lifter tick problems

[Dakar M3 97]

Has anyone ever used seafoam in the oil?

I have noticed that from 2k to 3k my engine sounds like the lifters are really sticking badly (alot of ticking), also there is a little bit of oil gunk on the oil cap and on the metal piece that you can see when you open it up and there is a little bit of smoke coming out of there too. I think that if I put seafoam in there for like a day, that all of the oil gunk will get eaten away and I will lose the lifter tick. Any ideas?
Thanks
Peter


if you dont know what seafoam is here is a link Sea Foam--products

[fairweatherpunk]

Whoa before you start sea-foaming it up it is very normal for E36 lifters to click a little especialy in colder climates. It also normal to see smoke coming out of where you put your oil into. Your engine is hot when it's running, and when you turn it off and intoduce cooler air into the camber you will see a little steam. For the most part everything your experiencing is normal. Enjoy your car.

[Dakar M3 97]

It also made the lifter tick during the summer so idk. When I first bought the car I looked under the oil cap and there was brown gunk on it. I am assuming that there is this same gunk all through out the engine. It has 88k on it, I use 10w30 mobil 1.

[mrdoof]

im pretty sure mine does the same, it does have the lifter noise on hot days

[fairweatherpunk]

If you have a small flashlight look inside the motor, where the oil cap is. Typically sludge isn't brown it's closer to black. I've seen a few BMW's with the motor pretty sludged up, so it's possible. But brown gunk is pretty typical on most oil caps. It the ticking noise gets worse or is worrying you take it to a shop and see what they say. It's hard to give good advice if I can't here or see it. Hope it goes well.

[villlein]

I second that..... I've seen people go through a lot to get rid of that ticking. Mine does the same thing on extremely cold and hot days, and has been ok with the noise. it's best to ignore it unless it gets louder (like he said ^^), or a check light comes on.

normally the valve cover housing will have some oil gunk too, but that doesn't mean that your moving parts (cams, etc) are all gunked up too, so sticking a flashlight in there wont give you much. you would want to pull off the valve cover if you're trying to check out how grimy it is.

[RacerJames666]

Ill second that. I have some brownness in my cap as well...I think most engines i've ever seen have it.. My car actually made little to no noise this morning after a week under the cover in negative temps...strange. but yeah a little noise is normal. If your vanos lets go tho, drvanos.com has better units than stock, which they claim with much merit is far less noisy than a new stocker, so check that one out when the time comes...fuckin vanos is so noisy even new! Its like bmws trademark or something....
"famous for growling, buzzing, rattling, high performance six cylinders since 1973"

[itsabimmerthing]

Correct me if I am wrong, but arent S52 valves supposed to be adjusted every 60k miles? Either way tick is normal.

[RacerJames666]

I think you are right! Its the little valve adjustment shims right?
Oh well at least its not like the S54 15k religous valve tune

[itsabimmerthing]

I think so, James. And BTW, is this Dakar from Buschur forums?

[pat.zet]

Hallo,
S52 egine got no solid Valve caps !!! like the S50 b32 EURO M 3 or S54,
If the valve ticking is only by new starting theres is no Problem, is the Ticking more than 5 seconds the Hydro lifts are worn, also you can`t adjust hydrolifts.
Hydros are runnig a life time till they are broken, no service at any miles.
The also in every M52 engine.
Best regards pat

[Dakar M3 97]

Originally Posted by itsabimmerthing

I think so, James. And BTW, is this Dakar from Buschur forums?

yeah from Buschur talon91tsiawd. whats up?

[Dakar M3 97]

Originally Posted by pat.zet

Hallo,
S52 egine got no solid Valve caps !!! like the S50 b32 EURO M 3 or S54,
If the valve ticking is only by new starting theres is no Problem, is the Ticking more than 5 seconds the Hydro lifts are worn, also you can`t adjust hydrolifts.
Hydros are runnig a life time till they are broken, no service at any miles.
The also in every M52 engine.
Best regards pat

yes the ticking is more the 5 seconds and what are Hydro Lifts?

[pat.zet]

These are valve caps that adjust the Valvespace automatic by Oil pressure, if your oil level isn`t all right, this could be a reason for the ticking too, but that`s a loud tacking not ticking.
A low ticking nois is normal if the engine is very hot ( the oil is thin)
Which engine is Yours ??
I haven`t read It.
S52 B32, or S50 B32 EURO?,
I dont want tell you something wrong.

The S50 B32 EUro got solid Lifter`s you have to check, the s52 got the "Hydro lifter"
I have to check the Word Hydro lifter if it `s correct in English.
b. r . pat

[pat.zet]

it`s part no 10 in the sheet:
Hydraulic valve lifter.
RealOEM.COM BMW E36 M3 VALVE TIMING GEAR - CAM SHAFT

I think it s better to look, cause my english vocabular isn`t complete.