My lifters are tapping pretty noticeably after changing to Mobil-1 5w30 synthetic. I think this is the reason it started, will it harm my engine to run it hard(Autocross event) with the lifters tapping? I plan on changing my oil to 10w30 synthetic before then, is this a good idea?

Thanks guys, need to know if I worry too much sometimes.

i asked my mechanic what that was too, said was just the valves clearing themselves...this clicking noise only happens on really cold days, like below 40F, and after long runs.

I live in So. California, it hasn't been below 55F in a month here. Thanks for the help though.

I've been fighting with loud lifters for a couple months now. I've flushed the engine... replaced the o-rings.. and even run it on the highway @ 4,500 rpm for awhile as suggested.

Engine Flush & o-rings - Quiet for a day then ticking returned

High RPM running - Quiet again for a day

Now nothing works and it ticks 90% of the time. I'm almost at 200,000 miles and as part of my 200k service was just thinking about replacing the oil pump and lifters (i've heard a lifter kit is available fairly reasonable but have yet to verify)

I know this is a little extreme but i can't stand the fact that my 850 sounds like it is about to fall apart while my '93 Ford Escort is quiet as new @ 230,000 miles!!

Any other advice on extreme cases of lifter ticking would be appreciated.

-J
'94 855

My mechanic changed my oil with 15w 40 recently and the noise disappeared, he rec. changing the oil again in about 1,000 miles to flush out the gunk that's built up.

I've heard the it is caused by dirt(gunk) buildup, and I've also heard that it's from the lifters not pressurizing, ie. not enough oil pressure. I'll try the cleaner first then maybe changing the Oil pan O-rings(gaskets). How involved or technical is the gasket change on the oil pan, should an accomplished, I dare say, shadetree mechanic attempt it? Where could I find instructions, I've checked Bay 13 @ Volvospeed to no avail.

i use mobil 1 0-30 all year round (virginia). i used to have the same noise. i used amsoil engine flush before oil change and now i only hear it once in a while on cold starts for about 5-15 seconds. i guess mine was all the gunk and stuff that accumulated around the lifters and valves and the flush took care of that.
try it. if anything else, at least you cleaned your engine inside.
regards

I hope someone corrects me if i'm wrong, but I believe the 850 is a dual overhead cam engine with solid lifters. It is a completely mechanical system. The oil you run shouldn't make any difference at all. That is unless you are due for a valve adjustment and the old thicker oil was masking the sound.

Bye the way, Turbo or non turbo, and how many miles?
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Nathan Valles, Black 855R, Tint

The 850's engine is a DOHC however the lifters are hydraulic and there have been many posts here about lifter noise.

First thing is to determine that it is lifter noise or just the injectors ticking. Right now my engine is running so quietly that with the hood up all you can hear are the injectors and the alternator (uh oh).

Anyway, when I bought my car a few months ago, I changed from the mystery oil to Mobil 1 10W30 and had some intermittent problems with an exhaust lifter making noise. I then used an oil / engine flush product and switched to Mobil 1 5W30 as the ambient temperatures fell within the range dictated by Volvo for that weight and the lifter noise stopped immediately. In 1500 miles since that oil change it's only come back once and for only a few minutes.

As the weather warms I'll have to go back to 10W30 and I'll see then if the noise returns.

If it does, the next step, as suggested by the gurus at Volvospeed, is to replace the O-rings in the oil pan that seal the oil pickup tube and oil filter galleries. They apparantly deteriorate and allow a little air to be drawn up with the oil. Not enought to affect bearing lubrication but enough to prevent the lifters from pumping up properly. The last step would be replacing lifters and they're not cheap at about $45 each I've heard.

About autocrossing with clacking lifters, I'll just pass on what the owner's manual says about driving while lifters aren't pumped up. "Do not rev beyond 3,000rpm." Gonna run some slow times at the event.

I'd recommend going to an autoparts store and buying a quart of engine flush and following the directions. Then fill up with the appropriate weight sythetic.
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Happy Motoring, Erwin in Memphis, '95855t

It's a '96 850R w/105,000 miles. I changed to 10w30 synthetic at 100,000 miles, then at 103,000 I changed to 5w30 synthetic. The tapping started with the 10w30 synthetic and got worse after the 5w30 syn. and a road trip. What is this internal engine clean/flush product? any brand names?

I went to the local Autozone and found that Gumout makes one and so does K $ G (I think). Amsoil also offers one on their website.

Generally, we're talking about a quart of flush added to the engine's oil (you may need to drain a quart of oil out before adding the flush) then letting the car idle for 5 minutes or whatever the product calls for. Then drain the oil, the oil cooler (since your's is a turbo), change the filter and add fresh oil.

I have a lengthy post further down in the list describing the process if you scroll through. I'll just say that the quart I removed to make room for the flush was a deep honey color. After 5 minutes with the flush what came out was BLACK. I'll likely do it just once again at my next change.

Use eye and skin protection as these products are NASTY and the fumes are pretty toxic also.

Given your mileage you might be looking at O-rings in the oil pan. Not a big deal as I understand.
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Happy Motoring, Erwin in Memphis, '95855t