Engine ticking

[Gabe03]

So I have a 91 ranger with a 2.9l and I'm hearing ticking on the driver side of the engine. It ticks whether it's hot or cold. I opened the valve cover and ran it. All the rockers are getting plenty of oil. Any chance it's an injector. Just want to know the problem before spending money trying to fix it. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. BTW it's only got 80,000 so I Don't think it's from worn cam bearings.

 

[Dirtman]

2.9s make all sorts of noise including ticking... it's a thing they do... that's how you know it's working.

Run some injector cleaner through it and add some ZDDP additive to the oil and it "may" help. Probably not.

 

[adsm08]

Normal. In the absence of other symptoms change the oil, get on with life.

 

[Dirtman]

 

[1990RangerinSK]

If it's ticking, I'd suggest interrogating it until it tocks.

 

[Snoranger]

If it's ticking, I'd suggest interrogating it until it tocks.

Go stand in the corner for 5 minutes.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Go stand in the corner for 5 minutes.

Let me think about that for a minute.........

























No.

 

[Gabe03]

Lmao good one. I was just scared I would hurt my baby if I kept driving her but y'all gave some peace of mind

 

[cbxer55]

I drove my 3.0 for three years ticking. Never even figured it was a dang loose spark plug. After it started misfiring, I put new plugs in. Number 6 was loose. Quiet ever since. Go figure. But a 3.0 isn't a 2.9.

 

[JohnnyO]

Normal. In the absence of other symptoms change the oil, get on with life.

2.9's ticked when they were new.

 

[Gabe03]

Already checked the plugs and I was praying it was one of them but no. They were tight, unfortunately.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

2.9's ticked when they were new.

Probably fairly common, and not just to Fords. My Honda Fit (2010) ticked from new, too. Perfectly normal in that case, the injectors ticked as they operated.

Loose lifters will also tick, by the way. The looser they are, the louder they tick (I'm referring to mechanical lifters). Or does the 2.9 have hydraulic lifters?

 

[JohnnyO]

Probably fairly common, and not just to Fords. My Honda Fit (2010) ticked from new, too. Perfectly normal in that case, the injectors ticked as they operated.

Loose lifters will also tick, by the way. The looser they are, the louder they tick (I'm referring to mechanical lifters). Or does the 2.9 have hydraulic lifters?

The 2.8 had solid lifters but I'm not sure about the 2.9.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Americam market 2.9 has hydraulic lifters, euro can be either.

Any FE block lifter will fit Cologne 2.8/2.9/4.0; all share the FE lifter size.

Occasionally the ticking is lifter slap on the cam.

Double check your pre-load on your lifters. 2.9 and 4.0 had soft cams compared to modern ones, so may just be wear.

Combine a softer cam with the reduction of ZDDP in modern oil, and you may be dealing with a few very worn down lobes. Replacement 2.9 cams are very cheap, $80 or so.

 

[8thTon]

When the ticking stops you have to run - I saw it in the movies.