noisy little 2.9

[brianballard1983]

i got a 88 with a 2.9 and 96,xxx actual miles. when i first start it up it runs great but after about 20-30 miles it gets a loud knock which is not constant it comes and goes but is there most of the time that sounds like it is in the valve train. i quickly decided drops in oil pressur was the problem and a faulty warning light. thus i put on a mechanical guage at first start i got around 50 lbs and 45 lbs during normal driving at idle it holds between 25 to 30. but still got this awlful pecking. i removed the valve covers for a closer look and found a total of 3 rockers way out of adjustment. after a turn of the wrench and some new gaskets still got the same problem and chattering valves when you accelrate or pull a hill this to comes and goes. i also had a cracked head or blowed gasket that i reparied with k&w block sealer (it works). but still got the knock rattle tick or whatever. really getting fed up someone please help.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Welcome to the world of owning a 2.9.

They make noise. It comes from the lifters.

All of my old B2s did it(86,88,89). I named my 89 B2 "Timebomb" because of the tick.

Swap in a 4.0, you won't regret it.

 

[brianballard1983]

Welcome to the world of owning a 2.9.

They make noise. It comes from the lifters.

All of my old B2s did it(86,88,89). I named my 89 B2 "Timebomb" because of the tick.

Swap in a 4.0, you won't regret it.

most of the time when it is making the tick if you will it aint just a tick its a knock

 

[chazzone]

Well...it's a 2.9, so you can pretty much count on the lifters knocking, but the oil pressure is pretty good, especially if it has 25-30 while driving.
Are you sure it's "chattering valves" when you put her under load?
More likely spark knock.
What oil/filter are you using in it, and how often is it changed?
It might help to run some Marvel Mystery Oil or ATF in the crankcase for a few miles, then change it to see if you can flush what ever is stopping that lifter from pumping up.
Do Not use some kind of high viscosity Motor Honey/Lucas/STP clone.

 

[chazzone]

BTW, if you plan on keeping this motor, I'd recommend that you look for the last of the World Products heads. I just read that they aren't making them any more, and someone on ebay has the last of them.
The block sealer you used isn't likely to last too long, and you'll want good heads to replace what you have.

 

[IMenriched]

have you done a compression test??

when was the last time a tune up was done?? plugs, wires, cap & rotor.

you also could have a exhaust leak

 

[Deluxedave]

I experienced the 2.9 valve train tick as well on my 87. I dropped the oil pan (lots of work on a 4WD!), cleaned out the sludge, replaced the oil pump while I was there and switched to Maxlife 5W30 at regular 3000 mile intervals. The tick rarely appears anymore.

+1 on the ATF in the crankcase for a few miles and not using the STP-type oil goop.

 

[brianballard1983]

ii change the oil like i should but will try the atf how much should i add . someone to run 20W50 oil in it good idea? i dont know

 

[sjr53]

With my noisey 88, I found 6 quarts of 5W30 made it quiet most of the time with only an ocassional lifter noise. It is loud with 5 quarts of any thickness of oil. Lucas oil additive makes my quiet 86 get noisey, so don't thicken up the oil.

 

[Deluxedave]

I have gone thru the process of changing the oil and only adding 4 qts oil & 1 qt ATF. I then run it for a little while around town to get it good and hot and do the oil change again.

 

[WTF]

ii change the oil like i should but will try the atf how much should i add . someone to run 20W50 oil in it good idea? i dont know

For years, I've run Castrol GTX 20W-50 without any issues on any of my high-mileage 2.9s.

 

[brianballard1983]

i really apperciate all the helpful hints. thanks please check out my other post "To Idle or not to idle"

 

[chazzone]

I use a quart of ATF when I want to clean up an engine. No need to change it first, unless it's already too full to take a quart.

That engine is designed to run 5W-30, and no one who understands the engine, or how oil works would suggest that you run 20W-50 in one.

There simply is no better oil for your truck than 5W-30, and anyone who runs 20W-50 is causing excessive wear.

Not a smart thing to do.

 

[cbsremix]

My 86 was so loud so what I did was first I ran ATF thought it and that didn't work, next I dropp0ed the oil pan and changed the oil pump. That kind of work. Finally I took off the valve covers.... and what I found was sad. So much luge I took the valve cover and cleaned them in solvent with a brush now it stopped. The last owners didn't take care of the truck at all.

 

[brianballard1983]

i knoe ther is no magic fix but i will tell you i put 1/2 a pint of seafoam in the crank case and let my grake booster vac suck in the other half let i set for about 20 mins and started it back and had a noticeable differnce and my truck is showing codes 1,11,63,32,23 what does those mean