Riddle Me This?? :16suspect So I completed a tune up, spark plug gap .034, dwell 37 deg. and timing at 12 deg. (I found the timing way out, an inch and a half or so above the 12 deg mark, it was so high I almost could not see the divot on the balancer) It had a slight tic after the tune up and I used CRC Industries Valve-Kleen thinking the lifters were likely gummed up. Immediately afterward 10-15 minutes running time the tic was gone. Everything was going fine until I drove home from work on Monday (15 miles or so), the valve train started ticking really bad. So bad, I had to reduced speed from 65mph to 50mph and even slower under load (going uphill). My first thought was the valve clean did its job (really well) and now the oil is too thin. My second thought was that the PO did a number on the timing to compensate for a worn valve train (new I should have taken a picture when the valve cover was removed LOL). Can anybody think of anything else? I'll change the oil, probably 20-50 weight and see if it resolves itself. Any thoughts would be appreciated! As a side note, I used a vacuum gauge after the tune up and found manifold vacuum at a steady 19 pounds at idle, about 580 rpm (no fluctuation). IMHO that's a good sign, rings, valves, should be nice and solid. kb (200ci, automatic, no mods)
I am not familure with the 200. I can say that 19 lbs is wayyy high. Should be in the inches How does the balancer look? Not slipped is it?
I'll verify my guage? Good point on the balancer, had not checked or thought of that (yikes). If I bring it to TDC on cylinder 1, the dizzy should be on 1 and the balancer should be at 0 deg. correct?
Are you sure its valve train tick your hearing. Seems like you may be getting some engine ping after changing the timing. Back off the timing a few degrees and see if it changes.
Gunk came out of the engine and is now stopping up your oil pump pick-up screen, have you checked your oil pressure?
I'm with this guy. I've had that happen pretty recently. Luckily oil change fixed it so I didn't have to drop the pan. Read this for vacuum tuning. http://classicinlines.com/Vacuum.asp And I think your reading your vac gauge wrong. If you got a good autotive oil/vac tester the large numers aren't pounds. 19 is about spot on for a 200 I6 imo. I ran mine at about 19.5 and got 20mpg in the city. I also pumped 20w-15 oil through it and went from burning a quart a week to a quart a month. Also had a never better constant oil pressure. Big oil ports in that 200 and youve got to run the length of the block I believe. Thicker oil helps it get to the number 6 better IMO.
That thought scares the crap out of me.... , Just the idiot lights, no oil pressure guage. I guess I should think about getting one of those .
98% positive its the push rods moving around. I'll double check by taking the valve cover off, if the oil and filter doesn't work.
Making some progress..... triple checked the tune up settings, verified the harmonic balancer had not slipped. Completed the oil change, R&R'd the motor mounts and trans mount (had fun with the motor mount rivets). Found the PO "fixed" the oil pan drain plug by welding a nut in the oil pan. It drips, so I'll need a new/used pan. The valve train still tics, it's better now, only happens under load (freeway onramp). I'll start a new thread on that, I believe it will need a mechanical fix. I'll start a new thread for that! Thanks for all the input, much appreciated.
