tick tick!

[rangershea]

Ive been trying to find an earlier thread that could help, but i didnt find anything so ill ask and see

its a '93 4.0 ohv with 180,000 miles and a 5 speed. I commute with it every day and two days ago, out of the blue, it started ticking really badly. It sounds like a bicycle with a playing card stuck in the spokes. Its embarrassing to drive down the road in it!

So ive read about rocker arm/pushrod chatter, and its had some chatter for a while. but would it start so suddenly if it was rocker arm wear? it literally just started like the flip of a switch as i was driving

timing chain tensioner? how would i check that?

i was thinking it could be a stuck lifter, but i replaced the heads about 7,000 miles ago and when i did that i cleaned the shit out of those lifters, soaked them in gasoline for about a week and made sure they all functioned perfectly

Thoughts? Thanks!!

 

[Fordisthebest30]

the first thing i would do is check your tires. it sounds dumb but i had a similar experience with my first car, i tore everything apart looking for it, and it turns out it was a hex head screw in my rear tire

 

[rangershea]

appreciate the thought, but it happens at idle with the truck standing still. its definitely in the engine. Also, its intermittent, itll be silent for a while and then start ticking real bad and then go silent again. Im stumped

 

[rngmStr]

worn rocker

 

[norcals91]

Very common. Mine does it and has so for about 50k miles. I just drive it and don't Let it bother me. I suppose I'll fix it someday but only when I'm having the heads rebuilt.

 

[woodyedmiston]

Exhaust leaks can sound like a metal to metal tap. Check at the head and at the flange to the tailpipe.
Also, a pushrod can jump off the lifter causing a sudden change or additional tick - but should also cause a miss.

 

[rangershea]

would it happen so suddenly if it was just a worn rocker?

Theres no miss, which makes me thing it isnt a jumped pushrod or stuck lifter. I guess it could still be a stuck lifter. Anyone had that happen?

 

[rangershea]

figured it out! engine was 3 quarts low on oil and the lifters werent getting oil. Ive never lost a drop of oil before so now i just need to figure out where it all leaked out of. Thanks for your help guys

 

[ap3x]

 

[1996DANGERRANGER]

my ranger does this, its a 96 4.0 with 196k on it. .its a tick on the front cylinder of the driver side of the engine. it only does it during a higher idle, and goes away when its under a load. its really annoying

 

[GoGoggansGo]

This is a common problem on these 4.0s due to the fact that the pushrods do not have oil lines through them so after 100,000 miles they become worn. To the point that they tick just replace the pushrods that should solve your problem

 

[Explorin94]

This is a common problem on these 4.0s due to the fact that the pushrods do not have oil lines through them so after 100,000 miles they become worn. To the point that they tick just replace the pushrods that should solve your problem

The correct fix is the pushrods and the rockers together. They wear into each other.

 

[GoGoggansGo]

The correct fix is the pushrods and the rockers together. They wear into each other.

I agree but I was lucky and did not need new rockers. I did some work to the motor, and I just bought new ones, and have had no issues once so ever