So my girlfriends brother is a mastertech for Ford and when I was selling my cavalier it sounded like a lifter was stuck. He said put tranny fluid in cause it's mostly detergents and let it run around and it might unstick the lifter. I know have a similar sound on the 3rd cyl area and was wondering if that might help or not and if anyone knew if this was a good idea or not... I don't know anyone else that's as exp and knowledged in cars personally so once again I turn to the thirdgen smartypants of the board and ask here.

 

Sure, throw it some DOT 3 while your at it.

In all seriousness, i've never heard of anything like this. Sounds suspect to me. I wouldnt reccomend it, however.

 

Actually yes its an old trick people did, The trans fluid is hydro fluid, not like regular oil it can help to pump the lifter up. Marvel mystery oil works much better though. It pumped a lifter up on my 2.8 within 10 miles of adding it.


BTW break fliud is also something people have added to their oil . Supposedly it keeps seals/gaskets conditioned...

 

lots of people do it
lots of people are against it

Its an old timers trick thats works or doesn't. Usually only used like you said to clear up a lifter tick as some time the lifter get gummed up n sticky.

I doubt you could hurt anything. Unless you had an engine with tons of build up and the tranny fluid work that stuff lose and it clogged up n oil passage or pump screen.

Some times it best to leave the gunk stuck where it is.



go to bobistheoilguy.com and browse their forum.

 

I won't hurt it, I have put lots of stuff in crank cases of cars to try and get all the crap out. so far I have added these to oil:
ATF, K-1 kerosen, diesel, fuel injection cleaner, gas deicer, PD-680 (an industral parts cleaner), turpintine, napa lifter unsticker and more.
PD-680 and kerosen worked the best.
Don't ever let the crap build up in the first place, best way to avoid that is to change your oil every 3,000 miles or 5,000 with mobile 1 depending on driving conditions.

 

I change mine just about every 2k miles. I'd like to get the GM top end cleaner but I don't think my parts store has it. Anyone know an online store where i can get it and how much it usually costs?

 

I agree w/Gumby, it's used as a cleaner (like spending $5 for motor flush, but you're only spending $2), but on a high mileage motor, you might not want to dislodge any crap.

I bought motor flush back in 1994 and never used it... now with over 270,000 miles on my car, I definately won't use it, even though I change my oil regularly.

 

I actually had the same problem with the mustang i had 2 yrs ago, only i used brake fluid, only problem is that it will work so well you'll have to put a crapload of oil in it, and in the end i wound up chaning the lifter/cam set because it was warped beyond all help, is it worth it if the car just started making this noise, then sure go for it, however if it has been happening for a moth or so then the stuck lifter may have already damaged your cam as well so the best thing is always the thorough way: taking the valve cover off instpecting and replacing any worn or other parts i had an overhead cam so it was easy, in all aspects of what you do, good luck

 

Is it just that easy on a 3.1? take the covers off that are on the sides of the intake and just clean the valvues and whatnot? Would the gaskets needed for something like that come in an intake gasket kit? Would I just put whatever needs to be cleaned in diesel? It's been making this noise for a week maybe...

 

i said that i had an overhead cam setup on my other car, and no i don't think it would be that easy to take it apart, matter of fact on a 3.1 i know it wouldn't be, but since it was only a week maybe the additives will work for you, if you were going to take the covers off i do suggest new gaskets and other stuff