If you own a 91-96 3000GT or stealth you probably have the dreaded lifter tick. It is a loud embarrassing tick. Definitely not appropriate for a Grand Touring car.
What Causes lifter tick?
The lifters tick because they are not completely filled with oil and the rocker arm looses contact with
the lifter for a fraction of a second then ticks when contact is re-established.
The lack of oil has 3 possible causes:
1. lifter is damaged and needs to be replaced
2. Lifter is dirty and not enough oil can enter restricted passages
3. Low oil pressure.
How can I fix lifter tick?
There are many tricks to cleaning lifters so oil will flow into them more freely.
I didn't use any of them personally so I will not go into details.
Most methods involve adding high detergent oil ,non-synthetic Mobil for example.
It may take a higher concentration of detergents such as transmission fluid or Risilone.
Again I didn't do this so I have no clue if it will work for you.
What worked for me is switching to 97 model year lifters.
Mitsubishi part number MD337687 $11.65 each x 24 lifters @
Diablo Enterprises
It was not cheap and unless you remove your camshafts it is not easy, so it may be
worth trying the cleaning methods.
When You do you 60K mile service it is easy to do. All you have to do is remove
your camshafts and replace the lifters.
Some people have have done it with camshafts still in place using special MItsubishi tools
You can make your own tool.
See this thread on 3si:
3SI Lifter Removal tool thread.
http://www.3si.org/portal/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=159640
To do this you would really have to pry on the rocker arms to get them off the lifter.
I am not sure if this is a good idea.
The camshafts ride directly in the heads NO BEARINGS, one scratch on the heads were the
camshafts ride and it could require a new head!
How can I tell if I have newer lifters?
Look at the top of the lifters:
The old lifter on Left has a tiny hole in the head.
The 97 lifters on the Right have a HUGE hole in the head
