I've seen other posts about similar experiences, but I wanted to get opinions on mine.

The car has been sitting for the winter, but I usually start it up and run it to operating temp. once a week. Well, the car sat for about 2 weeks and when I finally started it, a lifter or something was clearly knocking very loudly for about 1.5 seconds, then smoothed out to a regular idle. This also happened last time I changed the oil. Is this common on this engine with this viscosity synthetic oil? It was obviously caused by a lack of oil to the top of the engine. Once the oil made it back up there, things were quiet. Thanks in advance for your replies.

EDIT: Ok, I did find an almost exact post to mine; however, it doesn't really give a definite suggestion. The answers ranged from the issue being normal to this being the beginning of a common lifter replacement problem. The car has 13k on the clock.

 

cg,

I wouldn't be worried about 1.5 seconds.

Start the car up again in a few days and see what happens.

Lifter noise sounds like ticking. knocking, on the other hand sounds like marbles in a tin can. It's loud, sounds terrible, and it means something is really wrong with your engine if it's happening at idle. 1.5 seconds is way too short for the noise to be piston slap, which usually only goes away when the engine warms up (if ever.)

Report back to us.

 

I'm almost positive that it's lifter tick. It is really loud though, kinda like this: KNOCK, KNOCK, TICK, Tick, tick, tick, smooth. After sitting over night, I started it again this morning and it didn't happen again. Seems like sitting for long periods lets the oil drain to the pan completely. Then when started, it takes a second or two for the oil to make it back to the valve train. Never had that happen on any of my other cars before, and I've had some sit for 3 months at a time.

 

The oil type and its viscosity range plays a role in this ticking noise too.Especially the 0-weight oils show this kind of noises after longing periods of no activity. I wouldn't worry about that noise at all! The valve tappets drain totally out and need to refill with oil again one the motor is running!
One would cause more harm by running (idling) the motor every couple days without load and thorough warming!

HJM

 

My engine was just changed from the ticking sound, took them 45 days, but well worth it,,, had scarring in the engine......perfect now mine also sounded like a lifter tick

 

Thanks, that's what I was thinking as well.

 

Try putting some Mercedes badges on it, that should take care of it and add that missing 19 horses from the SLK32. Just kidding... Mine used to knock when it was cold and it quit for some reason.

 

It's probably just the lash adjusters bleeding down.

This occurs in cars that sit because spring pressure is pushing on them (some more than others depending where the valves are!) .Without the engine running, there is no oil pressure to counteract the spring pressure. Over time the oil gets slowly pushed out of the adjuster, until you start the engine again.

If you are worried about causing too much wear (I wouldn't), Disable the ignition and just turn the engine over with the starter for a few seconds so that you can move some oil around, then re-enable the ignition and start the car.


If that doesn't work..............try putting some Mercedes badges on it!

 

Thanks guys.