Metal in in fresh rebuild oil...still.

[Merkava_4]

A lifter tick means the hydraulic lifter is not fully pumped up (from lack of oil) and is bouncing up and down between the cam lobe and the end of the push rod. You'll fry a camshaft quick. I'm thinking the issue of which oil is being used is irrelevant at this point. The oil pressure needs to be measured and the camshaft needs to come out for a replacement.

 

[ms21043]

Or the preload is not properly adjusted. On the Buick the valvetrain is not adjustable. Start changing cams resurfacing blocks and heads and you may have to use aftermarket stuff to get your lifter preload correct. A common thing that happens with Buicks is the supplier will give you chevy lifters, they're a little shorter. BTW, what timing gear are you using? If it's some heavy duty stuff, sometimes the gears and chain may be a little thicker and rub on the timing cover sending metal flakes into the oil.

In any case probably not a good to run that engine till you find out what the problem is.

 

[alanu]

Im suprised no one suggested getting magnet and to see if that particulate is magetic or not. If its magnetic I'd get the boys to do a teardown.

 

[RedDart]

I would recommend an UOA to reveal your numbers on wear metals and have your results interpreted by Terry Dyson. If there really is a problem, you can use that documentation in your negotiations with the machine shop. BTW, when I used to change the oil on a 1995 Taurus with a 3.0 liter Vulcan I often saw extremely small metal particles at the bottom of the drain pan. The engine seemed fine and UOAs did not reveal any unusual wear metals.