318 Lifter Tick

[1970DCH]

Before I start, yes, I read all related threads and yes, I should just take off the valve covers and evaluate. Until I can do that, this is bugging me and I’m inquiring to see if there is something obvious I could be missing—>

I noticed a lifter tick upon taking an off ramp (right turn) at a decent speed where the lateral G-forces apparently impacted oil circulation. As soon as I straightened out, the tick reduced. Since that time, I have noticed that the tick does return once the oil is hot; very faint, but it returns. No tick when cold.

Here’s what I have done thus far:
1. Checked oil pressure-> 50PSI cold. I did not check when hot (maybe I should).
2. Checked oil level. It was at max; I added 1/2 quart which did help the off ramp symptom, but did not get rid of the feint tick when hot.
3. Oil has been recently changed with VR1 20W/50
4. It is not an exhaust manifold leak.

The fact that the tick becomes audible when oil gets hot tells me the thinning of the oil is somehow impacting the oiling process within the lifter. I’m looking to see if anyone can recommend something I have not thought about yet before I start opening the valve train. Thanks in advance.

 

[GTX JOHN]

50 years ago, we added a quart of ATF to the Oil and drove it
10 to 20 miles and changed the oil and filter.

It worked about 1/2 the time to cure a sticky lifter!

 

[Geoff 2]

Could be a lifter/lobe starting to fail. Worse when hot because greater expansion increases the clearance.

 

[dvw]

The valve covers could be sludged up. Oil return to the pan is comprimised leading to low level in the pan. On turns the pickup sucks air, lifter ticks.
Doug

 

[1970DCH]

The valve covers could be sludged up. Oil return to the pan is comprimised leading to low level in the pan. On turns the pickup sucks air, lifter ticks.
Doug

Could be a lifter/lobe starting to fail. Worse when hot because greater expansion increases the clearance.

Could be a lifter/lobe starting to fail. Worse when hot because greater expansion increases the clearance.

Thank you all for the additional input. One post I came across in another forum described the same condition of ticking when hot and it someone suggested the distributor cap/ rotor. I removed it and there was some evidence of corrosion on the terminals, so I changed the cap and rotor. Unless I’m going insane, that tick is significantly quieter. I do wonder if the distributor itself may need a swapping, but we’ll see. Still trying to determine the why since I still hear it, but much less.