# Intermittent lifter problem possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ls400, lexus\ **Created:** [September 18, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892 "2017-09-18T20:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/1 "2017-09-18T20:46:08Z")
1999 Lexus LS400. Car has been running quiet and beautiful. So yesterday I start it and I hear what sounds like a very loud lifter. The sound gradually diminishes as they often do. Next time I start it there is no problem, no noise. I am used to lifter problems that gradually come on as a car ages. This was sudden, and vanished just as suddenly. This is something I have never seen before. Does it make sense? Any idea what is going on? ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/2 "2017-09-18T21:38:55Z")
I don’t think your engine uses hydraulic lifters, so that noise might be a sticking valve; and yes, that can be intermittent. ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/3 "2017-09-18T22:41:41Z")
This could make sense. The car was stolen and went too long between oil changes (8000 miles). So, after this happened, I put in some CD2 oil detergent, and an oil change will come next. Maybe there was no permanent damage. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/4 "2017-09-18T23:37:41Z")
Proper diagnosis for a proper cure, I thought it was valves, turned out to be a bad tensioner. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/5 "2017-09-19T00:53:55Z")
> [@melott](#): > > The car was stolen and went too long between oil changes (8000 miles). You should probably get a shop to look at it and notify your insurance company of an amended claim. I assume the theft was reported? ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/6 "2017-09-19T13:24:27Z")
The sound never returned. After adding the CD2 and doing a bit of highway driving, the oil became much more black. I assume that there were deposits built up that were removed. I suppose the oil outlived its additives. Anyway, the deposits may have brought on the lifter problem ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/7 "2017-09-19T13:32:19Z")
Going 8,000 miles between oil changes _once_ isn’t going to hurt the car unless you have an oil leak and too much leaks out because of the extra miles. CD2 is snake oil - it doesn’t do anything useful. ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/8 "2017-09-19T13:54:10Z")
Wrong. CD2 replaces detergents which may become depleted in old oil. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/9 "2017-09-19T13:59:04Z")
No, CD2 _says_ it replaces detergents which may become depleted in old oil. People have done chemical analyses on it and discovered it’s basically just 20W oil. ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/10 "2017-09-19T18:02:05Z")
So, it turns out that CD2 oil detergent has been discontinued. What do people recommend as a substitute oil additive when extra cleaning is called for? One idea seems to be Sea Foam. Anyway, “just change the oil” replies are not needed. ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/11 "2017-09-19T18:10:47Z")
> [@melott](#): > > Anyway, “just change the oil” replies are not needed. so noted. I’ll go elsewhere then. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intermittent-lifter-problem-possible/107892/12 "2017-09-19T19:11:02Z")
If you don’t want the correct answer, why are you asking the question?