tapping comes and go's

[jamie18]

need some opinions on tapping problem I have an 88 ranger 5speed w 2.9 and I know their notorious for tapping. Any how mine taps loudly at times and other times not at all. Oil pressure is low but what I don't understand is I can drive 20 miles or so and no tap at all ,drive another mile and sound likes its going to come apart and continue to drive and the tapping goes away it's intermittant tap but drives me crazy. I've ruled out injectors I swapped some known good ones and still taps every now and then. Any ideals would be helpful. Could it be lifters or maybe timming chain.

 

[90B24wd]

Bad oil circulation.

 

[jhammel85]

If the oil pressure is low, I'd stop driving and see whats causing the tapping. It could damage it.

It sounds like poor circulation like 90B24WD said. I think you might want to start with a fresh oil change, maybe even changing the weight and see what happens. If not, it might be time to start digging around in that motor to see if maybe something blocking passageways or if the Oil pump is going out.

 

[jamie18]

I appreciate the reviews I'am going to park until I can pull the oil pan and check the rods and mains Thank you.

 

[Big Jim M]

JAmie the bottom end doesn't make "tapping" sounds! No need to take the pan off. However if the noise you hear is heard only under power or only under coasting then it could be the bottom end. If your answer is yes then you'll hve to pull the engine and I'd venture you'll need another one to swap in there.
I'm guessing you have worn the top end to the point where one or more lifters is collapsing and making the noise. If it is in the top end then it should run like it is for many more thousands of miles.
Big JIm

 

[Zachalanche]

if it is comming from the top end:
those 2.9s are notorious for having excessive oil bleed off the front of the cam shaft. this is why the lifters end up being a bit oil starved causing the intermittent ticking noise. this is directly related to oil thickness. I'm guessing the problem gest worse when the oil temperautre is higher.

I have had a decent amount of luck controling this noise with an oil cooler and 10w40 oil. however mine was a very mild case, only showing up when i worked the engine hard.

 

[jamie18]

I really appreciate the advice and i will agree it is in the top end but it sure is lacking oil pressure I installed manual gauge and its really low. With engine cold running 50psi once its at operating temperture its running about 25psi and at idle about 8psi.

 

[sjr53]

That actually sounds like good pressure when compared to my 2 engines. 1 is noisey & the other is quiet. Do a search on lifter noise. It has been discussed but never really solved short of a complete engine overhaul. Many just live with it. I can't put up with it. I'm trying to solve a worse problem before I tackle the dreaded noisey lifters. Like by running with ATF instead of oil for X number of minutes to clean the oil paths. Or cleaning or replacing clogged oil pickup screen in the pan. Or cleaning the rocker arm shafts including small holes. Then there is flipping the cam thrust washer even if overhauling it all, to slow the oil flow from the front cam bearing to the timing chain. Worn cam bearings are a concern to some as being the cause. Or there was the "they're just crappy lifters that fail often" reason given.

 

[NXD 5150]

My 2.9 has been doing it years. When it starts tapping I turn the radio up and try not to think about it.

 

[jfinkelnburg]

I was talking with a "reputable" machine shop about this very issue. My 2.9 will start up like the top end has no oil, and rattles like crazy. The lifters pump up, and runs smooth for about 10 minutes, then as the oil heats up, away she rattles. It really sounds like it is coming apart. The machine shop told me there is a mod kit available for what he says is basically new rockers. Anybody ever hear of such a thing?

 

[Deluxedave]

I, too, had the 2.9 tapping. Started out fine, then got worse after driving at highway speeds for 20 - 30 minutes. I dropped the oil pan, replaced the oil pump (mostly cuz I was in there) and pulled the valve covers. What I found was a bunch of gunk that I cleaned out of the pan and the covers. Cleaned everything else I could an reassembled. I use 5W-30 and commute 30 miles each way with no tapping. I am sure there are more profound reasons, but cleanliness certainly helps.