2002 Forester noisy valve lifters!

[cewyattjr]

Searching this group, sounds like many owners have this problem.
Ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka. I noticed it more when the engine was cold
and in cold weather, but in the last year or so, it has been more
prevalent in warmer weather than ever before. REALLY noticable.

1) Does it hurt anything to not address it?
2) We're at 75k miles, and I read that timing belt is due at 105k
miles. OK, so is this one of those deals where if the timing belt
breaks we bend these valves?

thanks,

Chuck in Masachusetts

 

[Dmitriy]

Searching this group, sounds like many owners have this problem.
Ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka. I noticed it more when the engine was cold
and in cold weather, but in the last year or so, it has been more
prevalent in warmer weather than ever before. REALLY noticable.

1) Does it hurt anything to not address it?
2) We're at 75k miles, and I read that timing belt is due at 105k
miles. OK, so is this one of those deals where if the timing belt
breaks we bend these valves?

thanks,

Chuck in Masachusetts

Common thing in Subarus. What type of engine oil are you using? Some
people say a good synthetic oil helps.

Timing belt breakage is definately bad juju, but I don't think it's
related to the lifter noise.

 

[cewyattjr]

Common thing in Subarus. What type of engine oil are you using? Some
people say a good synthetic oil helps.

Timing belt breakage is definately bad juju, but I don't think it's
related to the lifter noise.

Yeah, I definitely don't need the bad juju. I had a timing belt "slip"
on my VW New Beetle when I lost the water pump at 90k miles. It was
bad and very expensive to fix.

This is the 2.5l 4cyl, and I think it is single cam according to what
I've read.

I'm using Castrol synthetic blend, but I should probably switch to
Mobil 1, I'm wondering if 10w 40 or 5w 30 is better?

Thanks,

Chuck

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Yeah, I definitely don't need the bad juju. I had a timing belt "slip"
on my VW New Beetle when I lost the water pump at 90k miles. It was
bad and very expensive to fix.

This is the 2.5l 4cyl, and I think it is single cam according to what
I've read.

I'm using Castrol synthetic blend, but I should probably switch to
Mobil 1, I'm wondering if 10w 40 or 5w 30 is better?

Thanks,

Chuck

As another option, there is a 5w-40 Rotella synthetic.

fyi

Carl

 

[fopetesl]

Ummm. I have a 93 Legacy Turbo which has had valve lifter rattle for
110K and hasn't got any worse, mind you it hasn't got any better
WHATEVER. I've tried all the different oils, flushes, you name it, I
have the T-shirt.
I have a last shot which entails removing the rocker cover and pulling
an oil-way jet and cleaning it out. Haven't got there yet but soon ...
I don't know if yours is the same type of engine, 2 litre DOHC?
Maybe not the same cause if not.
ATB
Peter

 

[cewyattjr]

Ummm. I have a 93 Legacy Turbo which has had valve lifter rattle for
110K and hasn't got any worse, mind you it hasn't got any better
WHATEVER. I've tried all the different oils, flushes, you name it, I
have the T-shirt.
I have a last shot which entails removing the rocker cover and pulling
an oil-way jet and cleaning it out. Haven't got there yet but soon ...
I don't know if yours is the same type of engine, 2 litre DOHC?
Maybe not the same cause if not.
ATB
Peter

Hi Peter,

I think the Forester is a 2.3 liter SOHC. Dang noisy, though. My
other car is a VW TDI (Diesel), and that is noisy but it is *supposed*
to be!

-Chuck

 

[Dmitriy]

I'm pretty confident the Forester is 2.5 liter SOHC. I believe Subaru
used the same 2.5 liter EJ25 in all 2000+ N/A 4 banger models.

I actually never heard of a 2.3 liter Subaru engine. I know there is a
1.8, a 2.0, a 2.2, a 2.5, and a 3.0 6 cyl.

 

[strchild]

Was a 2.7 6 cyl. for a few years too. (-;

~Brian

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Was a 2.7 6 cyl. for a few years too. (-;

~Brian

I think also a 3.3l 6?
not sure


Carl