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454 oil leak / lifter problem?

Discussion in 'Engines' started by Pancho, Jun 26, 2008.

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  1. Pancho, Jun 26, 2008
    #1
    Pancho

    Pancho New Member

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    454 valve/lifter noise. Need solution.

    Re. 337 Commander (1985) twin 454, inboards, quadrajets, Kansas.

    Have noise in valve, likely lifter not up to par.
    Using Merc 20-40 oil.
    Friend said should change to Mobil 1 synthetic to relieve noise.

    Opinions ?

    PS. Will address lifer prob. this winter.
  2. Pancho, Jun 26, 2008
    #2
    Pancho

    Pancho New Member

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    454 oil leak problem?

    Oil/gas ? slick from port exhaust, 454 Mercs., Quadrajets, 337 Commander (1985)

    Some slick forming from port side exhaust.
    Pulled flame arrestor.
    Carb. black.
    Pulled plugs.
    All 8 black but normal--found no oiled, wet, or fouled plugs.
    Replaced plugs.
    Pulled Groco and twist-on fuel/water separators.
    Groco very, very, dirty.
    Replaced all with new.
    Stopped engine stumbling prob. above 2500 rpm,
    but oil/gas slick remains.

    Questions:

    How can I tell if the slick is from gas or oil, ie. gas from possible sticky float on carb (not from remote choke, it checked out OK),
    or oil from lifter/valve issue ?

    Can I change out a lifter w/o removing head ?

    Opinions, advice appreciated.
  3. NYCAP123, Jun 26, 2008
    #3
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    For gas look for the rainbow of colors. My guess is that it is unspent gas as oil would be giving blue smoke if burning or dumping into bilge. Unlikely it could be exiting through exhaust. I think you're about to pull a valve cover gasket for a look at rings, maybe deeper.:(
  4. NYCAP123, Jun 26, 2008
    #4
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    It sounds like you've got 3 posts, but one problem. As for the friends advice, straight 90w will quiet things also;) . You could be looking at a very long summer and a close relationship with seatow. You could also be vastly increasing your repair bill if you wait.
  5. YachtForums, Jun 26, 2008
    #5
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Well said NYCAPT.

    Poncho... there is not need to open a new thread for every problem. I've deleted your third post on essentially the same subject. In addition, you're posting these questions in the wrong place. This isn't a Chris Craft problem. It's a big-block problem that should be posed in YF's technical forum, or ANY number of classic muscle car forums.

    I'm combining and moving these posts to the technical section. Please refrain from opening new threads.
  6. Pancho, Jun 26, 2008
    #6
    Pancho

    Pancho New Member

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    ...refrain from opening new threads.

    Holy cow.
    I thought I was getting some good info. here.
    Instead I seem to have tread on an admin's petticoats.
    Too sensitive for me.
  7. NYCAP123, Jun 26, 2008
    #7
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Pancho,
    You'll find some intelligent professionals here (not necessarily myself) with some very thoughtful answers who prefer things organized. Facebook it's not. Like anything in boating, it's better to understand and tread softly than to just charge ahead.
  8. CTdave, Jun 27, 2008
    #8
    CTdave

    CTdave Senior Member

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    Ok Kansas, if you decide to come back, here is what I'd do:

    Your engine is running super rich. Black plugs bad. Light brown plugs good.
    Any popping noise out of the exhaust?

    Rebuild your Rochester Quadra-bog carb.
    Clean your flame arrestor really well. It could be choking the engine.
    Change your oil to a regular 10/40 (for now).
    Pull your valve cover, cover the exhaust manifold so oil does not splatter & cause a fire (jam a towell between the edge of the manifold & head, It's best to do this while the engine is cool). Start it up just for a minute & get a visual on what is going on with the noisy rocker. Is the push rod still going up and down? I have seen many a cam shaft loose a lobe but I've never had a lifter totally go bad. It's also possible that the rocker nut backed off a hair. I recently fixed a friends 427ci Corvette with a noisy rocker. I changed the oil (which came out as thin as water, filled it with 10/40 & bingo, noise gone. The hyd. lifter was not pumping up.
    Check the easy things first. If it really is a lifter, you have to pull the intake manifold to do it, not the head. I have a feeling you should hire someone to do that part. The proper thing to do is to replace the cam and all the lifters at the same time.