ok guys, some of you might know this already but a mate of mine has a magna, 98 model it makes alot of noise during the mornings but after its warmed up its as quiet as can be, he has taken it to a mechanic i know and the mechanic said engine lifters/tappets and that it would cost over 1,000 AUD (pitty not in peanuts) to replace all 24, seeing as its a 24 valve engine. Is this price ok? or is the mechanic being a prick.


thanks in advance

Problem with lifters is because there is alot of them the price is high. I dont know how much your mates paying but roughly at $25(guess) each that works out to $600 already. Labour will be around 2 - 3 hours so another $300. The price you mentioned seems close to the mark.

Are you sure it is lifters and not piston slap? The 3.0l suffered from that a bit.

Problem with lifters is because there is alot of them the price is high. I dont know how much your mates paying but roughly at $25(guess) each that works out to $600 already. Labour will be around 2 - 3 hours so another $300. The price you mentioned seems close to the mark.

Are you sure it is lifters and not piston slap? The 3.0l suffered from that a bit.

No idea man, he had a listen and said its "probably" that, he didnt sound to confident but then did say if he was to replace them and my mates magna was still making noises it would be something else (gee ya think? LoL) so he is clueless, and as am i :)

is the motor making a ticking / clicky noise from within or a different sound?

if its clicky and fairly rymthmic (spelling?) then i would say its the lifters for sure.

they may not need replacing - depending on kms, quite often (as i have experienced in the past with ford 6's) is if you do several oil changes itl help to 'degunk' them and let them do thier thing much better.

EDIT - if the price includes all parts and labour, then it sounds about right really - maybe a touch too expensive by about 100 i think..
its actually a time consuming job to change lifters.

also - be sure that ALL of them get done at once!!!

Should only cost around $600- $700. ~$20 each plus 2-3 hrs. Will cost more like $1k from MItsu, I guess.

Wouldn't tappets be continually making noise? Not just on cold start? Seems to be a common problem on 3rd gens.

Have a read of this....

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43017

As far as I know, lifters can be cleaned up by soaking it to petrol then remove all the sludge inside, though replacing is the best option.:D

As far as I know, lifters can be cleaned up by soaking it to petrol then remove all the sludge inside, though replacing is the best option.:D

Replacement is always the best way to go :)

you could change the type of oil you use and it will help it out alot

and save yourself $1000

you could change the type of oil you use and it will help it out alot

and save yourself $1000

Ill keep that in mind thanks

soak in diesel. Petrol will dry out the seals inside the lifter. Diesel is a more oily fuel so it wont dry them out.

Also, the factory workshop manual says to soak them in diesel.

If you are worried about the cost, i would do that first.
Here is a copy of the page.

soak in diesel. Petrol will dry out the seals inside the lifter. Diesel is a more oily fuel so it wont dry them out.

Also, the factory workshop manual says to soak them in diesel.

If you are worried about the cost, i would do that first.
Here is a copy of the page.

thanks heaps friend, he is gonna try some "Nulon - Lifter Free" apparantly his uncle reccomended it, ill reply back if the problem dissapears cheers

thanks heaps friend, he is gonna try some "Nulon - Lifter Free" apparantly his uncle reccomended it, ill reply back if the problem dissapears cheers

kero works GREAT for cleaning out the insides of engines as well

just DO NOT try to start the car with it sittin in the sump...
and do a flush with older oil to pick up the remnants of the kero before putting good clean oil back in :)


personally i avoid adding things to the oil system, coz if your doing that your just trying to hide a problem until it gets worse and will cost you more in the long run!!

thanks heaps friend, he is gonna try some "Nulon - Lifter Free" apparantly his uncle reccomended it, ill reply back if the problem dissapears cheers


No worries mate. I used to work for supercheap auto and a bloke came in askeing for "hydraulic lifter oil" for his car, i think he was after that stuff. An engine oil flush and clean can do wonders too.