Question #3 Valves.

[Zorrro]

When cold: My 1987 (EA82) wagon starts nice and quiet, idles for min, then the vlaves tap really loud for a few mins and all is quiet. Is this normal? It seems to get worse in cold weather.

[Snowman]

The ticking on these engines can come and go at weird times. Before tearing into the engine, try running a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil or Seafoam additive. It also sometimes helps if you run the engine really hard (like shifting at 6000 rpm) for a while.

[idosubaru]

frequent oil changes are your friend. this issue is probably one of the most discussed topics on the board...do a search on "ticking" "tapping" and find all you want to know about it.

 

bottom line - it's either the oil pump or the hydraulic valve lash adjusters. if the adjusters are to blame then adding MMO or Seafoam or ATF to your oil can help free them up.

 

if the oil pump is to blame then you need to reseal the oil pump...costs about 10 bucks for the seal/orings and a couple hours.

 

if the tapping is isolated to one particular spot in the engine then it's likely the HLA on that cylinder. if the sound is in one spot one day then one spot the next or multiple cylinders or all of them....then it's likely the oil pump seals. the oil pump gasket does not last forever, it's basically a 100,000 mile maintenance item. i just pulled one last week that had the gasket (really it's like an oring) but it was cracked right in half at the oil port. didn't cause any tapping, but leaked oil.

 

if you see oil leaking at the bottom of the timing belt cover in the cetner of the car (where the oil filter is) then that's also an indication of an oil pump gasket/seal leaking. but they can leak and not tap. and they can also tap but not leak so that's not definitive in terms of the tapping.

 

due to the functioning of the HLA's the valves are not adjustable like most cars. that's good, less work. but they also need frequent oil changes. i have friends that change their oil every 10,000 miles in their honda's/toyota's and while that's terrible they won't get the same terrible noises out of their cars (at first anyway) that you get out of a subaru. the HLA's will get dirty and stick. so change your oil often...if the car is older (which how can it not be) then there is certainly some level of build up in it, keep an eye on the oil and as soon as it starts looking dirty, change it. that will help your noise over the long run if it's HLA related...and will also prevent them from getting dirty. so even if your oil pump is to blame now, oil changes are important for the future of your HLA's.

[Zorrro]

When cold: My 1987 (EA82) wagon starts nice and quiet, idles for min, then the vlaves tap really loud for a few mins and all is quiet. Is this normal? It seems to get worse in cold weather.

 

Thanks guys,

 

I changed the oil pump "O-ring" when I did the timming belts (6,000 mi ago). I did not change the shaft seal on the oil pump. Thought I was going to break the pump trying to get the little seal out. I'll try some additive next oil change. The noise only happens about 1 min after start-up and lasts for 2-3 mins after it starts..........Z

[Subarian]

I'd run a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil in it when you add oil the next time. Running it up to the redline occasionally will also help. Some people have found that a different oil filter helps, too.

[fredrogers]

I have had good luck with Seafoam, but I think Marvel Mystery Oil is cheaper.

 

When I first bought my GL no TOD, but then after my first oil change the TOD started.

 

I used seafoam and 100 miles later I changed my oil again. The TOD stopped.

It came back for a little while, more seafoam and another oil change and it has not came back as bad.

 

But my GL still sews me a quilt ever now and then. So I will keep after it.

 

-=fred=-