SAAB help.Valve rattling

Hey guys,I have a 2000 SAAB 9.5 wagon with the 2.3 4 cyl. and the valves will not quit rattling.Heres what I have done so far.Cleaned the pickup screen,replaced the tensioners,replaces the rod bearings,checked the lifters and there good,tried several weights of oil 10-30,10-40,30 syn,40syn,O-rings on the pick up tube and crossover tube.I didnt do the main bearings because the rod bearings were not bad and they are $$$.Nothing will stop the noise.The oil pump is putting out good oil pressure.Its not any assor.like water pump,smog pump,exaust leak, or anything like that.The car only has 102000 and is in new condition other than the valves rattling but its driving me crazy.HELP!

Have you taken an oil pressure reading with a real gauge?

Also since you said the lifters are good, does that mean that the head was out and apart? Was it put back together correctly?

If you pull the valve cover and crank it do see oil flowing to the cams? I'm not experienced with 9-5s, but I do know that c900 16v heads have hollow bolts that need to be in the right holes to feed oil to the cams, I'm not sure if putting them in wrong would starve the lifters or not.

Take a real reading with a gauge; you should also ONLY be using Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 motor oil. Anything non-synthetic or less than 40W is a huuuuuuuge no-no on T7 Saabs and the Rotella T6 is specifically recommended for oil pressure reasons. You can get it at Wal-Mart.

It is also possible that you didn't get to the pickup screen in time if it hasn't been running synthetic...there were a bazillion TSBs about running ONLY synthetic, PERIOD. I have seen motors go with less than 80k due to use of cheap crappy dino oil.

Might be worth asking on Saablink or Saabcentral. Don't waste your time on Saabnet, it is a black hole...

"Checked the lifters and they are good"

I'd guess thats not true.

defintely check the pressure with a real gauge. I would think you have a blockage going to the valve train. I would add some atf and let it idle for a while, then change the oil. I also agree with rotella t6 syn oil from walmart. I used it in all 5 of the modern saabs I own or have owned. hope this helps.

Chris

I am running Rotella 40w.Ill try a real gauge just to see.When I had the topend apart and the bottom too the enginwas really clean for a SAAB after looking at other post of gunk build up.I just hate throwing parts at something.lol. I'll let you know what the Oil pres.is.

Earlier 2.3,s had mechanical lifters. Where the later models converted to hydraulic ?

In reply to iceracer:

Hydraulic lifters,Its a 2000 2.3

How did you check the lifters??

Just wondering since they were mechanical up through 1994.

iceracer wrote: Just wondering since they were mechanical up through 1994.

9-5s came out in '98. All my 9000s with very similar 2.3 DOCH engines had hydraulic tappets, all my c900s with 2.0 DOHC engines also had hydraulic tappets. I've never had an SOHC SAAB, but I'm pretty sure the H engine had shim and bucket lifters.

Honestly, I wish I could find solid tappets, because I'm sure my B202 turbo engine could make power to 8000 rpm if the valvetrain would let me..

HappyAndy wrote: Have you taken an oil pressure reading with a real gauge? Also since you said the lifters are good, does that mean that the head was out and apart? Was it put back together correctly? If you pull the valve cover and crank it do see oil flowing to the cams? I'm not experienced with 9-5s, but I do know that c900 16v heads have hollow bolts that need to be in the right holes to feed oil to the cams, I'm not sure if putting them in wrong would starve the lifters or not.

Mine were not hollow.. they were "notched"