New member learning this site. Hi from Oregon

Hi, I joined to learn more about issues with my old Ram 50 with 216k on her. She taps (lifter) when she's cold and I don't know what oil to put in her.

You need to hit up rock auto.com for hydraulic valve adjusters. Then run somthing like 20W 50. That makes for a good start.
Oh and welcome to the site.

Wiki has an oil chart info for specific areas to choose your oil. I'm a Castrol oil user. It doesn't leave the inside of engine dirty.

Thanks for responding. I live where it never gets over 75 nor colder than 30 , isn't that 20/50 kind of thick?

5/30 or 10/30...

Welcome to the site, like seeing fellow webfeet.

Do get a new set of those lifters. Not terribly expensive and they don't seem to last terribly long (nor are they too hard to change). Prime them before install (drop into a shallow container of oil and work the plunger a couple times). They say you don't have to, but do anyway.


Edit: I tend to use Castrol, as well.

Hey Portland. I'm in Coos Bay. Thanks for the info. Apparently it involves taking cam off which, according to the manual, means taking out the distributor, taking off the timing belt to get to it.. Kind of intimidating. Could it be just leaking down and using a thicker oil will fix it?

Camoit, will that 20/50 stop it from tapping?

Put a small amount of ATF in oil (1/4 or less of a quart) and drive it till the next oil change. sometimes the lifter will unstick with the ATF in it.

Thank you.

ATF will thin out the oil real fast. I would only try that for about 10 miles or so. 20 W 50 is good for the high millage engine and new engines. it's a 20 weight when cold 50 when warm. It will be just fine in your engine. I use it in all my gas engines. Even the new build truck will get it. If you wanted to try to stop the ticking then you can run straight 50 weight. But for the price of the oil you can pick up a set of adjusters from rockauto.
The cost to pick up the adjuster is not that much and only takes about an hour or so to replace them.

An hour, that's cause you now what you are doing. LOL Ok 20/50.

I couldn't find the manual in an hour.

Thicker oil won't help much in his case. The lifter tap is usually caused by the top plating area of the lifter wearing off not the lifter's prime. It may coat the area better but it still may not help. Mine instead of having a smooth round top had flat tops and marks eaten into the lifter. This will also cause wear on the rockers if left unattended. Replacement is best and simple with some common sense. Also distributor isn't that hard to get out. Turn the engine to TDC, marked by the crank pulley, take cap off, mark distributor and pull it out about 2 inches to clear the cam. On cam removal i dont think it HAS to come out as long as you mark it for TDC before you take anything apart and put it back exactly the same. This would be a good time to do a timing belt and check pulleys and oil seals for signs that could prematurely break the belt.

Thanks. Got the filter replaced. Will work on the adjuster asap. Great help all of you.

I have the g63b engine. 2.0 book says I gotta take off the cam. I'm from Asheville. Hey NC

Rocker assembly comes out, lifters are rockers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUo50VKmutc

They are easy to replace, You need a torque wrench for reinstall of rocker assembly and the order of tightening the assembly bolts. Remove bolts by starting from outside towards in, install tightening from center out. Many times you can also work the lifter with fingers could free it up. but for about 25-50 bucks you can replace them all and do it right. They are everywhere online to buy.

Ok thanks. We got rear ended yesterday. Tough little truck, took it and we still drove home. Just bent the bumper up and gnarled one of the horns. Now we gotta fix THAT. Husband and I ok. He says thanks for the info. He doesn't type.

These motors are a tightclearance motor - don't run 20 - 50 in it. Instead, put in a quart of Rislone in place of 1 quart of 10 - 30 motor oil - its a super detergent that will slowly flush out the crud and quiet the lifters if caused by dirt in the lifters.

She has over 216k. We put it in and the tap is gone.

We are just going to replace them. Thanks for all the help.

welcome to the forum:clap:

I need to replace mine, they tap hardcore

Maybe when we get the accident settlement. They totaled the truck but all it did was crunch the bumper so depending on what they total it for, we will get the adjusters and maybe a windshield out of it. we still drive her and want to keep her. Thanks.

Welcome to the forum,hope you gain new friends and get alot of info

Well, there is going to be no CarFax commercials in your life. Like you really ever watched them anyway, lol. I hope the insurance company is generous for your pain and suffering.

I got $957 for the truck after the buy back. It's because she already had a broken windshield and a dented fender. What a rip. I got the medical paid but we weren't hurt. No pain and suffering. Now she's "Branded" ! Outlaw.