engine cleaner??

[Lt1_8U]

hey guys i started my car up and heard very loud tapping, almost like a sound like i had a loose rocker. i pulled the valve covers off and there was very little oil coming out of the pushrods so i pulled one and blew it out and it was full of what appeared to be grease. i was told i should pull the coil wire and add some sort of detergent and crank my motor for awhile so the solvents goes through the rods and hopefully cleans any deposit then drain it and add new oil. does anyone know of this probelm happening to anyone alse and what type of cleaner should i use that wont fry my bearings. This motor has maybe 5k on it, all new internals.

i went from mobil 1 synthetic to rotella t 15 40 prior to this happeneing, i dont think that would play any roll in my problem though

thanks in advance

[Lt1_8U]

where can i purchase the sea foam product, i just read into that

[WiMiMc]

any napa, autozone, etc parts store

[LTb1ow]

If you want to crank the engine over without it running, make sure to remember to pull the injector fuse as well.

[Lt1_8U]

thanks guys, i figure i will add it to the oil and crank it for awhile and get it through the motor then start it and let it run and see what happens then add it through the gas tank.

[sweetbmxrider]

You would be better off pulling the pushrods and blowing them all out individually. It could be the lifters bled down though and didn't pump right back up or one is bad.

[edpontiac91]

Unless I'am missing something here, Shell Rotella 15W40 is mainly for use in HD truck applications such as diesel engines. Why would you switch from Mobil 1 to this type of oil anyway?

[sweetbmxrider]

Depends on bearing clearances etc. Some guys like to build race motors to use 20w50. Oil is there to lubricate and the viscosity is there for pressure, generally speaking.

[BonzoHansen]

I don't think we are talking race engine and it isn't summer yet.

You would be better off pulling the pushrods and blowing them all out individually. It could be the lifters bled down though and didn't pump right back up or one is bad.

^^^this. then change the oil & filter and go back to some 5/30 syth oil. be very careful of any 'cleaner' you put in the crankcase. it will loosen up any gunk you got.

is this in an lt1 4th gen? you have no reason to run 40wt rotella in that car.

[LTb1ow]

I don't think we are talking race engine and it isn't summer yet.



^^^this. then change the oil & filter and go back to some 5/30 syth oil. be very careful of any 'cleaner' you put in the crankcase. it will loosen up any gunk you got.

is this in an lt1 4th gen? you have no reason to run 40wt rotella in that car.

Its a brand new rebuilt bottom end, dunno what clearances he choose. So I would imagine its still in the "break in" time period, hence the heavier oil.

/stalker nick

[BonzoHansen]

a brand new bottom end and pushrods full of crap? huh.

[Tru2Chevy]

a brand new bottom end and pushrods full of crap? huh.

Possible that there was an overload of assembly lube used?

- Justin

[BonzoHansen]

i guess. so pull out the push rods and clean them. if he is 2 or 3 oil changes in I think we might be past break in.

what kind of oil pressure does this engine run?

[WildBillyT]

a brand new bottom end and pushrods full of crap? huh.

Well, if they were used pushrods, were they cleaned or just wiped off and reinstalled?

[BonzoHansen]

Well, if they were used pushrods, were they cleaned or just wiped off and reinstalled?

possible. still need to pull them and clean/inspect, not run cleaner in the crankcase.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Bonzo – yes lt1 4th gen. new bottom end with like 1,000 miles, new heads, new cc306 cam

Clearances = not sure

They were new pushrods when the motor was built

Oil pressure is 60 psi cold idle, 30s when warm

[BonzoHansen]

go back to some 5/30 synth and see if that cures your cold start tapping. it's the cheap, easy and can't hurt

[Lt1_8U]

hey guys sorry for the long reply but i went down to 5 30 oil and added the additive and blew out each pushrod and i still have no oil to the top end even with 50 psi oil pressure. i pulled the plugs and injector fuse and cranked it so there was no compression so i didnt harm the bearings. im out of ideas of what it can be. any help would be much appreciated.

[LTb1ow]

Type of lifter used?
New? Old?

I would lean towards rocker lash being off, or you are just expecting to much oil at the rockers during a cold idle.

[Lt1_8U]

brand new gm ls7 lifters there is absolutely no oil coming out of the pushrods

[LTb1ow]

Um, well, like no oil what so ever, at any time... you could have installed the rear cam bearing off, but IDK how long the lifters would last with no oil being supplied to the lifter gallery.

[Lt1_8U]

yeah no oil what so ever and i have tried cranking it for awhile many times and nothing comes out. the motor has some miles on it but its fresh. and it didnt happen after being beaten on or anything it was a rough start up and the car shook a littleand died then i started it back up and it was runninga little rough and had that sound.

[Blackbirdws6]

How long did you actually run the engine? If the engine was not primed well originally then it can take a decent amount of time to get the oil up the pushrods. Were the lifters soaked well prior to installation? What pre-load and did you load up on the assembly lube?

[Lt1_8U]

ive had this on the road for some time it has taken trips down the shore and everything, it was running great then that morning it was a rough start and then the noise then saw i had no oil at the top end. i tried cranking it for some time to see if any oil would come out. there definitely wasnt an excess of assembly lubricant used. all of the lifters were soaked in oil over night and we primed the engine for a good amount of time when we installed it.

[sweetbmxrider]

I feel a teardown may be necessary.

[Pampered-Z]

I would pull the intake, and pull the lifters out and spin the engine over ( would be better if you can get a oil pump drive in there, but I don't think you can with a 4th gen?) you want to see if oil is actually getting pumped into the lifter bores. Start by pulling the furthest one back out, see if oil is coming out, then replace it, and remove the next one forward etc.

Couple Ideas:

1) Oil to the lifters is routed through the cam bearings, could you not have gotten the holes lined up, or maybe one walked?

2) Did you use Molycoat or something thick in the break in process that could have clogged the lifters? Oil goes thru the lifters then up the pushrod, so clogged lifters will collaps and no oil gets to the top end.

3) Are you pulling oil pressure from the port near the oil filter or back of the block?

4) What oil pump are you running? Should you have 50 PSI, or could that be a sign on an internal blockage.