Lifter tick on start. Oil brand/weight possible fault??

**JessMan** · 12-02-2015, 10:01 PM

Dammit. Well I just started the G8 with the remote start tonight to head to work and I heard a definite lifter tick. It's around high 40s tonight. It went away after about 30 Seconds. The Previous Owner says he's running Mobil 5w-30 in it. I checked the level when I got it and it was about half a quart low and I added half a quart last week. I have had trouble with mobile 1 in the past due to its low zinc content making very loud valve train noise in my LS1 on cold mornings. Loud valve train noise until it warmed up. Once I switched to Castrol GTX I never had this problem again. What do you guys think? Should I start saving up to replace my lifters because mine is a 9L1 and has 128K miles? I don't know if the 2 precious owners replaced them or not. And also would that change from full synthetic Mobil 1 to GTX have a negative impact on the L76?

**Chewy** · 12-03-2015, 05:57 AM

All gas engine specific oils are going to be low in zinc. Zinc has nothing to do with a 30 second long lifter tick. That points at a mechanical issue. I ran M1 5W30 in my GT with DOD for 55,000 miles and it'd tick for a second or two when cold started, but NEVER longer.

JMO

**2lazy4agoodname** · 12-03-2015, 10:15 AM

With 128k and the reliability of the dod garbage being low, I would start looking into dod delete kits rather than zinc content from oil..

**mjones73** · 12-03-2015, 10:59 AM

Cheap option would be the upgraded DOD lifters, that's if no damage is done to the cam. If the cam is messed up, might as well DOD delete it and upgrade while you have it apart.

**JessMan** · 12-03-2015, 01:15 PM

Shit well guess I'll be saving up for that then.

**JessMan** · 12-03-2015, 01:21 PM

What lifters would you guys recommend? I've never done any valve train work on an LS. Always just bolt ons and drive train work.

**2lazy4agoodname** · 12-03-2015, 07:52 PM

ls7

**JessMan** · 12-03-2015, 08:37 PM

Seen a few threads of those being broken, is that a lifter fault or build fault?

**pir4te** · 12-04-2015, 03:33 AM

LS lifters fail and score the cam face at reasonably high mileage. I found high ZDDP did prolong smooth noiseless operation by six months same miles in my case, but yeah meantime good idea to start saving for heads-off lifter replacement and in any case might as well get better spec cam to replace old one.
New Delphi AFM lifters and trays are good to 0.320" cam lift and rated to 6600 rpm so now is a good time to re-evaluate valve events with help from an expert.
At same juncture I chose domed relieved forged pistons and rods, doubled down on late 20s AFM cam and very happy with a 500 ft-lb 4000 lb daily driver.

**JessMan** · 12-04-2015, 01:37 PM

Well time to start saving up for a DOD delete kit, cam, oil pump, timing chain, and possibly new valves.

Would you guys say it's worth porting the stock heads?

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Lifter tick on start. Oil brand/weight possible fault??

Lifter tick on start. Oil brand/weight possible fault??

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