1988 Ranger 2.9L V6 lifter ticking serious

[88 XLT Ranger]

88 Ranger 2.9L V6 lifter ticking serious with loss of power on and off

Need Help

I have 1988 Ford Ranger XLT 2.9l V6 with 198K on it. I run 10-W30 Synthetic Blend Motor oil with Napa Gold filter. The truck ran great going 50 miles to work but going back up hill back home it get a lifter ticking as it heats up. Its been fine ran good until I changed oil and went to a Napa tough guard oil filter. I got a ticking than loss of power I thought the filter was to oil restricting I changed to a Wix Filter and one quart of 10W-40. The ticking went away than driving back going up hill back to serious ticking and loss of power. I used Sea Foam to help clear the lifter it helped this morning ran fine not a sound than going up hill maybe 6 miles back to ticking and loss of power. I am thinking the darn thing needs thicker oil? after it gets hot it thins out to much I do have 4 quarts of Kendall motor oil and a MicroGard oil filter. I know once the cold 10W-40 got to the lifters it was fine I filled the filter before installing it. I feel its an oil weight issue? please help need it for work to far to walk 50miles

The truck runs great when not ticking and never gets hot. I am thinking going to a thicker oil will help with oil pressure and help keep the lifter pumped up. I was going to try Lucas oil stabilizer? but going to 20-W50 is just the same?

 

[Mike Tonon]

I wonder what it would take to just change the hydraulic lifters and be done with it.

 

[black_demon69]

I wonder what it would take to just change the hydraulic lifters and be done with it.

pulling valve covers, rockers, pushrods, and upper and lower intake.

one thing that might help is either 1 qt hydraulic oil or cd2 detergent oil additive (you can get it at any parts store) however this is only a band-aid and mileage varies.. just occurred to me if i remember correctly 2.9l had solid lifters and it might be as simple as a lash adjustment (could be wrong though)

 

[black_demon69]

also read this
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/2_9_Page.shtml

has some info on valve train

 

[Mike Tonon]

2.9 has hydraulic lifters. I had an 87 that always had a light tap and tapped hard when it was first started on a cold day. My dad called the dealer when the truck was new and they said it was normal. But it seemed to get louder with age.

 

[Mike Tonon]

My dad always used Castrol GTX and usually a Fram filter. Then I used GTX High Mileage then Motorcraft synthetic blend oil and Motorcraft filters.

 

[88 XLT Ranger]

Thanks guy's

I am going to go to Napa get a bottle of Lucas heavy duty oil stablelizer. I herd it helps with oil pressure and makes the oil ticker. Got my fingers crossed it helps the lifter issue

 

[black_demon69]

I am going to go to Napa get a bottle of Lucas heavy duty oil stablelizer. I herd it helps with oil pressure and makes the oil ticker. Got my fingers crossed it helps the lifter issue

should help alittle will just start harder in cold weather

 

[black_demon69]

2.9 has hydraulic lifters. I had an 87 that always had a light tap and tapped hard when it was first started on a cold day. My dad called the dealer when the truck was new and they said it was normal. But it seemed to get louder with age.

thanx for info as i said i could possibly be wrong

 

[rangeron33s]

I had an 88 2.9 with a real bad lifter tick. Also leaked oil from the valve covers. When I came to a stop on the exit ramp smoke would billow from the hood. Eventually fixed the leak. Kept putting in heavier and heavier oil to make it quieter. Every time it would shut it up and then I guess you could say get used to it and come back. Eventually I got up to the heaviest oil I could find along with 2 bottles of Lucas stabilizer and it got used to that. One day I decided I'd drain it all and go back to 10w30 for the he'll of it and that was the loudest lifter tick I've ever heard. Louder than any rod knock I've ever heard. Anyway putting in heavier oil only works to a certain extent. Just pull the covers and intake and replace the lifters. Not too painful only about a 1 night job if you have the tools

 

[94RoadkillRanger]

With that many miles and the fact that you know cold (thick) oil will make it quiet, then I say there is an elephant in the room which we need to talk about...engine rebuild. That one lifter just happens to be the one most affected by low oil pressure. I went to the extreme and used 20-50 with two quarts of oil Honey and watched the oil pressure gauge improve. So, I'm assuming that you only have an idiot light on that year.

Put a pressure gauge on it before a cold start and get readings, cold and after it's warmed up. Most likely the bearings are worn and thin oil is slipping passed. When you last changed the oil, all the sludge that was making things tight was washed away, not a fault of the brand of oil, just a worn engine. If you don't want to rebuild yet then try the really thick stuff. Sounds like you depend on this vehicle too much, not to get it rebuilt. But check the pressures first.

 

[88 XLT Ranger]

With that many miles and the fact that you know cold (thick) oil will make it quiet, then I say there is an elephant in the room which we need to talk about...engine rebuild. That one lifter just happens to be the one most affected by low oil pressure. I went to the extreme and used 20-50 with two quarts of oil Honey and watched the oil pressure gauge improve. So, I'm assuming that you only have an idiot light on that year.

Put a pressure gauge on it before a cold start and get readings, cold and after it's warmed up. Most likely the bearings are worn and thin oil is slipping passed. When you last changed the oil, all the sludge that was making things tight was washed away, not a fault of the brand of oil, just a worn engine. If you don't want to rebuild yet then try the really thick stuff. Sounds like you depend on this vehicle too much, not to get it rebuilt. But check the pressures first.

Thanks RoadKill

I do have the idiot light on this 88 Ranger I went to 20W-50 Valvoline Semi Synthetic blend and one quart of Lucas. I got a Motorcraft filter fired it up ticking like hell than after 5 minuts went away as soon as the oil and Lucas mixed up. This morning fired it up ticking for the same amount of time due to cold oil. I went driving up a very steep road for 5 miles than to town on back on to the highway 30 miles no ticking great power. I use to do it under heavy load going up hill on the highway as the trans shifts at higher RPM's. I hope this kelp as long as the lifter stayes pumped up with the thicker oil. I use 20W-50 Kendall in my 3.8V6 Super Coupe T-Bird but its a performance built engine


Another question does the radiator recovery tank need to be vented? my old stock unit is leaking I have an aftermarket one its not vented will this work?

 

[Shoddy Cologne]

i dont recommend using synthetics in old 2.9s keep it on dino oil. i almost ruined my oil pump using royal purple, thing ran real goofy. i drained it out, dumped 2 quarts dino oil and 3 quarts diesel fuel to flush the synth out. ran it for 10 minutes drained that out and put good old 10-30 dino in. has ran good since.

(by goofy i mean low power, surging, uneven oil pressure)

 

[94RoadkillRanger]

My 94 had a non-vented overflow recovery container but after it scalded me once, I drilled a hole in the top and now it's vented. I figure that since the radiator has a pressure rated cap that Ford wouldn't mind me re-engineering the overflow for safety. After a year of driving it, the drill hole made no difference that I can tell.