Hey,
Got a problem with my 3.1L 1998 Cutlass. When cranked stone cold makes a noisy lifter sound. The sound remains forever after the initial stone cold crank. Though after shutting it down AFTER the engine has been warmed to operating tempertures and then allowed to sit for more than ten minutes and then re-cranked the sound is gone completely.
My first guess is that their is a faulty lifter with some crap in the oiling hole and won't fill when oil is stone cold. For some strange reason the lifter never completely fills after the oil is very warm after the initial stone cold crank. Though when the engine is allowed to sit for awhile with hot oil in the engine it fills up just fine. What is the experts take? Please help.
Also, I've already pulled the manifolds and valve covers off. I need help in identifing the "bad" lifter. I know, I know...should have pulled only the covers off and fired up the engine and used a stethiscope to isolate the lifter, but I couldn't get both covers off with out taking everthing off the top of the motor...so a little late for that. HELP!
Stu