GEO METRO lifter problem?

Question

THE HYDROLIC LIFTERS ON MY METRO STOP WORKING EVERY NOW AND THEN ,BUT WILL START WORKING IN MAYBE 5 WEEKS IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM , AND WHATS THE SOLUTION ,I HAVE FLUSHED THE OIL,AND CHANGED THE FILTER,I HAVE PUT SEMI SYNTHETIC OIL IN ?.MANY THKS

Answer 1

gearhead is a moron. Thinner oil flows better and gets into tight clearances better.
If all the lifters stop and start working at the same time, it's low oil pressure.

Answer 2

The lifter have one of 2 problems.
1- they are varnished up and sticky inside with clogged passages.
2- they are slugged up , ditto to above.

the best solution is to:
1- replace them
2- or clean them
depending on what is more important to you time or money will dictate your choice.
sounds like you PO didnt change oil too often.
a common problem on high mileage cars and poor maintenance.
history:
first of which was Pierce-Arrow in the early 1930s.

thinner oil , in fact helps. but as all morons know , is not a solution to a problem. ( its a halfarced band-aid at best)
the solution is to examine the engine internally and determine if the problem is systemic. (all passages clogged with sludge,etc....)
if the whole engine is a mess , it may need to be overhauled.
everyone wants a simple cheap fix.

you may wish to jump off this light weight forum and try the below. focus groups.
clean them with powerful solvents.
acetone, mek, carb cleaner, ,etc, what ever gets the varish to desolve will cure them.
if it were mine , id clean the whole engine, or sell the car.

A cure or a band-aid, it's your choice.
buckup.

------------------- sage advice from pro-----------------
Soaking lifters, or letting them set in oil while your doing other things, is not the right move. Just think of the years of sluge built up in those things. That sludge actually reduces the functionality of the lifter. I usually let mine (metro or not) sit in mineral spirits, try and pump them by hand a few times to squeeze oil out then let them sit in tranny fluid an hour or so before instaliation. I've yet to have any problems going this route. Oh, and I don't believe in pumping HLA's up prior to installing them, they will set themselves in a couple minutes usually. I'd rather they adjust to the present oil pressure than have me screw up and have a valve stuck open a bit.

Answer 3

Lifters stop working??? Sounds like an oil pressure problem to me. rb

Answer 4

yeah check your oil pressure with a gauge at the block, but either way you look at it, you are probably going to be replacing lifters. sounds like its time to get rid of the old girl.

Answer 5

how do i fix a tapping lifter