So just to recap; I replaced the lifters and the valve stem seals (not related to the noise, but needed to be done to stop the smoke) but the noise stuck around. I went to replace the oil pan seals and found piston chunks in my pan. Had to pull the cam cover off and open the head to replace the piston, along with getting new head bolts, the head gasket and all the little bits involved with that process.

Pretty sure the busted piston was not the source of the noise since there wasn't any scarring in the block and the broken parts came from below the rings, so I don't think it would have rattled around and caused noise.

So that leads me to believe that the oil pan seals was the (final) culprit. The engine is unbelievably quiet. When I heard it, I was as giddy as a boy about to lose his virginity.

I gave the car to my daughter so I won’t be able to get a video until next weekend but I’ll post the before & after vid’s ASAP.

 

woooooow am sooooo happy for you brother.LOLLL. how many seals did you replace in the oil pan.l have some seals available and its alot of seals.l learnt that l might have extras.plz get a video when you get a chance.bubbles have been filling up on top of the engine and the oil filler cap real bad.my seals needs replacing asap.l will let you know how mine goes. congrats brother

 

I got the Volvo seal kit from FCP and it has enough stuff to cover a bunch of years, so you don't need everything in the packet. Oddly enough, it didn't have the o-ring for the oil thermostat, which you have to remove in order to remove the pan. Odd.

At this age, replace them all at once.

If you're getting bubbles at the oil cap, you probably have a serious problem with the PCV - which can blow out your RMS. RMS stands for "very bad thing to lose", so it sounds like you may have another project on your hands.

 

@ Vanjeczko: Did your oil light ever flicker? Some say that happens. Also, when I did my head gasket there was a seal in the kit that was the size of a 50 cent piece. How big would you say that the seal on the oil thermostat is?

 

No flicker of the oil light.

The oil thermostat gasket is actually a rectangle, about 1 inch by 2.5 inches. Since the kit didn't come with one, we just used the tube of gasket that we used on the pan itself.

 

the pcv was changed five months ago.no smoke from the oil dipstick hole at all,but l see bubble on the dipstick which is the seal allowing air to get into the oil.it was mentioned on IPDS website.that is one of the symptoms of seals failing and needs replacing.

 

how can a pcv cause bubbles in the oil?l thought bubbles in oil means seals needs replacing.pcv is related to smoky dipstick and oil leaks thats what l know of.

 

I thought you were saying that you had oil getting pushed out the oil cap. But now that I think about it, I clearly was not thinking clearly!

 

lol l guess. L see noo bubbles when the lifters stop knocking.but as soon as it starts knocking again bubbles starts getting on the oil filler cap.

 

So here's the video of the repaired engine. Most of the noise you hear is the power steering pump - yeah, it's on the ToDo list...



Here's the 'Before': Here's the 'After':

 

gooooood joob brother.your car sounds incredibly pretty.LOL.wow l am working on my oil pan seals too this sunday.wow. l am very glad you got it fixed.nice looking motor.looks very clean..what did you use to repaint it to red?

 

Think it was a rattle can of high temp red, not sure what brand. I should have hit it with a layer of clear coat to make it look better - it only looks good from a distance.

 

okay update on my lifters. l changed the oil pan seals and my engine sounds quiet now. when l first turned on the car after the replacement, one lifter knocked a lil bit for like 2 minutes because its been sitting for like three days without oil in it.now it sounds very quiet.not even a knock.hopefully the noise doesnt come back. you guys have been the best. thanks.

 

Sweet - another one stays on the road for another 100,000 miles! Good job.

 

thanks brother. hopefully it will go more than 100,000 miles.LOL

 

Good to hear that you got it all taken care of. No leaks?

 

no brother l fixed the leak. but it is leaking a little bit through the bolts in the rear of the oil pan.one or two of the bolts wont tighten up hard, and its making oil run through them.l will just leave it like that.not big oil leak.