Obviously, not every product works exactly the same way for exactly the same problem. But, sadly, we have to report that Marvel Mystery Oil did not do the trick for our Chrysler LA 318 engine’s lifter tick.
Don’t get us wrong, we still think Marvel Mystery Oil is a fantastic product. Home mechanics and pros have agreed for 90 years that this is not a penny-ante product that gunks up your engine and doesn’t do what it claims. Air Corps mechanics were using this stuff on fighter plans in World War II. We also acknowledge that we got smoother revs from the engine after using a full course of MMO in the oil and gastank.
Junior’s Automotive recommended doing a motor flush to get rid of our liter issue. Don’t do this at home unless you read the instructions.
It just didn’t stop the lifter tick in our 1987 Dodge W150 “Shop Truck.”
Next we’ll try a 12 oz. bottle of CRC Industries Valve-Kleen Engine Valve and Lifter Cleaner. We’ve never used it before, but it was the only product we saw that primarily claims to clean hydraulic lifters. We reached out to CRC Industries for more info, and they replied to us asking for more info from us, so we’ll keep you updated.
Lifter problems are a pain in the neck on these older trucks, because it’s a lot of labor. I called a Boston mechanic who is well-known for his honesty — Junior’s Automotive in Hyde Park — and I was told to avoid having the labor done if I could.
We’re still going to try the CRC product, for Junior’s recommended doing a motor flush. Caution: Read the directions on this. You don’t drop this stuff in and drive away. A motor flush is something you do right before an oil change. You drop the flush into the engine, let it run for about 10 minutes, and then turn the car off and drain/change the oil. We are going with a well-known brand, Gunk MF3 High Mileage Motor Flush for this one.
Don’t worry, we’re still going to Seafoam the truck eventually.
The engine is a buggy little bastard. We are also having a problem with stalling when coming to a stop or when putting the truck into reverse. So far, I suspect a mechanical issue, but we’ll see. More on that later.
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