94 4.0 motor clatter

[freddicoe]

just bought a 94 ranger 4.0 for a donor for front end for my 83. I was told 94 needed rings and had no oil pressure . I towed it home checked oil ,it only had oil on tip of stick so I topped it off and started it. The oil pressure needle did a fast dance for a minute then pegged below 0, all the time rattling like a diesel . I shut it down and pondered for a minute and it came to mind it was smooth sounding while starter was spinning and started rattle clattering after startup. I thought to myself it should make noise while starter was spinning also I thought if it had bad rings why isn't it smoking at all . It is a 94 so it wouldn't be a t-chain cassette . So I'm wondering still could it be a stretched chain or possibly worn lifters and push rods or maybe bearings in alt or steering or smog pump Im working on it by myself and didnt want to run it with rattle so I'm left in driver seat only seeing pressure gauge and not being able to investigate under the hood so not knowing but wondering could my lifters not be pumping up and causing the clatter. Do any of you fellow station members have any thoughts on my issues ? I bought a new sending unit for oil pressure and a new oil filter so I will install those next but if they don't work I'm still looking for ideas like should I try tranny fluid in oil since Im replacing oil & filter, would that maybe loosen lifters so they can pump up? I'm looking for thoughts and ideas and maybe some encouragement . So help me out if you can. And if your wondering why I'm messing with the motor when its supposed to be a front end donor I want to upgrade my 1st gen truck making my running gear newer and stronger

 

[RonD]

Oil pressure is back pressure that builds up between the oil pump and main oil passage in the block

So first disable spark, unplug the 4 wire connector on the coil pack
Take off the oil filter
Put a pan down under fitting for filter
Crank the engine over, ALOT of oil should flow into the pan
If not, then oil pump is not working
At the top back of the engine is the oil pump drive gear
Location here: https://www.justanswer.com/uploads/txbigcat/2009-05-06_152650_oil_pump_drive.gif

This is behind the lower intake on the block
Looks like this: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MecAAOSwZTldxyy~/s-l400.jpg

It is possible for the gear on the shaft to strip or come loose, so no oil pump drive
Or oil pump has failed, what can happen is the pressure relief valve on the pump fails so little or no oil is pumped to the filter, new oil pump needed, engine must be lifted or pulled out



If ALOT of oil comes out, of filters fitting, into the pan then new oil filter might work to restore oil pressure.
Install the new filter
And see if pressure comes back


But all in all since engine is making noise I would just pull it for rebuild, since you don't plan on driving it as is.

 

[freddicoe]

thanks for your reply I'll check out your advice

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I got my lifters to all but shut up on my 2.9 by running 4 qts 10w40 high mileage and a quart of lucas high mileage oil stablizer.

Do yourself a favor and buy a mechanical oil gauge, the factory ones are just a more convinceing idiot light.