Tapping noise coming from the drivers side rocker cover

TOMOW

MEMBER
1998 HOLDEN COMMODORE
5.0L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
143,000 MILES

When I start my car there is a tapping noise coming from the drivers side rocker cover. My mechanic has told me that the lifters has bleed down and I need to drive the car to un stick the lifters can you tell me if this is correct.
My Clubsport was taken to my mechanic for new coil dis cap rotor button spark plug lead and plugs when I dropped my car of it was quite no tapping but when I picked up my car the tapping was there I've asked my mechanic and told him it wasn't tapping when I dropped it of he said he would look at it for me but all he did was rev the piss out of my car for about 15 to 20 minutes. Can you help me please as I don't know what to do know?

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi Tomow,

Reving the engine may have caused the lifter to collapse and not get pumped up again. It would have happened eventually so I would not think that your mechanic caused it. It just sounds like it happened to him and not while you were driving. What happens is they wear out and begin to "stick." However, the advice of driving it so that it un-sticks itself is unlikely. Once they are collapsed, they require replacement. There is an occasion that they will fill with fluid again and quite down but it is unlikely.

Here is a video that shows the noise:

https://youtu.be/ZSRpdY2bjY4

Again, the only correction is to have them replaced. You can drive with it for a short time but in the long run you will start having performance issues and possibly misfires or check engine lights.