very bad valve clicking!

[tonyjklh1]

does anyone know a good way to shut up noisy lifters? when i start my truck it is nice and quiet until it gets up to operating temperature. after that is is so loud i believe that at least half the valves are clicking. the engine has good oil presure. 115,000 miles on it. i swapped it in to my truck about a month ago, and it has been loud since the first day. i have changed the oil a few times, running differant cleaners through it each time. any ideas would be great.

 

[AllanD]

On a 4.0 it's more typically worn pushrod sockets in the rocker arms, accompanied by galled pushrd tips.

In the rare instance it is the lifters the condition is terminal, and is invariably accompanied by low oil pressure.

One question, how do you KNOW you have good oil pressure? the factory "guage"?




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[tonyjklh1]

yes the factory gauge is what i looked at to see if it has good presure.

 

[AllanD]

The factory guage on most 1989-94 Rangers/Explorers/Bronco2's
isn't a guage at all.

Oh there's a guage there in the dash... However...
Because customers kept asking questions about
varying guage readings...

Anyway what ford did was install a Warning light switch with
a resistor built in so that the guage would sorta read in the
middle of the guage.

You can make it a real guage by simply installing a real "Sender"
for an actual functional guage (tell the parts counterman you
have an '86 2.9 ranger)

But actually trusting a guage that tells you your oil pressure is "fine" when what the guage is really telling you is that the pressure is not less than 4-6psi... well, you are being "misled" by your instruments. Oops...

In any event lifters aren't generally an issue on a 4.0.

Clogged oil pump pickups are, as are the rocker/pushrod problem I mentioned.

AD

 

[Spitfire1975]

The factory guage on most 1989-94 Rangers/Explorers/Bronco2's
isn't a guage at all.

Oh there's a guage there in the dash... However...
Because customers kept asking questions about
varying guage readings...

Anyway what ford did was install a Warning light switch with
a resistor built in so that the guage would sorta read in the
middle of the guage.

You can make it a real guage by simply installing a real "Sender"
for an actual functional guage (tell the parts counterman you
have an '86 2.9 ranger)

But actually trusting a guage that tells you your oil pressure is "fine" when what the guage is really telling you is that the pressure is not less than 4-6psi... well, you are being "misled" by your instruments. Oops...

In any event lifters aren't generally an issue on a 4.0.

Clogged oil pump pickups are, as are the rocker/pushrod problem I mentioned.

AD

So....is my 86 2.9 gauge worth a damn? Or is it a glorified idiot light.

What is the best way to unclog a pickup screen? I was told once to pour a couple gallons of diesel down the distributor hole and then drain through the oil pan drain. Does this sound right to you?

 

[Big Jim M]

Sounds really STUPID to me! Diesel is a fuel very simuliar to gasoline. It isn't any kind of lubrecant. If you fear a stopped up screen pull the engine and drop the pan and clean it up. That is a rare thing to happen to an engine! I'm betting you have problems elsewhere and not a stopped up screen.
Big JIm

 

[Spitfire1975]

Well.....I haven't done because 1) it seemed really odd to me as well and 2) I don't think my screen is stopped up. But it is always nice to know in advance issues that may need to be dealt with and how to deal with it.

The guy that told me about the diesel intended for the engine to NOT be run obviously, just used as a "backflush" down the oil pump and screen and then the fluid drained out. Oil put in, run briefly, drained and refilled to make sure no remaining diesel was left in the bearings, etc...

Been learning a lot about early 2.9 oil pressure issues on here.

 

[sledneck07]

big jim you gotta get your facts stright before posting on a form!! diesel is nothing alike gas!! diesel does in fact act as a lubercant, it is closer to an oil state than any gas. heck you can run tranny fluid, drain oil even cooking oil as a fuel for a diesel engine. this is comming from a long time diesel nut and diesel mechanic

 

[AllanD]

most of the "motor flush" mechanic in a can preparations are little more than diesel fuel in a quart can at a rediculous price.

The one product that does a real good job of washing the accumulated goo
from the abuse and neglecxt of a previous owner is Marvel mystery oil.

It is very nearly a magic bullet for wasing sludge out of an engine.

But be careful, sometimes leaving that sludge wherever it's hiding causes less dammage than triggering a literal mudslide into the oil pan and clogging the pickup.

AD

 

[Spitfire1975]

most of the "motor flush" mechanic in a can preparations are little more than diesel fuel in a quart can at a rediculous price.

The one product that does a real good job of washing the accumulated goo
from the abuse and neglecxt of a previous owner is Marvel mystery oil.

It is very nearly a magic bullet for wasing sludge out of an engine.

But be careful, sometimes leaving that sludge wherever it's hiding causes less dammage than triggering a literal mudslide into the oil pan and clogging the pickup.

AD

Heck, aren't half of the degreasers out there nothing more than glorified diesel?