'92 300SE. Sometimes as short as overnight, others it takes a day or so, but eventually, several of the valve lifters leak down and I get a ticka-ticka-ticka sound at startup.

All but one of the ticking lifters are fully silenced by the time the oil pressure hits 3 on the gauge - maybe 2-3 seconds after startup.

One persistent beggar will tick for some time afterwards, but once there's a little heat in the motor, he's quiet, too.

I run Castrol 20W-50 and change it regularly.

My mechanic suggests I try an oil treatment like seafoam on a couple of cycles to see if we can clean out what is probably some coking of the oil around the check-balls in the lifters.

Car runs fine, smooth at idle, etc.

I'd like to avoid paying probably $1500 to have the lifters replaced. I can do the work myself, but I simply don't have the time.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Regards