumby. After a lot of stuffn about I now run Caterpillar diesel engine oil from hastings deering with a small bottle of STP added. Also a genuine subaru oil filter only. I did put a kit thru the oil pump when I had the chance also. No trouble since but not recommended for older engines. Having said all that, I have an ej motor in the wings fpr future application up the track. I also installed an oil pressure guage to watch things.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:26 am

And, if you can still buy Wynn's Tune-Up have used it once successfully in an EA82 that was for sale. The lifter noise would always quieten just as feathering the clutch in gear on take off or with handbrake on to see. This stuff did the job after about 500km, sold wagz to a mechanic who was very happy with it. Never heard more about it

sublime · Post by **sublime** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:55 pm

Cliff R wrote:I am using Penrite 20W-50 Everyday driving oil.

DONT USE PENRITE! While there is nothing wrong with Penrite oil the one and only time I used this in combination with a EA82T was a disaster! So loud on initial start up I changed the oil immediately (not happy $$$!).

Castrol Magnatec 10W-40 and Liquimoly Stop Tappet Noise worked the best for me (just a suggestion!). Of course the noise would come back prior to an oil change - Perfect for letting me know a change was due!

Naturally being an EA82T the head eventually cracked... But that is another story!

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 2:59 pm

sublime wrote:DONT USE PENRITE! While there is nothing wrong with Penrite oil the one and only time I used this in combination with a EA82T was a disaster! So loud on initial start up I changed the oil immediately (not happy $$$!).

Castrol Magnatec 10W-40 and Liquimoly Stop Tappet Noise worked the best for me (just a suggestion!). Of course the noise would come back prior to an oil change - Perfect for letting me know a change was due!

Naturally being an EA82T the head eventually cracked... But that is another story!

Which Penrite did you use? I'm guessing it was too thick....

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:23 pm

Well I have ordered an oil pump kit from Frog so I will see how this goes.
I dont mind changing engine oil type but the suggestion of using only a Subaru oil filter is interesting.
I am wondering how this would make a difference ?

subybrumby · Post by **subybrumby** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:24 pm

Good question. It was recommended to me by a very experienced mechanic as I tried to resolve the problem. As the car has been running great since and the filter was part of the fix up package, I just stayed with it.

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:56 pm

When I bought the car I changed the oil and I took off a genuine Subaru filter.
This was nothing unusual as the previous owner's wife worked at the Dealership so I thought this is why the filter was on there.
Anyone else found an oil which helped to solve the lifter issue and if so what viscostity.?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:59 pm

sublime wrote:DONT USE PENRITE! While there is nothing wrong with Penrite oil the one and only time I used this in combination with a EA82T was a disaster! So loud on initial start up I changed the oil immediately (not happy $$$!).

I've never had an issue with Penrite!

I also found with my old EA82 that if I used a thinner oil it'd just leak out quicker or find a new leak somewhere

Cheers

Bennie

stempy07 · Post by **stempy07** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:50 am

i finally sorted the noisy lifters in my EA82 sporstwagon, bought the wagon after sitting idle in a paddock, lifters were crazy, changed oil pump mickey mouse gasket, still happened after another 300 klms, [ all new 20w 50 oil ], i put 500 ml; automatic transmission oil in it, it fixed it near straight away, left oil in there for 1000 klms, then changed oil and filter, have now done 3000 klms and no lifter noise, seems that the EA82 may have a design falt of small oil channel > ducts, that block up, auto oil cleans it out,

purp · Post by **purp** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:57 am

El_Freddo wrote: I also found with my old EA82 that if I used a thinner oil it'd just leak out quicker or find a new leak somewhere...

I have been thinking have trying a lighter oil at the next change, but I have been wondering if it would just leak back out quicker...

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:05 pm

stempy07 wrote:i finally sorted the noisy lifters in my EA82 sporstwagon, bought the wagon after sitting idle in a paddock, lifters were crazy, changed oil pump mickey mouse gasket, still happened after another 300 klms, [ all new 20w 50 oil ], i put 500 ml; automatic transmission oil in it, it fixed it near straight away, left oil in there for 1000 klms, then changed oil and filter, have now done 3000 klms and no lifter noise, seems that the EA82 may have a design falt of small oil channel > ducts, that block up, auto oil cleans it out,

Did you change the front shaft seal on the oil pump? cause IMO you adding the ATF has just allowed the seals to swell a little and enough to stop the air sucking it. After a few oil changes it will come back if you don't replace that seal. To clean out the oil galleries, it's best to use either and engine oil flush or a 1/2 litre of Diesel. Make sure after this the oil filter is replaced.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:32 pm

Is the noise the classic Subaru Tick?
Mud King said he could fix it in all EA's.
Something to do with phnumatic something or rathers.
And then you do X Y Z.
Done. Hahaha

Cheers Cam

stempy07 · Post by **stempy07** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:30 pm

yes i changed the front shaft seal on the pump as well, it was a car that was sitting for 2 years in paddock, i nearly gave up on it and contemplated selling it to a wrecker, glad i didn't, if they start to rattle again i would give it another 500 mil; of ATF, the motor has done over 320,000, still doesn't use oil, or should i say hasn't for 3 to 4000 klms;, it sounded like a loud diesel when i got it.

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:11 pm

stempy07 wrote:it sounded like a loud diesel when i got it.

haha