Thanks Hunter

 

Well its been 20 days or so since the last post. Ive started the MS about 8 times and driven 80miles approx. The nights have been 40-60 variable. I havent had any lifter noise whatso ever,even after sitting for 4 days without starting. I sure didnt expect this quietness in my valve train right after my last post. I did forget to add in my last post that I had added 1 qt HM syn Mobile 1. Im reluctant to say that is responsible for the reduction in start up noise,even when below 50 degrees when it always clattered!. Maybe it did help. Cant imagine....well,the nights will get even colder so well see how low it will go and remain quiet.

 

Update on my early morning valve train noise:
The temps have been below 50 degrees and as low as 30 at night since my last post. Since 11/30 I no longer have the loud ticking when I start it up at 5-6 am and thats when I changed oil and added the 1/2> qt of M1 syn HM oil What ever the reason..its fine with me

 

Jan /2019 Its been 12 months and I have had no return of "valve train" noise on engine startups below 50 degrees. So that seemed to work in my particular case

oct 21 2022, still no lifter noise > put in 1 qt Mobil1 synthetic with each oil change

 

Thanks for the update. Glad it is still holding up

 

Info for everyone with the 3.0 and 3.5s. Mitsubishi redesigned the vla's with a much larger top port which corrected the problem. A set of 24 vla's can be picked up at partsology.com for about $120 (it was under $100 when I did mine last summer), they have great prices and next day delivery!

 

After dealing with my 03 Raider tappet noise for two years after a mechanic told me "that's normal for those vehicles", it became so loud I was afraid of some serious engine repairs or replacement. My truck only has 83K miles and I baby the oil filter regularly. I use one of my toilet paper oil filters I manufacture and have only changed the oil once. I took it to a different mechanic shop and left it overnight. The next morning he called me. It's not the lifters. It a bad exhaust manifold gasket or warped manifold. It turned out to be a warped manifold (and therefore also a leaking gasket which is what I was hearing.) He replaced the manifold and all is beautifully quiet again now. So for what we may think is tappet or lifter noise, check the manifolds for a leak. I'm not sure why it warped. I've never worked it hard by towing an RV or allowing the engine to overheat. The mechanic said he repairs 3.7 and 4.7 Dodge engines all the time. So there's your WARNING friends. Good luck.

 

Another trick......I have a 94 Montero SR that had a pretty loud "clickety clack" noise. I changed the oil, and added 2 qts of Marvel Mystery Oil with the oil, and it did not take long for the clickety clacking tapping noise to disappear......so, I guess the thinner oil helps, and MMOil also does a great cleaning job to all those moving parts.

 

Thank you for the response. I took it to the mechanic who replaced one exhaust manifold which was warped. The noise is gone for 1 week. Now I'm starting to hear it ever so slightly especially on startup. I think I will try some Marvel Mystery Oil as 1060StudebakerHawk suggested to see if that soothes my ears.

 

Hope the MMO does soothe the ears.......definately made my ears happier on that Montero engine. Also, great to have around to polish motorcycle engine covers. Shoot, I also add a swig of it to my chain saw fuel mix....tons of uses.