Got it in one, that's exactly what the "trained mechanics" did to my car and it took me almost 6 months and a lot of expensive (unnecessary) parts to figure out why it was idling like a cement mixer and had all the get up and go of a beetleback Vanguard.
But there are a lot of "thinner oil" suggestions for economy and not once are hydraulic lifters mentioned so far as I can find. The Alpha engine requires either 10w30 or 10w40 for the lifters to work properly. 10w30 is the absolute minimum.
That said I think I've escaped serious damage - did 44.73mpg, today, over 93 miles in winter which is better than it should (44mpg mixed) by some way (I mostly do very short journeys (4 miles)) and adding about 15% for summer mileage is a healthy 51-52. 8mpg over advertised.
Incidentally I've a transparent plastic grille block on (leaving rad fully clear, it's marginal at best in size). Looks a lot less obvious (important with our local police).
|