Noisy Idle.. like a diesel.

[Ultima]

What would make the engine sound like a diesel? It doesn't bother me too much but when I showed a friend's dad (who knows more than I do about mechanics) he thought the engine sounded a lot older than the ~90k miles or so it has (2.2L 4cyl from a dodge shadow '88). I was just wondering what would make the engine sound like that? I noticed that it's not near as bad once the engine is warm.

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

I've noticed a lot of Shadow's sounding like that. Sounds like noisy lifters...almost like it's out of oil or very low. Not sure if they are adjustable but you may want to look into getting the lifters adjusted or changing the oil.

Sometimes 'cheap' cars aren't so 'cheap'.

SDC



EDIT: A lot of Cavaliers from the 80's do the exact same thing. It may just be a normal progression to the auto graveyard

 

[ObiDon]

Have you checked your oil level lately?

 

[Ultima]

Oil was changed about 300 miles ago, so I dunno. So it's the lifters you think? hmm...

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: ObiDon
Have you checked your oil level lately?

Yep, it's at max. I check it almost every day because there's a slow leak.

 

[Pepsi90919]

exhaust leak can do it, valves, lower-end stuff worn out...

 

[notfred]

So, um, it sounds like a $350 car?

It's perfectly fine.

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: notfred
So, um, it sounds like a $350 car?

It's perfectly fine.

Yeah, I mean I don't care as long as the car will get me around, was just wondering. I should probably take care of that CV joint though
Maybe tomorrow if it's not raining (it's raining right now).

 

[toph99]

from what i've read it's valvetrain noise caused by crappy oil filters letting the oil drain back from the lifter valley and such. i could be wrong though

 

[Cyberian]

I'd say "Forditis of the lifters" if it weren't a Mopar.

 

Chrysler 2.2 and 2.5 engines have known issues regarding valve lifter noise.
Don't sweat it, all three of my Chryslers all made lifter noise, they all went to 250,000 miles.

 

[JC]

I noticed that it's not near as bad once the engine is warm.

This symptom leads me to believe it's piston slap. The pistons rock around in the bores when cold (sound like a diesel), but they expand to take up most of the clearance once the engine is warm. My '88 Mazda pickup had the same problem.

JC

 

[Ultima]

Well I did some minor work on the engine yesterday with a friend. Flushed the motor using motor oil flush, and redid the valve cover and oil pan gaskets. It sounds MUCH better now (still has a bit of that diesel sound, though ).