01 Santa Fe GLS 2.7 lifter tap when cold

About 1/3rd of the time I start my Santa Fe I have an obnoxious lifter
tick for anywhere from 5 seconds to several minutes. Today it waited
until it was at full operation temperature before it shut up.

Is this a common problem? Is there any magic fix? I run Mobil-1 5w30
and live in Texas, so it shouldn't be a cold-flow issue - outside
temperature doesn't seem to matter.

When its tapping I don't really notice a performance degradation or
anything. Otherwise the car runs great and gets decent FE (25mpg average).

Thanks,
JS

 

My car does this as well, after the valves+ assemblies were
replaced. It's much older, a 1992 Elantra.
I asked about it, it seems that is normal (BUT-it never did that
before the repair)
The car drives fine.

Yeah, I don't like that noise either!

 

Are you using an aftermarket oil filter?

 

Yes, but it does the same thing with an original Hyundai filter (what
I'm using now). Also tried the AC Delco and STP filters. Most of the
time I've purchased Wix. Both of our 2.7's get the same care and
feeding (this 01 Santa Fe GLS V6, and an 03.0 Santa Fe LX 2.7). I've
also tried switching oils - currently have 10w30 Castrol GTX in it,
exact same problem...

I talked to a Mitsubishi fan today who said this isn't terribly uncommon
on their engines, due to the lifer ports being tiny. He said they fixed
this around MY99. Hopefully Hyundai didn't make the same mistake (and
two years longer)... He suggested an engine 'flush' solution and an oil
change but warned me often it required disassembling the lifters to
unclog them - I doubt this will be the case since mine eventually gets
enough flow to quiet down...

Timing belt is newish (changed at 68k, currently 82k), and the problem
existed long before it was changed. Newish spark plugs, no impact
damage (figured it might be carbon related but no signs of that).
Compression is even all around...

Hopefully the flush does the trick... :|

JS

 

its never good news when you reply to yourself.

Did the flush, changed the oil, no change.

I'm starting to suspect a weak oil pump or an internal pressure leak
(bad bearings, bad casting, etc). The cam lobe you can see barely
poking below the oil filler hole has deep score marks (scary part is the
rear head is making the most noise)... Not good. I'll be taking it
back to the dealer ASAP.

It quiets right promptly down as soon as the revs are over 1100 rpm. It
doesn't do it on cold start because it wants to 'high idle' until its
warmed up.

Thankfully this is on a Hyundai and not some inferior make of vehicle
where my warranty would either be long gone and/or they'd deny the
problem existed until there was half a busted camshaft stuck through the
hood.

I'll post when I know more...

JS