Lifter Replacement Cost

LXL15 · 22-03-2011, 09:49 PM

Hi everyone,

I've searched the forums for an answer to this question, but couldn't find one.

My AuII Fairmont's engine has been ticking for a while now, so I finally took it to the mechanic who said it was the lifters. He recommended replacing them, and quoted me $600 for the parts with install. Despite me topping up the oil about 2 weeks ago, he said he had to put 3L in. It now only ticks on startup for a few seconds, instead of all the time.

My questions are:

Does this price seem reasonable? I couldn't find pricing anywhere, apart from do it yourself jobs, which, after reading that it you often need a new cam, have scared me off seeing as I have no experience taking apart engines. Or putting them back together.

Should I try some of the "stuck lifter" fluid mechanic stuff first? Or is there another, cheaper method that is worth me trying first just in case?

Sorry if this is an extremely repetitive post, I just couldn't find anything about the cost of having someone replace them, even after searching the forums.

Cheers guys.

PS the engine has done about 260,000km

FGII-XR6 · 22-03-2011, 10:09 PM

every one seems to put the wrong oil in AUs the book says 5W30 I put that in mine and no more ticking

Racecraft · 22-03-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LXL15

PS the engine has done about 260,000km

A alot lower klm motor (even XR) wouldn't come to $600

Labour to fit would pull it up @ less than 1k for a freshen up

Mr Hardware · 22-03-2011, 10:15 PM

do nothing. you could have noisy lifters for the next 200,000klms with 0 problems

Beer Baron · 22-03-2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

do nothing. you could have noisy lifters for the next 200,000klms with 0 problems

Exactly. What oil do you run and can you make a video of the noise ?

smoo · 22-03-2011, 10:23 PM

Run straight ATF (about 5 bux a litre) in it at idle for 30mins to an hour, drain and change the filter, fill with decent mineral oil then see how she goes.

GK · 22-03-2011, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au3xr6

every one seems to put the wrong oil in AUs the book says 5W30 I put that in mine and no more ticking

At what service intervals do you change your oil? How many kays has your AU done? Also, what's your oil consumption like?

BTW, these are all genuine questions, I'm not having a dig in any way, just curious. Many who use the 5W/30 find that a little too thin and that it burns off a bit after 10,000 kays.

GK

LXL15 · 22-03-2011, 10:45 PM

Thanks for all the quick replies.

I'm not sure what oil the mechanic used today, but I put Caltex 10W-30 in it, which I got straight out of the workshop manual. I just tried taking a video of the noise, but it didn't tick, plus the noise of the video came out as just static.

But now I've noticed that it sounds like there's something rattling around under the rocker cover, which only just started today. Any ideas on this new development?

Racecraft · 22-03-2011, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LXL15

Any ideas on this new development?

timing chain or guides

LXL15 · 22-03-2011, 11:03 PM

Is the timing chain or guides an easy fix? Or can it get difficult? Does it matter, apart from the noise?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm still learning haha.

Racecraft · 22-03-2011, 11:08 PM

as I said @ 260k :- lifter noise, start up rattles and knowing that it would be leaking like a sieve from the rear main and sump gasket.... = 2nd hand low klm motor

As Mr. Hardware said, they will battle on for 1 million klms if you so choose... but if the lifter noise was enough for you to look into fixing it @ a mechanic it must bother you to a certain degree...

These engines are a dime a dozen @ wreckers and worth nothing in comparision to tearing one down and reco'ing it

LXL15 · 22-03-2011, 11:20 PM

Yeah I was definitely thinking about just buying a motor and putting that in. There are some very low km ones I've seen around. There was a VCT one with 110,000km on ebay for $350 the other day. Would I also need an ECU to go with this kind of engine? And would it just plug in like other AU engines?

The only problem is I probably can't afford a new engine right now haha. It does definitely seem like the better option if it's going to cost me more than half that amount to get one (well 12...) part of my current one fixed!

Racecraft · 22-03-2011, 11:22 PM

skip the VCT.. the wiring will blow the budget for sfa gains....

ring around and try and find a XR6HP motor or just a stocker with low klms

try FTG on the forums they would have a plethora to pick from

LXL15 · 22-03-2011, 11:25 PM

Thanks mate, I'll look into it with FTG and some other places. Sounds like this could be fun...

Mr Hardware · 22-03-2011, 11:28 PM

My motor has HLA tick, timing chain noises, noisy drive belt pulleys and some other weird noises. They were here:

and they are also still here now:

and they still will be when I hit the million.
Seriously, the only thing you will solve by handing over $600 is making your wallet lighter.

AMB · 22-03-2011, 11:53 PM

A little bit of ticking might not be bad, but when a lifter is loud, it is collapsed and holding no pressure (probably cos a bit of crap is stuck in the lifter valve and holding it open). So that means either an inlet valve is not opening properly (not too serious, but losing a bit of power) or an exhaust valve is not opening properly, which would cause is it to burn out after a while, which is not good. Am I right?

LXL15 · 22-03-2011, 11:59 PM

This is what I was worried about before I went to the mechanics. That they would convince me I needed something expensive or my engine would explode...at least I won't fork out the 600 now. Cheers guys, saved me a heap

Mr Hardware · 23-03-2011, 12:09 AM

Falcon I6's don't explode. Simple as that.

FGII-XR6 · 23-03-2011, 03:13 AM

I generally only leave the oil in 7 to 8K and use about 1/2 litre so not excessive done just over 90K but I used to have lifter noise till I started using 5W30 now no noise

Quote:

Originally Posted by GK

At what service intervals do you change your oil? How many kays has your AU done? Also, what's your oil consumption like?

BTW, these are all genuine questions, I'm not having a dig in any way, just curious. Many who use the 5W/30 find that a little too thin and that it burns off a bit after 10,000 kays.

GK