[jann]

I didn't drive my car for 3 or more weeks. When I started it, I heard a valve clicking and immediately turned it off. A car mechanic advised me to add about one-half quart of marvel mystery oil and run the car five minutes. I did and, unfortunately, the clicking continued.

What now? Should I try a valve adjustment? What are the chances this will stop the clicking? If it doesn't, what's next? I have heard the term valve job, but not sure what that means.

Also, any information about what a valve adjustment or more extensive valve work could cost will be appreciated.

My main questions are about the valve clicking, but I also am interested in opinions related to selling this car. I want to sell it as soon as possible. It is a 1989 Mazda 626 4-dr (auto, AC). It needs new paint (trunk, hood, roof) and a new radiator (there is a 2” slit in the top of the radiator). Recently the car got new brakes, new alternator, and new battery. It has never been in a wreck, not even a fender bender. 125,525 miles.

Should I try to sell the car “as is,” or first try a valve adjustment? More extensive valve work? If a valve adjustment cures the clicking, should I try to sell the car before installing a new radiator? As you may guess, I don't want to spend more than the car is worth.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[CroCivic91]

Valve adjusting in Croatia costs around 40$ (on a Honda Civic, 1990).

If you want to sell a car, try going to a salvage yard and finding a good radiator for some really small cash. If you manage to find it, and can replace the radiator yourself, do buy it (but don't pay a lot of money for it). Or you can just buy a radiator and give it to a customer with your old radiator installed.

Or if you don't feel like messing with it - just tell the customers that the radiator is cracked.

[thebriggsdude]

What weight oil are you using? Since I don't know what it uses. Is it a ohv, or ohc engine? Oh and marvel mystery oil... really won't help on ticking engines.

[jann]

CroCivic91: Wish I could get the valve adjustment done in Croatia! Thanks for suggesting I get a radiator at a salvage yard and install it myself or give it to the person who buys my car. I can't install it myself, but this confirms that a handy mechanic could repair this at a lot lower price than I would have to pay. So my car might be of interest to someone who buys cars and fixes them up for resell.

thebriggsdude: I use 10W30 oil. I don't know whether the engine is ohc or ohv. Here is what I know: it is 12-valve, 2.2 liter, fuel injection.

I looked up ohc and ohv and found a great explanation, but I still don't know which my car is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushrod_engine

Thanks for telling me that marvel mystery oil really won't help on ticking engines.

[CroCivic91]

Yeah, replacing radiator is quite easy. As easy as disconnecting a couple of hoses, taking radiator out, putting it back in and attaching the hoses. Filling it up with coolant and bleeding it.

[thebriggsdude]

Well, if you do sell it, the radiator is pretty easy to replace, but if you have a well, or stream, or wild animals or dogs, etc. they love antifreeze, has a sweet taste and will kill them, so be sure to collect it all and dispose of it right.

[jann]

I drove my car about 5 minutes and the clicking stopped. I hope that means the oil wasn't distributed since I let the car set so long and that now the oil is back up around the valves.

Again, thanks for all help.