Got Ping???

[Robotix]

Well I do...so...I took it to my local mechanic thinking that it was a loose rocker or something. He pulled the dipstick and suggested I do an oil change. Even though I run synthetic and change it every 3-5k it was a pretty thick, I run 5w30. He said I should throw in some 20 weight to help loosen up the gunk and then change it out after a week and see if that helped thinking that it is not getting proper flow up top. He did say that I might put out a little smoke but nothing to worry about because it is thinner oil and when I change back it would be fine. He said if it doesn't then we would have to dig deeper but wanted to try this first to save a little cash.

The main thing that I question which he wasn't sure and told me so was if it was good to change from synthetic to regular oil for this and then back again??? Anyone have a clue????

[darkfox]

WHAT?

wtf... your mechanic is on CRANK.

pull the valve covers and inspect the valve train. you'll notice a loose rocker arm or f-ed up pushrod.

if everything is tight, pour some marvel mystery oil or seafoam in the crank case and run it for a few days. if its a stuck lifter it will free it.

20 weight.. wTF.... lol

[Robotix]

Originally Posted by darkfox

WHAT?

wtf... your mechanic is on CRANK.

pull the valve covers and inspect the valve train. you'll notice a loose rocker arm or f-ed up pushrod.

if everything is tight, pour some marvel mystery oil or seafoam in the crank case and run it for a few days. if its a stuck lifter it will free it.

20 weight.. wTF.... lol

I should also say that it is not consitant....it is mainly in the morning after sitting and after about 20 minutes it stops.....it also will start after driving for about hour and will not stop until the car has settled for the night.

[Azrael]

In anycase it's perfectly safe to go back and forth between synthetic and regular oil. It says so right on the Mobile 1 bottles.

[darkfox]

yep. that whole thing about not being able to switch back and forth is a myth.

[Robotix]

Cool..thanks for the info causeit did it again this morning...pinged like shit for 10 minutes then stop when the car got warm.....shit if I know......

[darkfox]

it sounds like piston slap... but the thing where it comes back when the car is warm... dunno. sticky lifter maybe?

[phat_ridegt]

what kind of car is it?

def. sounds like piston slap. what kind of shape/age/mileage/abuse is the motor in? i also would not switch out of mobile1. that will be better for the car no matter what weight you use than standard oil.

[Robotix]

Well guys....it worked....I was so fucking gunked up from what I have found out to be a lower intake gasket leak that there was some very slow flow.....no knocking but now I am screwed. I asked about how much it would cost to repair and he said $600 to 1k.............FUCK!!!!!!

Let me bend over and slap some kitty litter on my ass and just ram me....damnit.......is this about a fair cost for this problem???

2003 GA btw

[Azrael]

That sounds about right for the cost. It cost me $800 Cdn (~$650-700US) to get mine fixed. It's a very common problem for GM's pushrod V6's at around 90K miles. Either way, get it done quick or you'll be looking to get another engine at a much higher expense.

If you get it fixed you'll be getting the revised gaskets to help prevent it from happening again. Getting another engine means you might have to deal with this again later on.

[95 grand am]

in my old grand am one of the guides for the pushrods broke and the pushrod wasnt moving the valve just banging against the top of the cylinder

hope this helps

[Chuck3300]

I have heard of alot of people getting engine noise using mobil 1 vs. other synthetics. check bobtheoilguy.com. I dunno never used it, I like Pennzoil 10 dub syn in my regal gs.