The use a stationary hydraulic lash adjusters (SHLA), and if one or more run out of oil they can get an air lock in the high pressure chamber that is almost impossible to clear.
Here is the caution note from the service manual:
Air in the high pressure chamber of the adjuster may not be purged causing cavitation and extensive engine component damage.
If one is stuffed, it is a big job.
Try emptying the oil, and filling with a 0-30 weight synthetic and hope that it gets in there.
Thanks for the heads-up 99notout.
I thought the expenses around the timing chain cover leak/timing chain gear replacement/ECU replacement/BCM and key set replacement were the quick devaluers of the older VZs.
Now a noisy tappet seems another one of these questions asking - what do I do with the car now?
seano87,
Any idea how much oil you were down, or do you have a sludge buildup blocking the oil galleries, oil pump pickup etc.?
Were you losing oil through a blocked PCV in the odd cylinder engine cover?
Not wanting to hijack your problem, but looking at images of the cylinder head to get an idea of the hydraulic lifter problem, I located two bungs screwed into the upper head surface either side of the centre cylinder spark plug tube.
Are they water jacket bungs?
If so, are they a source of water entry into the crankcase when corrosion sets in?
Could these be the source of the "cracked head" or suspected blown cylinder head gasket type problems some of our members have reported?
Genuine Holden VZ VE V6 Alloytec Cylinder Head Right RH NEW | eBay