valve lifter blues
 

My 97 A4 1.8t (49K miles) is producing considerable (not the normal) valve lifter noise after a cold start. It seems like it is coming from cylinder #1. The noise last about 5 minutes and then it goes away. I also hear no noise above 2k rpm during those first 5 minutes.

I think that I may have a bad lifter, but before taking the car into the shop I will try changing the oil just to see what happens. The last oil change was 900 miles ago at the dealership and shortly after that is when I first noticed this problem... I have no idea what type of oil the dealership used. In any case, I was thinking of using 10W40 non-synthetic. Is the 1.8t designed to use an oil filter with an anti-drain back valve in it?

I found good info on the basics and troubleshooting of hydraulic lifters at:<ul><li><a href="http://www.aera.org/Techside/basicsabouthydrauliclifters.htm">http://www.aera.org/Techside/basicsabouthydrauliclifters.htm</a></li></ul>

You should add a can of MOA when you do your oil change...
 

I had a lifter tick as well, which I think is acredited to a) dirt causing the lifter to stick or b) dirt clogging up the oil passages and starving the lifters. The MOA will clean all that crud out, and cure that very annoying tick! I use MOA with every other oil change (currently using synthetic). I have not had the problem resurface since.

Hope this helps.

Randy

Correct - noisy lifters are due to dirty oil. Get a can of detergent and add to the oil
 

Should clear up in about 500 miles or less. Just don't drive the car hard with the detergent in the oil.

Worked for me on all my cars that I have bought that had noisy lifters. After I cleaned the engine up - never needed it afterwards - but I always changed my oil quite often.