# Valve Lifter noise under weird conditions **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 3, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-lifter-noise-under-weird-conditions/68395 "2011-10-03T23:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **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:** [October 3, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-lifter-noise-under-weird-conditions/68395/1 "2011-10-03T23:13:42Z")
4.2 l Old Bravada inline 6. Car develops valve lifter type noise only after about 200 miles on a trip. Noise persists. After arriving at destination and sitting overnight, it’s gone. On the return trip it appears again after about 200 miles, and goes away again just as before. It’s a light noise, not a knock. Car is full of clean new oil (Castrol high mileage) of the proper weight. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-lifter-noise-under-weird-conditions/68395/2 "2011-10-03T23:41:15Z")
A couple of ideas. Get the running oil pressure checked ASAP. It may be getting low enough to make the valves clatter, but not enough to turn on the ‘oil’ light. A lot of those light on sensors don’t activate until a very low 6-8 PSI, which may not be enough to keep the hydraulic valve lifters pumped up. Also, it could be pre-ignition. If the knock sensor is failing, the computer may not know to retard the timing to prevent the clatter. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-lifter-noise-under-weird-conditions/68395/3 "2011-10-04T01:17:30Z")
The oil thing might be relevant, since the noise takes a long drive to develop. This so-called high mileage oil has more additives and less oil. That’s what he was using–the Castrol version. ---
**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 10:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-lifter-noise-under-weird-conditions/68395/4 "2011-10-04T10:21:27Z")
Also change your oil filter. It may be partially clogged and the bypass may not be allowing enough oil flow either.