Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Valves making noise ???

I can hear some loud TAC TAC TAC TAC from the valves mostly when I first turn on the car.


And since I'll be changing the valve cover gasket i thought about asking what these noises could be and if there was a way to check it, anything to look for.

any inputs are really appreciated.


BB

Varnish and wear inside the mechinism of the hydraulic lash adjusters (lifters) is usually to blame. The parts in the valve-train are supposed to be in contact at all times. Sticking (collapsed) lifters cause gaps which smack as the parts hit. This causes accelerated wear.

Solvents are used to dissolve the sticky varnish. Something like a motor flush can be used, but I prefer Marvel Mystery Oil which will slowly clean the varnish as you drive.

If the lifters are too worn they may need to be replaced, this is not cheap. A rebuilt head may be a better deal.

The PCV system must be in good working order and oil must be changed regularly to keep varnish buildup to a minumum.

How's the marvel mystery oil used? Like when would I put it in and do I just add it to the oil? Thanks.

First let me say that I am not advocating that anybody should use Marvel Mystery Oil. Being intelligent humans, you must make your own decisions. Remember that additives have a very narrow use range and many can do more harm than good if used without common sense. Most can be considered a complete rip-off since they do not have the advertised benifits.



Marvel Mystery Oil has apparently been around since the 1920's and was recently aquired by Turtle Wax. The U.S. Military contracted to buy huge quantities by the time of W.W.II. It was used extensively in airplane engines as a so-called top cylinder lubricant, and was also used in the land vehicles to keep the engines cleaner.

Marvel Mystery Oil was never F.A.A approved as similar formulas that came later were. Although not sanctioned for such use, it is still widely used by private airplane owners around the world. It is also often used in speedboats, perhaps because of the outrageous cost of engine repair.


Unlike other common additives, Marvel Mystery Oil contains chlorinated hydrocarbon oils. This makes Marvel Mystery Oil capable of dissolving contaminate buildup much like the acclaimed Berryman products, only at a slower rate and while still maintaining an oil film.


As an oil additive, it will help dissolve varnish and sludge. As a gas additive, it will dissolve that gummy stuff in the intake and break apart carbon deposits. Keep in mind that in a fuel injected vehicle, the gas goes in after much of the deposits. A special oil injector is required to clean the areas before the gas is injected. Small airplanes often use an oil injector to keep the intake clean and to keep carbon from building up on the pistons and valves.


As for the question, 10% dumped in the oil is fine, the instructions are on the container. The only thing I would add is that I use 10W30 to offset the thinning effect it has on the oil.

my car does this also, more so when it has sat for awhile. I think it is the oil that has leaked down out of the lifters. so you hear them tapping until the propper oil pressure is returned to them. I try to let the engine idle and let the sound go away before going anywhere

The zetec is known for having a loud valvetrain. If you really wanted to quiet it down then you could put tighter buckets(tappets) in. Ford put in different size buckets in all of the zetecs, I'm still perplexed as to why. But the tolerences that come from the factory are pretty loose. But you would much rather have a loose valve than a tight valve. When I changed my cams I also replaced the buckets and it quited down my valvetrain a lot.

The bucket is a hydralic tappet or lifter, it looks like an upsidedown bucket, it rides on top of the valve stem, and when the cam lobe presses down on the tappet it transfers the pressure to the valve stem, opening the valve, If you want I can post a pic of the service manual when I get home from work.

i think I know what it is,... I didn't know its name though.


Anything I can do with it while changing the gasket ??

Or there is no servicing ???

The zetec doesn't use a hydrolic vlave system. That's one reason why the valvetrain is so noisy.

The buckets ar right underneath the cam. So when you take the valve cover off you're looking at the cams, just under those are the buckets or (tappets). The problem is ford uses so many different size buckets so it's kind of a pain in the arse to change out and stuff but it's not that hard.