340 Lifter tick after sitting for a couple weeks

[Cubzy]

Hi All,

My number matching 340 has a tick after sitting for a couple weeks. It goes away after 3-4 minutes of idling. Started engine again 3 days later and was quiet. No tick. It sounds like it is lifter bleed down. What are the recommendations? Should I have use a additive to try and flush? Do I pay to have all or some of the lifters changed out? Do I do nothing? Can the lifter on the Small blocks be removed through the head without taking the intake manifold off? What is best way to narrow in on the suspect lifter? Thanks in advance.

 

[rumblefish360]

What weight oil do you run?
This can be seen as normal for old and not so often used cars. My ‘03 Dakota did the same thing after sitting 6 months. 245,000 miles.

 

[Cubzy]

What weight oil do you run?
This can be seen as normal for old and not so often used cars. My ‘03 Dakota did the same thing after sitting 6 months. 245,000 miles.

It had 20w50 in it at the time. I’ve recently put 10w30 in now. What weight is better with this condition?

 

[TrailBeast]

If you drive it for awhile you may never have that problem again.
There are also chemical tricks some have success with like sea foam, or run 1 quart of ATF with the engine oil for a few days.
Both of these have been known to clean junk out of a lifter, but rumble is right about it possibly being fairly normal for hydraulics.
Some even tick for a little bit every time the engine is started.

I'd take it out for a good drive before I decided to tear into anything, because it could clear up on it's own.

For what it's worth I wouldn't run anything 50 in it, but maybe 10/30 in a conventional oil or even 5/30 with a synthetic.
Just an opinion even though you didn't ask me specifically.

 

[rumblefish360]

I agree with the above.

It’s also why I didn’t answer any other of your questions. I think that would be a waste of time to do.

 

[Confusedcuda]

I got a 71 340 and when it sits for a week sometimes I fire it up and it sounds fine. Sometimes I fire it up and it ticks. I shut it of and sometimes it goes away. I do think I may have a little exhaust leak somewhere, but never has ticked for very long.

 

[Tooljunkie]

You should hear my 99 caravan.
Not always but it does clatter from time to time. I can quieten it with 1/2 bottle of sea foam and 1/2 bottle of motor honey /motor medic. Holds out until next oil change. This motor starts in 30 below without issue.

 

[Jadaharabi]

Put a bottle of Lucas oil treatment in it. My tractors set for monthes sometimes with the Lucas no dry starts. Works in my 1999 Durango for lifter noise to.

 

[71DodgeDemon340]

Mine does the same after sitting for 3 or more weeks, if i crank her up every week never hear it. Goes away after about 5 minutes but it does seem slightly louder when its cold out, im running 15w-50 mobil one reccomended by the engine builder, just let her idle till the tick goes away before you rev or get on it. Iirc its one of the lifters on the left bank