My 2.9 engine is knocking!!! i need some suggestions on how to stop it

[ChaiseV]

I have recently took my 1990 Ranger to a mechanic to get the fuel gauge fixed and after he got done he told me that the reason my engine is knocking is the lifters. i told him that my dad had them adjusted before but the just stopped for while and went back to knocking. He told me that one way of fixing it is adjusting the lifters by using loctite on the adjusting bolts so they stay in place. i want to know if that is the best way to stop it from knocking or is there a better way to do it

[pcollins]

Knocking and ticking are two very different things. If you have a tick, it can be fixed/ignored. A knock is a little more serious.

[country0001]

2.9's tick. Its part of their charm. They have oiling problems. You can fix it and flush the engine. Or drop a 4.0 in.

[Mudflap]

The 2.9s were notoriously hard on lifters. I've replaced more than one set getting rid of the dreaded peck.

[adsm08]

The problem with 2.9 lifters is in their design. There is no return hole for the oil, just the in hole. That means that dirt and air can't get back out either.

Lifters and cam bearings help, but the fix is to get a 4.0 and chamfer the oil passages through the rods so they don't gall the lifters.

[Pt_Ranger_V8]

Best way to make it stop is to turn it off


Seriously. Is it a tick or a knock?

[ChaiseV]

i hate to sound dumb but what is the difference between a tick and a knock?

[Jraymer360]

Originally Posted by ChaiseV

i hate to sound dumb but what is the difference between a tick and a knock?

ticking is within the valvetrain. kinda like a worn pushrod hitting the rocker arm because of increased clearance.


Knocking (also called knock, detonation, spark knock, pinging or pinking) in spark-ignition internal combustion engines occurs when combustion of the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder starts off correctly in response to ignition by the spark plug, but one or more pockets of air/fuel mixture explode outside the envelope of the normal combustion front.

[ChaiseV]

It is defiantly ticking so is there good ways to make it stop besides just replacing the lifters?

[wrecking-crew]

I have found Lucas oil additive quiets them. Don't mess with it unless it gets worse.
But my way of quieting them currently is having the exhaust cut off behind the cab.

[4.0B2]

if a 2.9 doesn't tick...something is wrong IMO. its just one of those things...

a knock, think running a motor without oil...and you'll hear a knock!

[kimcrwbr1]

Try putting 1/2 a quart of ATF in the engine about 100 miles before you change the oil. Drain it good and put synthetic oil with a motorcraft filter. If your engine is full of oil drain 1/2 a quart before putting the tranny oil in. If your engine has leaks dont use synthetic it will leak faster just use a good 10W30 I prefer valvoline.