2.9l V6 Oil weight question etc.

[88 XLT Ranger]

2.9l V6 Oil weight and filter GPM's question

Questions for TRS Forum

I got a 2.9l V6 it has a serious lifter ticking and loss of power going up hill on the highway. I use 10W-30 Valvoline high miledge Smi Synthetic blend. I put SeaFoam in it and that helped I than drained one quart out. I than added Lucas heavy duty Oil Stabilizer one quart. I started it up ticking like hell than within 30min the tick went way. I tested it on the highway 8 miles than ticking again this morning ticking again cold start warm up. Well that afternoon fired it up again no sound no ticking went up hill 6 miles and to town back home on the highway still no ticking. I am very happy but I still have SeaFoam and the 10W-30 in it. My question is should I go to 4 quarts of 10W-40 and a quart of Lucas? or should I go 20W-50 with Lucas?

My other question is what is the best GPM oil filter? I have a Wix Sport truck filter at 7-9GMP. With thicker oil I feel something around 10-12GPM would be best for oil flow rate

The Lucas helped so much I was worried after hearing so much about it. That darn SeaFoam is cleaning like crazy. The quart I pulled out the new oil had only 35 miles on it and was starting to look black. I love my Ranger is real nice and want to keep it alive thank for any help on this issue

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

What I would do with my 2.9's was before I changed the oil I would add a quart of atf then drive it for a day or two. I would use 5/30 motorcraft and a quart of Lucas oil stabilizer. It would last for 3,000 miles before it started ticking again.

I don't know about the sea foam. I've never used it. I can't imagine it would be good for it to drive it too much with it since it has been removing all the sludge and carbon that was built up in it. I would change the oil again imo.


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[adsm08]

I always used 10-30 and Lucas with a Motorcraft filter. Never had much trouble. The 2.9 is a noisy engine, and the lifter tick is always fatal, so anything you do with thicker oil is just a bandaid on a gunshot wound to the head anyway.

 

[stamina]

I always used 10-30 and Lucas with a Motorcraft filter. Never had much trouble. The 2.9 is a noisy engine, and the lifter tick is always fatal, so anything you do with thicker oil is just a bandaid on a gunshot wound to the head anyway.

the lifter tick is always fatal???? please elaborate

 

[duffy]

Noisy lifters are a Cologne design flaw......irritating but not generally fatal. My 89' 2.9L was noisy when I got it and since it had sat for an undetermined amount of time I changed oil/filter and used 20-50 dino. Didn't help, tried adding "lifter quiet", still no help.....checked the OM and it recommended 5w30 Ford synthetic blend. The local Bombaars actually had it in stock for a reasonable price. Changed oil/filter again and it is now much quieter. Not silent as midnight but no longer even annoying. Only ticks a bit on cold start ups. Manufacturers recommend some things for a reason I guess.

 

[gaz]

88 XLT Ranger,

-If I pulled out 1 quart that was black, I would do another oil change.
-this is not a "Noisy engine" by design; in fact when the valve train is properly adjusted it will sing the sweet song of increased efficientcy.

The Ford 2.9, 60°v6 uses adjustable rockers arms to properly set the Hydraulic lifter preload. When this is set correctly, not only does it sound great, it will be more fuel efficient!

 

[19Walt93]

Noisy lifters are a Cologne design flaw......irritating but not generally fatal. My 89' 2.9L was noisy when I got it and since it had sat for an undetermined amount of time I changed oil/filter and used 20-50 dino. Didn't help, tried adding "lifter quiet", still no help.....checked the OM and it recommended 5w30 Ford synthetic blend. The local Bombaars actually had it in stock for a reasonable price. Changed oil/filter again and it is now much quieter. Not silent as midnight but no longer even annoying. Only ticks a bit on cold start ups. Manufacturers recommend some things for a reason I guess.

We sold a pile of Cologne V6's from 2.8's in Pintos and Mustang II's thru all the Ranger, Bronco II and Explorer years and never had a problem with noisy lifters that we couldn't fix. 2.8's had solid lifters that needed adjustment every 15k, all the others have adjustable hydraulic lifters that we would adjust after engine work and never touch again. We also stressed maintenance so our customers didn't follow the 7500 mile service interval and didn't have excessive engine wear. If a problem appears after 20+ years of use, it's not a "design flaw" it's wear and usually lack of maintenance.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I run 10w40 valvoline high mileage synthetic blend and a quart of lucas. Keeps it relativly quiet untill its time to change it again.