I posted a month ago about labor time to replace an oil pump - OUCH[:@] 7 hours! I had a loud ticking noise that was getting much worse, but went away after the engine was completely hot. Hot not warm. Strongly suspected oil pump was not getting oil to the lifters.

I thought I should post what my solution was:

After calling a number of garages, one was very insistant on making sure that I tried everything possible including another oil change (just had one done), changing oil grade, additives, anything before going to the big expense. So, the next day I bought some expensive addditive and better grade of oil and changed it myself. It's not the most pleasant job when it well below freezing outside.

Strange thing is that I saw lumps of oil plopping out. No, there was no rad fluid or water in the oil at all, just lumps. wierd. Anyway, added the oil and conditioner and stated it up, NO NOISE. Been running a few weeks in both extra cold and warm weather and no ticking at all.

Best I can figure is that there were oil lumps clogged up on the pump filter and it was runing dry until the oil got warm enough to pump enough for the engine. Probably this is uncommon and i am real lucky to get a cheap fix. Thought I would pass this along. I've seen other 'ticking' posts and it's a pretty cheap solution, considering the alternative.

Doug

 

Thanks for posting your solution. Man, you are so lucky that the fix was cheap.
I wonder what could have contaminated the oil to have it forming lumps?

 

Ok my question is-When was the previous oil change done to where you had to redo it? How amny miles or days or weeks? And last but not least you didnt take it to Canadian tire did you????? It almost sounds to me like your previous oil change was never done!!!!!! I would add sum marvel mystery to your oil and see if things get more betterer LOL.. I know that isnt a word but i`m sure you get the idea... also try sum snthetic oil that may even help in sum way Good luk keep us all informed so we`re not all sitting here twiddlin our thumbs wondering if the problem was solved so if anyone else comes across this same prob they can be recommended to your posting .........

 

He technically did solve the problem, just sounds like it wasn't the right grade of oil for the environment at the time and just lumped up from being so cold!!

 

Unless Doug was running gear oil (grease) instead of motor oil, I've never heard of oil 'lumping up' from being cold. This is where doing a used oil analysis should occur to find out exactly what was going on with the oil inside the engine.

 

Well, Cdn Tire . . . hmm, ya it was. Do I sound guilty? The ticking was going on & off for a few weeks, then I went to crappy tire to get a rad flush and pressure test because I thought I might be getting rad fluid in the engine. They did do the oil change becasue I checked the stick after (I'm dumb but not totally stupid) and the stick was at the right level and was obviously lighter gold/brown, just what i would expect after an oil change. Also, I checked and they did change the filter.

Question is: did they actually leave the oil plug off long enough to drain all the oil? dunno. The ticking was exactly the same after, so their change made no difference.

I did my own oil change approx 10 days after. Should never be lumps that fast, if at all.

I put in Quaker State 10x30, nothing super special about that. I think the lumps were plugging the pump filter and the additive made little or no difference. For the exta $25. I'm not complaining though. I have never been a fan of additives. Only other thing of note was that I used seafoam a year earlier, but there were a few changes between that and the problem. Honestly, I didn't see any difference after seafoam use, except that I personally caused the arctic to melt another inch from the clouds I created. [8D]

Certainly wierd and I agree that this was one lucky outcome.

Doug

 

The only time I have seen oil "lumpy", was when it hadn't been changed for about 20,000 miles. Yes, that is correct. 20,000. The customers reasoning? "Well, it says Maintenance Free right there." (pointing at battery) The car still had the black oil filter installed at the factory..... I guess she had added some at some point, as even the tightest motor burns a little, and you would think after 20k miles, it would be all gone....

 

I concurr..Saw the same thing in an explorer that had gone 12-13k miles since the last oil change. There was not much left, and what was left was in clumps.

 

Saw an S-10 with a 4.3 that had been majorly neglected. Came in for a no start. Engine was seized. Pulled motor, could not get pan off..... Why, you ask? Because the oil that had never been changed had turned to a semi-solid, and had adhered to the pan, and oil pump pickup. Had to take a 10 lb sledge, and BEAT the oil pan off. The mechanic outright refused to rebuild the motor, he said, new one, or take it home......

 

THat reminds me back in my teens days when i had the same problem but it was because i was lazy and waiting thousands of miles before i changed the oil.. I would use 3q kerosene and 1 quart oil to clean the engine.. workes very well... (please dont try that) ..... do they still sell that stuff to do clean the engine.. I think the bottle said RISLON or something...