97 Voyager, 3.2L (3.1? whatever), 110K miles, runs well, no check engine light, valv[sm=dontgetit.gif]e job at 50K miles because the 5 Star Chrysler dealer told me we were using gasoline with too much octane...

When started in the morning there's a sound that sounds like a valve tapping. It follows engine RPM and will go away for a few seconds at idle, then return for a while, then go away completely after a few miles of driving. It sounds like a valve tapping to me because I've worked on Corvairs quite a bit and I've adjusted a lot of hydraulic valves over the years. I don't even know if this Voyager has hydraulic valves but that's what is sounds like.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Bill
[:@]

 

It is probably a 3.3. The only engines it could be are 2.4(4 cyl), 3.0(Mitsubishi), 3.3/3.8(Chrysler V6). The 3.3/3/8 engines have a bit of a problem with breaking the rocher shaft support tower on the rear cylinder head right next to the alternator. That is going to be my guess. There is a fix for it-most guys just replace the head and I would sell you one too. If you or someone know is mechanically inclined enough I'll let you in on a secret-email me. You get a shop to do this for you so don't bother trying to tell them how I tell you to fix it.

 

OK, I give. What's the secret to fixing it? Motor Medic? Motor Honey?

Should I even fix it? What happens if I ignore it?

Thanks!

Bill

 

No big secret. All you need to do is drill thru the rocker shaft support tower into the head roughly 1/4 of inch deep and tap new threads. Normally if that tower was broken it would make noise all the time. My best quest is the valves are bleeding off(time to replace the). Another possibility is piston slap. If you want to find out which piston is making the noise,pull a plug wire one at a time and listen for a change in sound.(remember to use the proper tools when removing a plug wire while the engine is running)

Hope this helps

 

You have bad hydrolic lifter(s). You said that the tapping goes away after a bit of running time. If the problem was the rocker shaft tower, the noise wouldn't go away.

At next oil change, leave out 1 quart of oil and add a quart of transmission fluid to the engine. My Dakota and both of my vans were the same way. The trans fluid will help break up any deposits that are blocking the lifter valves.

 

Try using a better oil filter. Cheap ones leak back and your valves run dry too long on start up. In this case, it works better after an oil change. Mine did this. Switch to WIX filters and problem solved, if that's the case.

 

mine did this when i bought it.. i have a 99 caravan with a 3.0 .. first place i went with it when i drove it off the lot was to the oil change place.. and had them put 40 weight in it... and some lucas.. hasnt done it since.

 

by the way... adding to that note up there... i just drove this thing from north carolina to denver colorado.. 1800 miles one way.. getting ready to drive it back.. runs like new... getting 26mpg w/ the a/c on ... so im thinking change to a heavier weight oil and some lucas.. or restore.. and see how it goes.. if that fixes it.. good on ya.. if not.. then explore the more expensive ways to do it