1996 ford explorer with strange ticking noise need help

[stafphoto]

Hello all I am new to the forums and just bought my first Ford Explorer which is a 1996 XLT 4WD version with the 4.0 V6 and I need a little help with a noise I am having.

I really like the vehicle but have noticed a strange noise comming from the engine bay and cannot quite figure out what it may be. It's basically a ticking type noise or maybe something like the kid with the baseball card in the bike spokes. It's seems to really only do it when I am accelerating / putting a load on the engine or at least it's loud enough to hear while doing this anyways. I don't really seem to hear much of anything while at cruising speed though even at 70mph. I have also just sat with the vehicle in park and ran the engine up to about 3,000rpm for a couple seconds and the noise wasn't there so I don't think it's a rod knock. Like I said it really seems to just do it while speeding up. Is it something I have to worry about? And should it be fixed quickly or is it alright for awhile?

Any information/help would be great. Thanks

 

[JCat]

Welcome. I loved the Chelsea area . . . . lived in Dexter for a while.

Listing your engine size might help.

Can you remove the belt and see if the noise is still there ?

 

[stafphoto]

Engine size is the 4.0 V6 with 141,000 mile on it.

As far as the belt goes I'd have to do that sometime this weekend. The noise is loud enough when accelerating that I did have someone ask me at work today if it was a rod knock. But I really don't think it is do to the fact that it doesn't seem to do it while I am just sitting there. Also like I said I revved the engine up to around 3000rpm while in park and did not hear the noise at all. Just sounded like a normal engine revved up a bit higher then normal.

 

[daisyrocky]

Same thing here last week. Ticking drove me up the wall and oil pressure suddenly disappeared. It was my oil pump and it was stuck with goos. Oil screen clogged and oil cannot pump up to rod and lifters. No more ticking now. Took a bunch of step by step pics. I think I'm losing it, I've forgot how to add pics???

 

[stafphoto]

Can the valves be loud enough to be mistaken for a rod knock? Like I said I don't think that's what my problem is, the rod knock that is.

I'd have to say that it almost reminds me of a diesel. I am going to check to make sure I may not have a exhaust leak that may be causing the noise.

 

[daisyrocky]

Check to see if you got oil pressure.