PS94
Nov 17 2004, 07:14pm
The 2.9L likes to tick. People have tried heavier oils, lighter oils, all sorts of “mechanic in a bottle” fixes.
unless you have a stuck lifter, you’re not gonna get much use out of the bottle fixes.
What makes it tick? well, on some, it could be somthing as simple as an Injector. others, it could be as bad as the motor being worn out. to a number of causes in between......
Injector - light clicking noise, almost sounds like a spark plug arcing. NO ill effects, can be cured with a new injector.
rockers out of adjustment - the rocker arms on the 2.9L are adjustable. They're a part that ford continued to use from the solid lifter 2.8 with the hydraulic lifters in the 2.9L, they should never need adjusting, but in case they do, be very careful adjusting them, too much clearance, and they’ll still tick, too little, and they’ll compress the lifter, resulting in a burned valve, or not oiling up, and the tick will increase, again. Haynes has a good reference for setting the lifters lash.
Bad lifters - if the lifters fail, it’s hard to replace them, plan to remove the heads, buy new head bolts, and a head gasket set. You can’t get a single lifter out with the heads on. Very common for hi mileage engines to have worn out lifters. a quick, and usually temporary fix.
Oil pump - again, a symtom of high mileage, and or poor maintenance. usually involves removal of motor. Can be done with motor in truck, but is probably difficult. Again, more of a band-aid solution
Rocker arm Shafts - ALWAYS overlooked when rebuilding motors. the arms eventually weaken the springs, and walk on the shaft. if you have intermittent ticking, that comes and goes for no real reason, look long and hard at your rocker shafts. Chack the springs, or get aluminum spacers made.
Low oil pressure - usually, your motor is worn out. replace all bearings, re surface all surfaces that touch the bearing, and replace pistons and bore cylnders if needed. replace all parts listed above.
unless you have a stuck lifter, you’re not gonna get much use out of the bottle fixes.
What makes it tick? well, on some, it could be somthing as simple as an Injector. others, it could be as bad as the motor being worn out. to a number of causes in between......
Injector - light clicking noise, almost sounds like a spark plug arcing. NO ill effects, can be cured with a new injector.
rockers out of adjustment - the rocker arms on the 2.9L are adjustable. They're a part that ford continued to use from the solid lifter 2.8 with the hydraulic lifters in the 2.9L, they should never need adjusting, but in case they do, be very careful adjusting them, too much clearance, and they’ll still tick, too little, and they’ll compress the lifter, resulting in a burned valve, or not oiling up, and the tick will increase, again. Haynes has a good reference for setting the lifters lash.
Bad lifters - if the lifters fail, it’s hard to replace them, plan to remove the heads, buy new head bolts, and a head gasket set. You can’t get a single lifter out with the heads on. Very common for hi mileage engines to have worn out lifters. a quick, and usually temporary fix.
Oil pump - again, a symtom of high mileage, and or poor maintenance. usually involves removal of motor. Can be done with motor in truck, but is probably difficult. Again, more of a band-aid solution
Rocker arm Shafts - ALWAYS overlooked when rebuilding motors. the arms eventually weaken the springs, and walk on the shaft. if you have intermittent ticking, that comes and goes for no real reason, look long and hard at your rocker shafts. Chack the springs, or get aluminum spacers made.
Low oil pressure - usually, your motor is worn out. replace all bearings, re surface all surfaces that touch the bearing, and replace pistons and bore cylnders if needed. replace all parts listed above.