engine oil temp/noise

[tony69]

hello
what should the normal oil temp be on a new engine? my oil temp is about 240-260 deg. at idle. also i have a ticking sound comming from the vavle cavers. this engine is new with hydraulic roller lifters. its a 427 small block the lifters are from howards cam. ive tried to adust them but still the noise. do i have bad lifters from stock? what is the bleed down rate on hydraulic lifters. can't stand that ticking sound!

tony69

[chevyIIpost]

That oil temp is very high!! What are you measuring it with are you certain that is an accurate number. I would be talking with the engine builder after you confirm the temp. Is the ticking sound at idle or was that the oil temp at idle? Is the noise a tick or a clacking sound? The valve adjustment should be done accuratly not "tried". Check this site out for more detail http://www.cranecams.com/?show=techarticle&id=2
A sewing machine or rythmic ticking sound is probably normal especially with roller rockers and a performance cam. Anything more than that or a single clacking sound and something is needing attention. If you do indeed have high oil temp that is the much bigger issue and might be causing the valve train noise. 240 to 260 is track temp after numerous full power laps and on the verge of overheating the oil if it is conventional dead reptile engine oil.

[Pantera EFI]

First, you may have a problem with rocker/retainer contact, rocker/valve cover contact,
pushrod/head contact, etc.

The oil temp CAN be very high durning "first start" of a new engine.

This is caused by ring to wall friction.

The "heat" can SOFTEN the rings !
They are forever then damaged.

My method is the start/stop the engine quite a few times durning "first start".

John Drake taught me this method, he even liked to allow the engine to set, overnight, before power runs.

After all, he built the MOST successful racing engine of ALL TIMES.

Lance