My 389 has been running/sounding great for the 7 months I've had it, but recently I get a some knocking from passenger side of engine that is consistent with RPM at startup (hot or cold) but it seems to go away after I get down the road and engine gets oiled up. Engine still runs strong as ever. Everyone I have asked said its the lifters...but they like me are Chevy guys so how can I confirm this and can I remove lifters to check...How do I check, remove lifters on a Pontiac. Thanks in advance.

Greg Bower

My 389 has been running/sounding great for the 7 months I've had it, but recently I get a some knocking from passenger side of engine that is consistent with RPM at startup (hot or cold) but it seems to go away after I get down the road and engine gets oiled up. Engine still runs strong as ever. Everyone I have asked said its the lifters...but they like me are Chevy guys so how can I confirm this and can I remove lifters to check...How do I check, remove lifters on a Pontiac. Thanks in advance.

Greg Bower

What oil do you run? Have you changed it lately? Changed weights or brands?

http://kurtspontiac.homestead.com/DavidJones69GTO.html

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I run Havoline 10w30. The oil has about 1000 miles on it. I have noticed oil blowing out of the breather on the valve cover on the same side...could that be related?

Greg Bower

You can listen to the area in question with a stethoscope or garden hose. Since it is only on one side you should be able to compare directly.

Valvetrain clearance is usually more of a "ticking" sound, while "knocking" is ususally associated with bottom end clearance, such as the rod bearings.

One who places safety first is, quite specifically, a coward. We do not go to war to be safe, neither do we climb mountains, or race cars, or hunt buffalo, to be safe.

If you are starting to see oil blowing out your oil breather i think you better check your pcv valve and line to make sure you have vaccumm and if you do i would do a leak down test on that engine... because if you have vaccumm then that air is comming from somewhere to be blowing that oil out.. GOOD LUCK BOB