Lifters making noise?

[hy730]

Hey guys.. I got a 92 ranger with the 2.9 4WD and sometimes when I start it my lifters make some noise.. Oil is full and they dont need adjusted.. Just confusing me.. Any one else have this prob?

[RangerSplash95]

Im from the 4.0 forum (I shouldn't be in here :P haha) but it is a general question id say. When was your last oil change? They can become noisy with low oil but also if theres sludge build up. You can run a detergent called Valve Medic or Rislone or Seafom in the motor oil to break the sludge off the lifter and hopefully it'll operate smoothly again. If not, the lifters may have to be replaced.

[kevin777]

Im from the 4.0 forum (I shouldn't be in here :P haha) but it is a general question id say. When was your last oil change? They can become noisy with low oil but also if theres sludge build up. You can run a detergent called Valve Medic or Rislone or Seafom in the motor oil to break the sludge off the lifter and hopefully it'll operate smoothly again. If not, the lifters may have to be replaced.

If that doesn't work within 50- 200 miles, my advice to you would be to order an overhaul kit for your top end with new heads. Simply because 2.9's are notorius for the stupid amount of things that can go wrong in the top end. I know this from experince because i dumped 1500 bucks into a new fuel system and new head internals(I shouldve known not to use the original heads) and gaskets in my old 89 xlt only to have a headgasket go 50 miles after the rebuild.

[CopyKat]

Likely a weak lifter. These engines have been known to run for years on noisey valvetrain and not miss a beat.

My 2.9L does this also but after some driving it goes away. City driving is fine and I don't get any clatter. But once out on the highway it's like the lifters loose pressure and It clatters the whole time.

I did get new lifters and pushrods for mine. Need to put them in before the turbo gets installed.

[hy730]

Thanks guys. Ill try the cleaner.. Hopefully it works!

[hy730]

Mine does the same thing.. Guess ill have to get it checked out.

[volrath]

some 2.9s will clatter till they die. if you can live with the noise i would say leave it. i have had some pretty loud 2.9s before. Once you use the cleaner and if it helps or not i recomend Lucas Oil Stabilzer. It does wonders shutting up engine noises. as long as you don't over heat your 2.9 it'll keep on going.

[rangermanmark]

my dads 88 2.9 has had lifter noise for years and years and he drives it back and forth to atlanta alot and doesnt really have any problems! and gets like 30mpg