Usual 2.9 tick but LOUD

[Ford460]

I have a 1988 Ranger with the 2.9 and i know that they all click a little bit but mine sounds like a damn diesel from inside the cab cuz it ticks so loud. Would this be the valves??? Also idles inconsistant and at low rpm it is inconsistant also How much do you usually have to stick into 2.9 heads to get them decent and reliable??? If i am going to have to stick a ton of money and time into this motor then im just going to throw a 302 in the truck and be done with it Thanks for your time

 

[freerider6_9]

try putting some ATF in your oil, if that doesnt fix it maybe you have a bent pushrod, or a collapsed valve. if the atf doesnt fix it pull the valvle covers( prob need to be sealed anyways lol) and see if you have play in any of the rockers. hope this helps

 

[Ford460]

Thanks for the input ill be trying that this weekend some time and ill let you know what i find out

 

[Ford460]

Ok i pulled my valve covers and nothing seems to be loose in there at all i did notice that the little adjustment bolts on top of the pushrod side of the rocker are all at different heights (turned in different amounts) Is there anything i could adjust to qiete down the ticking at all ????

 

[dangerranger83]

I didnt think the 2.9 liters have adjustable valve clearances. They have hydrolic lifters on them from what ive read. Got pics?

 

[Ford460]

Ill get a pic up on here tommoro but i just read that you back out the adjustment bolt with the valve closed and then turn the bolt back in 1and 1/2 turns after it makes contact with the valve??? i read it in the tech part of this site

 

[Area 52]

Hydraulic lifters are gummed up with crud. As freerider said...run a quart of ATF in the crankcase (drain out a quart of old engine oil first of course). The high detergents in the ATF may just free up the lifters. Then change your oil more frequently to keep it clean.

 

[Ford460]

Ohhhhh that makes a lot more sense now that you put it that way how long does it usually take for them to free up (if they do) ???

 

[Ford460]

Or how long should i keep the ATF in there is what i meant

 

[Area 52]

Ohhhhh that makes a lot more sense now that you put it that way how long does it usually take for them to free up (if they do) ???

That is an unknown variable...it's like "how long did it take for the ticking to increase in noise level?" However, I have seen it work rather quickly on some older Fords and Chevys within 10-20 miles of driving. Because the ATF drops the viscosity of the engine oil, you won't really know until after the next oil change. I have run ATF for a couple hundred miles light-moderate acceleration before changing out the oil to clean a lot of the varnish and crud build-up in the oil passages.

 

[Ford460]

Alrighty sounds good im goin right now to pick up some fresh oil and ATF and well see if it fixes it Thanks a lot for the help!!!!!!!

 

[JTH1972]

That is an unknown variable...it's like "how long did it take for the ticking to increase in noise level?" However, I have seen it work rather quickly on some older Fords and Chevys within 10-20 miles of driving. Because the ATF drops the viscosity of the engine oil, you won't really know until after the next oil change. I have run ATF for a couple hundred miles light-moderate acceleration before changing out the oil to clean a lot of the varnish and crud build-up in the oil passages.

Does using an engine flush with each oil change do the same trick or does the ATF work better in the long run?

 

[rackridge]

thanks for tip on the atf I have a 1990 ranger 2.9 4x4 with the same prob the warmer it gets it seems the louder it gets

 

[rackridge]

do the rangers make a good truck for hunting and fishing

 

[dangerranger83]

Ya they do make good trucks for hunting and fishing. My ranger hauled my first deer home. Just depends where your going.