2003 Chevy Malibu, oil light is on. I changed the oil and filter...light remains on. Rockers and lifters are clattering and no oil is reaching the valves on the oil fill valve cover. How do I diagnose if this is an oil pump problem or as some have suggested, a worn or spun bearing problem? Are there any other problems that could cause the loss of pressure and how do I find them? Thank you for your help. Ben

fuel injector is not as prodominant, and lifter tick is louder and lower in the engine. Also, IIRC, lifter will be a lower pitch tick than injector

If it is a lifter then change the oil and add Rislone to the oil. It is an additive that has been around 50+ years and works great to free up sticky lifters. Start changing your oil more often will also help.

Good chance is that mechanic recommended them because they are bleeding off oil causing vehicle to run rough or clatter. Bad news! I believe you have to pull cylinder head on the these. Would make sure that the problem doesn't lie in the rockers.

no gauge,run the rockers down so about 4 threads of the stud show thru the top of the nut,start the motor ,back the nuts off one at a time till the rocker starts to clatter the tighten till the clatter stops then slowly give the nut another one and a half turns and you're done.

Hi there,

DANGER....this is telling you there is NOT enough oil pressure. The clatter you hear means inadequate oil is reaching the cams or lifters.

Can you confirm you have used the correct grade & viscosity of oil? Is oil leaking?

Please re-check the oil level again - allow vehicle to sit for 5mins, then check oil level on the ENGINE dipstick. If dipstick level is up to the full mark, then assume you have enough oil and let the engine idle for 5mins.

If the clatter remains, then suspect a problem with the oil pump, or oil filter causing a blockage.


Cheers,


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CLATTERING NOISE COULD BE WORN LIFTERS OR OIL CONTAMINATED WITH ANTIFREEZE OR GASOLINE.OR THE OIL PASSAGES IN BLOCK STOPPED UP WITH SLUDGE.TRY CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTER ADD A CAN OF SEAFOAM TO CRANK CASE.DONT OVER FILL CRANK CASE.IF CLATTERING DOES STOP NEW OIL GET REAL BLACK DIRTY.YOU PROBABLY NEED TO CHANGE OIL FILTER AND OIL AGAIN.WHEN SEAFOAM CIRCULATE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK FLUSHING OUT CARBON SLUDGE BUILD UP IN OIL PASSAGES.IT WILL GO TO OIL CRANK CASE GETTING NEW OIL DIRTY.SO CHANGE ENGINE OIL AGAIN.ONCE LIFTERS QUIET DOWN.IF LIFTERS NOISE CONTINUE.YOU NEED NEW LIFTERS.

use an engine flush when changing oil/filter use only 10/40 semi synthetic oil(change every 10k)top end chatter occurs when engine is cold/oil not up to followers,but should stop about 30 secs after starting engine.there ARE NO adjustments AT ALL.if chattering persists,then top end rebuild req.
the person who told you about "rockers"should learn about self adjusting valve followers....

sometimes when warming up motor the oil doesnt reach up there right away so eventually oil reaches causing clatter to stop a lot of vehicles do it even new ones just make sure you have the proper weight of oil in the motor if car has high mileage..this will help with noise

add a litre of diesel and a 3 sec squirt of fairy washing up liquid ,use vehicle for a week and see how it sounds ,if its quietened down a bit ,change the oil and use a cheap diesel engine oil and then add some more diesel and fairy and leave another week ,if it still hasnt quiented down then strip and repair ,is has quietened down the change oil again for good measure and use the diesel engine oil as its a detergent oil and then change oil at approx 6000mile interval no longer and use the cheap oil .Change oil filter every third oil change and you will not get a repeat of the problem.Use an expensive long life oil and the problem will re appear ,because the additives and combustion residues will clog up and stick the hydraulic valve lifters