BTW...

My valve lifter ticking is permanent, and it sucks (not related to the oil).

 

The bucket type lifters in the VQ are a bitcch to get right.
I would not worrie to much if they are on the loose side w/ a turbo engine.

 

PASTA!

Good to hear from you. When are you coming down to L.A. next time? We should definitely have a gettogether.

 

Gurgen I knew you would chime in just to clarify, Valvoline makes 20w50 which is not the R1 as I made that mistake already, R1 comes in a silver bottle and not the off white like 20w50 does.

Anyways I am looking into other oils too but you are right about the lifter tick, mine is real low and can only be heard between 0-30 mph which is just plodding along city roads and towns, but as soon as I get up in speed then I hear nothing except pure humming of the engine, even at 50 -70 mph cruising speeds. My giveaway for low oil was when I would speed up and slow down it would go tick.tick.tick.tick as it slowed and I have that on my 3000gt VR4, well known for lifter tick.

One other thing I was considering was the stage 2 cams I have, I know from a guy with an evo that driving at low speeds makes a kind of ticking sound or tapping sound due to being so lumpy but once he gets on it it sounds fine.

 

I see your point, and I too have the stage 2 cams from Ted. However, it's not htecams, but the fact that Ted did not adjust the valves like you are supposed to when you install the cams. And before one says that that's the cam and there is nothign you can do, I will say the following: 1) TEd's own car with these very cams did NOT have the tick at all, it was very quiet comapred to mine 2) Todd from NM got those cams and installed them adjusting hte lifters correctly, and the engine is quiet! 3) Ted told Todd on the phone when Todd was getting the cams, that his Stage 2 cames are designed to be swapped in without any adjustments necessary. I busted out laughing and felt ripped off at hte same time , if that's possible, since I realized what was doen with my cams install.

 

Gurgen that is probabaly why mine are so quite.....I have Teds engine HAHA

 

HAHA...bastard!!!! lol I rest my case...do you see what i was saying now?

 

Do you guys have the "Cam spec's? In a Turbo engine with all the heat build up, running the lifters a bit loose is a wise move. It will let the valves rest a bit longer for the heat transfer to the seats. If I was to go 'turbo charged I would just retard the stock camshafts and be done with it.
You would be able to run a better timing curve, and move your power band upwards. The gain from the turbo or turbos would offset any low end loss.
Again, oil with a low flash point should not be used in a turbo engine.
GurgenPB has it under control, Great info on oil.

 

When I replaced the cams in my Z the lifters made noise. It was really loud at about 2 to 3k in the rpm band. Replacing the lifter buckets is a biatch in the VQ. I took the car to Rob at Z car. He checked them and they were all in spec but to the end of the range. He told me not to worry that the motor would be fine. Because I am like I am I had em adjusted anyway with new lifter buckets. As for Teds cams. I had them done by Ted on the G and they were way out of adjustment. I guess he doesnt check adjustment when doing cams. Rob also fixed those.

 

BTW they were also installed dry, go figure.

 

Did you just put 4000 miles on a brand new unbroken in engine?! You should have probably changed it within the 1st 500. Then again at 2k, then yet again at 4k.

 

Nope not completely brand new. Just had a few new things put on and the rest checked to make sure they were good to go. That is why I never did an oil change right away. I also forgot about the difference between being stock and not being stock

 

Wow. Did you break in the engine properly?? But in general, with that much $ spent on an engine, you should be checking it ALOT. At least every gas fillup. But since it's darn near impossible to get a reading while the car was just shut off, try in the morning before you go to work etc..

 

Engine was broken in properly, this is my 3rd built engine I have had in total(not just this car) so yes I followed all the correct procedures, the only one I forgot was to get a GOOD reading which is an adventure in itself, plus doing it in the morning is the best time.
Steve you seem to have a dislike for Ted....I have no idea why

 

Hahahaha I know you know why. What I posted was only one of the many reasons. I wont go into them all. He sold his shop and Im selling the G. So I guess it really doesnt matter.