Subaru EJ22 Lifter Tick-Tick-Tick (long.)

[kalispell365]

It just shouldn't do that Ron...Im sorry to hear it is still there. Only two things can cause it, low oil pressure(most common) or an obstruction in either the oil passage to the lifter or an obstruction in the lifter itself.
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1983 Diesel Vanagon Westfalia chassis with Subaru 2.2l

[dobryan]

Ron,

It is not hard to check the valve clearance yourself. It takes some patience and dexterity with a feeler gauge. (If you are not sure how to do it we can help). If you check the side that ticks you may find one valve that is at the higher end of the allowable lash. Tighten it up to be closer to the lower clearance and see if the tick goes away. Fingers crossed for you.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

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[61Scout]

Before I pulled the motor out of my donor I noted that there was a loud ticking noise consistent with the lifter issue. I made a mental note and didn't think much of it. Anyway, during the reseal/reconditioning I found a chunk of metal in the oil pan. Oh no, where did it come from? Well, it came from the rocker assembly. It's a spring that keeps the arms spaced out from the main center support. This may be a rare failure, but just a heads up for anyone trying to track down a noise. This is from an EJ22, I'm not sure if this would apply to other subarus, but something to keep in mind.

Hope this helps.

-Kevin

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1986 Westfalia Weekender Wolfsburg, RJE 2.3
1985 Tin Top, Subie 2.2 + 5MT
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-Nec Spe, Nec Metu

[Syncro Jael]

Thank you everyone for your posts and comments. When I first heard the tick tick tick, my mind tells me it is a valve clearance. That is what the builders impressions were also. They checked the clearances twice, then replaced the entire rocker assembly and the shop owner set the clearances himself.

Still tick tick tick but only when hot. And at a low idle is when it is the worst.

The oil pressure looks good so I am thinking an obstruction in an oil passage to the lifter. These are solid lifters. I had another Subaru mechanic listen to it, he said "It sounds like solid lifters". Except the drivers side is definitely noisier.

The rebuild shop will stand behind their work and tear the engine down again this winter, when I am done summer camping, to find what is going on. They did say solid lifters are noisier than hydraulic ones and would swap them out if that is what I wanted. I just want a purring little engine again.

It is still interesting that there has been no change at all with over 10k miles on the engine. I am still happy with my little EJ22, but I don't like engine noises.

I was hoping to report that it is quiet by now...

We are coming up through Montana in a few days, possibly Kalispell?
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1987 Syncro Westfalia Hightop - NAHT
Subaru EJ25 Forged Frankenmotor, Triple Knob.
Jael = (Mountain Goat)

[furrylittleotter]

[Howesight]

I have never succeeded in getting a solid lifter valve train to be as quiet as a hydraulic lifter valve train. Most of the time, the other engine noises would drown out the lifter noise, such as solid-lifter LT-1 engines, air-cooled Type 1 engines, Toyota 22RE engines, etc. Maybe the Subaru solid lifter cams have very long ramps that help to make them quiet, but I have always assumed there was no real way to quiet solid lifter valve trains. Listen to an air-cooled 911 just above idle - - even Porsche was not able to quiet solid lifters.

I suspect your engine builder wanted you to have a very bullet-proof engine and feared that sustained high rpm and high load might lead to lifters collapsing or what have you. Hope you get it sorted!
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[Syncro Jael]

[kalispell365]

Ron,
Im sorry about my previous statement...I had forgotten that you have solids. Has anyone adjusted the valves since you put the motor in? They are so easy to do yourself, and just ONE slightly loose adjustment will make a racket. Others on here are correct in saying this type of valve train is more noisy, but it shuld be a uniforn sewing machine type of sound.
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1983 Diesel Vanagon Westfalia chassis with Subaru 2.2l

[zak99B5]

On two longer trips (4 hours or so) after putting in Pennzoil full synthetic 10W40--the platinum, made from natural gas kind--I am getting lifter tick after running on the highway.

I get no tick around town, and the tick after extended highway driving goes away after some local driving.

Oil level is fine. It doesn't seem to burn much if any oil at all.

When I return from this trip (currently in Rochester dropping off a daughter at RIT) I think I am going to drain it out and refill with something else.

Any suggestions for a good synthetic (or Dino) oil for the little old EJ22?
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1991 Tintop GL Manual tranny, EJ22

[zak99B5]

OK, just drove from Rochester to Saratoga to Albany, and now there's no tick at all. Motor sounds great.

Or it's about to explode.
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1991 Tintop GL Manual tranny, EJ22