lifter ticking noise- bmw

[Russell]

I changed my oil yesterday with 6 quarts of 10w40 Castrol Syntex after about 5,500 miles on same oil. 1995 BMW 525i with M50TU 6 cylinder 2.5-liter engine with about 163,000 miles

I had started to notice a light clicking before the change after a 20 second or so warm idle. The noise is slightly more pronounced the longer the idle. In addition, it kind of comes and goes. However when revved it disappears or I just may not hear it.. There is no change in clicking noise after the oil change.

I think it is just a sticky hydraulic lifter. Not much I can do. I have completed three Auto-rx treatments. Any thoughts.

 

[ZZman]

Take valve cover off and find offending lifter. Can it be adjusted at all? Maybe it has a little play in the rocker arm.

 

[JHZR2]

BMWs also have injectors that make quite a tick depending upon how warm they are. I learned that one on my 91 318i.

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
BMWs also have injectors that make quite a tick depending upon how warm they are. I learned that one on my 91 318i.


Good point. I was running redline's injector cleaner (mantainance level) in every tank for a while. Ran out several 1000 miles ago. Could it be be dirty injectors or dirty fuel?

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: ZZman
Take valve cover off and find offending lifter. Can it be adjusted at all? Maybe it has a little play in the rocker arm.

It is an overhead cam engine with fully hydralic lifters-no adjustment and I lack the expertise to even know where and how to check for play..

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: Russell
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
BMWs also have injectors that make quite a tick depending upon how warm they are. I learned that one on my 91 318i.


Good point. I was running redline's injector cleaner (mantainance level) in every tank for a while. Ran out several 1000 miles ago. Could it be be dirty injectors or dirty fuel?


Try running it with the Redline again. See if it goes away.
More than likely it will not. But, its worth a try.

 

[POM]

I have a similar car, BMW 520I 1995 (European) model with the M50 engine. This car had also some problems with valve lifter clicking noise at start-up. I have also used Auto-RX but it didn’t help regarding this problem. But after I start using Tufoil engine oil treatment in 2007 the clicking noise at start-up is now almost not present.

Have you tried a 5W-40 oil in stead of the 10W-40 you mention? I use 5W-40 oil (with Tufoil) with best results in this engine.

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: POM
I have a similar car, BMW 520I 1995 (European) model with the M50 engine. This car had also some problems with valve lifter clicking noise at start-up. I have also used Auto-RX but it didn’t help regarding this problem. But after I start using Tufoil engine oil treatment in 2007 the clicking noise at start-up is now almost not present.

Have you tried a 5W-40 oil in stead of the 10W-40 you mention? I use 5W-40 oil (with Tufoil) with best results in this engine.


Yes I have tried 5w40 and 5w50 oil. Seemed to do well. I now think this may problem be a injector click. It is a sharper clicking noise than I used to experience on a cold (cold weather)start-up with very thick oil such as 15w50 conventional.