Earlier this week, I posted a thread with questions about 603 cam lobe measurements: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthreadad.php3?t=130921 I had the cam out to find the one or two weak hydraulic lifters that were tapping. A month earlier, I had the cam out for the same purpose and found one lifter very weak and upon replacement of a single lifter, the engine ran smooth and even, and without any taps, but only for about 200 miles, then it began slowly to develop a single tap, that was the reason I had my cam off this week.

This time around, I found 2 lifters that were questionable and replaced them both. Before putting the cam back in, I decided to measure each cam lobe and found inconsistencies in measurement, as much as 1-1/2mm. I also measured a spare 603 cam I have and found even greater inconsistencies to 2mm.

After replacement of the 2 lifters Monday, the engine was once again smooth, quiet, and even, just as was the first time I changed out 1 bad lifter before it started to tap again, and today, after about 120 miles since Monday, a lifter, or more than 1 lifter, is tapping yet once again!

NOTE: The replacement lifters I'm using are used, but were known to be good, so I little doubt about their integrity, but??????

This is beginning to bug me and I cannot make sense of it. Oil pressure and temp is normal, oil is Rotella dyno, not synthetic. I had been running M-1 for the past year, but lately cannot find M-1 15-50, so I'm back to dyno and 3k oil changes lately.

Anyone have any suggestions, or know what's going on here?

From my own experiences and what I have read on this Board, the 603 has a known issue with noisy lifters, even if they are in good shape. I am told replacing them all with new helps for a while but doesn't entirely eliminate the problem.

In my own case a change to Synthetic has definitely made them quieter. I use the Wal-Mart Truck & SUV Mobil-1 which is identical to Devlac-1. Mobil-1 15-50 is fine also but not ideal up here in the winter.

__________________
1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

All I've seen where I am lately is 5-30 M-1 and I'm reluctant to use 5 weight oil, heard bad things for older high mileage engines!

I had a really hard time finding the M-1 Truck & SUV oil at various Wally-Marts on a trip back from Florida, but I have friends in the Detroit Area that can get it no problem. It is certainly much cheaper than any synthetic I can get here.

The Truck & SUV Oil is 5W-40 rated, but it is specifically designed for Diesel Engines (Like Devlac-1) and I have had no issues that I can detect so far. In fact my Oil Pressure went up slightly (at hot idle - otherwise needle is pegged at 3+) and has remained so even through our very hot summer.

I wouldn't use regular 5W-30 synthetic or Dino Oil in a Diesel.

__________________
1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

Change the two small o-rings on the bottom of the oil filter center bolt and see if that helps.

If you don't mind going into Wal-Mart, they have the Mobil-1 Truck and Suv oil for $20.00 in the five quart container. IIRC it's 5W-40. This is fine for the diesels.

Thanks for that tip, but I have already installed new O-rings I bought from the dealership.

Oddly, today I have yet to hear any lifter tap and wonder that maybe I should return to M-1 buuuut I have only seen the 5-30 weight and want only to use 15-50.

Seems all I can find now is 5-30 in all brands of oil!

I have been using Amsoil 15W40 heavy duty synthetic and it eliminated a noisy lifter on my '87 300D turbo but I have to add that I changed out all of the lifters to new ones when I had the valve guides replaced and the head resurfaced so that could be a factor.
I get Amsoil in 2.5 Gal jugs, it makes filling the beast easy.
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/ame.aspx
I have a Amsoil dealer that gives a discount over what others charge for it.
We have no WalMarts around here, that is fine w/ me I am not happy supporting that organization.

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

a 500sec. the 500 will tap a lifter if i use 1540 rotella and stop if i use 1030 mobil 1.

for my 603 i found mobil 1 20w50 at advance auto parts here in lafayette indiana. in my 603 tapping is one problem i have not had.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I would imagin replacing every lifter with a new one and running good synthetic would solve the problem. Also is your oil pressure within spec?

Mobil 1 5w-40 or 15w-50 should be availible at Walmart, Autozone, Pepboys or any good autoparts store. 5w-40 is a little hard to find but 15w-50 is pretty common. Amsoil 15w-40 would be great as well if you don't mind ordering it.

What exactly goes bad with the lifters and causes them to make noise?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Dervman, do you know of anywhere in Ontario that I can get the Mobil 1 Truck & SUV 5W-40? I have been to Walmart, Canadian Tire, and a couple other places can't find it anywhere. Everywhere I go I can find the Mobil 1 15W50 but I want to use 5W-40 in the Mercedes in the winter, and I need 5W-40 for my Jetta TDI.

Any ideas?

__________________
1991 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo (207000km) (now gone)
1993 Audi 100 CS Quattro (300000km)
1999 VW Jetta TDI (290000km)
2002 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro (150000km)
2005 MB E320 CDI (34000km)

Dataiv:
Nobody I have yet found sells the Mobil-1 Truck & SUV oil here in Canada.
Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire certainly don't. You can special order Devlac-1 from an Esso (Mobil/Exxon in Canada) Wholesaler but the price is ridiculous. I did this once and it was about $50Cdn ($40US) for 4 litres

That is why the US Wal-Mart Mobil-1 Truck & SUV oil is such a deal. As Brian said they sell it for about $20US ($25Cdn.) and that is for 5 Quarts or 4.73 litres!! I have asked a number of Wal-Marts here if they can get it and they don't know what I'm talking about.

I use Mobil-1 15W-50 as an alternative, but it is a little heavy for the Winter Months. Even that is costing $36Cdn. now ($29US) for 4.2 litres.

Not as good as Mobil-1 but Wal-Mart do carry Esso XG-3 Synthetic in a 5W-40 grade for about $25 for 4 litres. The Specs aren't the same as Devlac but it is Diesel Rated.

__________________
1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

Update:

Last time I changed oil, I switched back to dino ROTELLA 15-40 from Mobil One 15-50 I had been using all winter. This is when I began to notice tapping from one hydraulic lifter. I replaced that bad lifter and the taps went away, for a while that was! Recently I replaced a couple more lifters and the taps went away, but only briefly!

What gives, I asked?

I have been hesitant to use the 5-40 synthetic oils, but after reading several posts here with regard to 5-40, I have decided to use it.

Back to Mobil One but 5-40 this time. Reason is I'm not using 15-50 is because I cant find it here, only 5-40 and it's rated for diesel.

Anyway, no more taps, yet so far!

Seems odd that M-1 15-50 was available all past winters, now in the summertime I can only buy locally 5-40! Wanna bet the idiots will start stocking 15-50 for the winter! It should be the other way around! Go figure Any way, no more taps, yet!

I was in Canadian Tire the other day and I saw AMSOIL on the shelf as well as ATF. It was close to $10 a litre. I don't know if all C Tire stores have it or just this one.

that with the 1540 rotella the lifters stick loose. with thinner oil they pump right up. on my 500 if i use rotella one taps for long minutes on startup until i have driven 1500 miles or so then stops. on mobil one 1030 it doesnt ever tap.

i think that the lifters are not worn when they stick, so that is why changing them doesn t work. you need the synthetic oil for them not to tap i think. if that is your problem.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.