loud ticking noise

[chips2481]

I just got a 90 ranger xlt one week ago. When I first got it I heard a ticking in the engine which I figured was just normal for a used truck. Later that day after buying it I noticed the ticking would get alot louder and then go back to the normal light ticking after awhile. Now it will stay loud all the time. Could this be a broke valve or camshaft? My friend says it is a bad valve or spring and a shop told me it could be valves or the camshaft. Can anyone give me any help on this? Or any site that can tell me how to figure this out. Or possible a site that has instructions with pictures on how to change a bad valve or camshaft for this same engine? Oh and this is the 2.9l v6 model.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I had the same thing in a 90 Ranger- turned out I had a cracked head. Apparently, it didn't take much heat to crack one. I sold the truck as is, the people who bought it put on a head and drove it for a long time after.

 

[Halfnuts]

heads aren't too expensive. I've heard of places that will swap you heads for about ninety bucks.

 

[chips2481]

I looked at the oil and it was probably 1.5 to 2 quarts overfilled. I drained it and it won't make the ticking noise more than 10% of the time I am driving it now. Looks like the previous owner got the oil changed 3000 miles ago, do you think it could of done damage driving it with it overfilled for that long?

 

[chips2481]

df

 

[chips2481]

I had put some lucas oil stabalizer and that worked good for a few weeks but now it is ticking again. Would that rule out any thing? Some people tell me it is a valve and some say it is lifters.

 

[nssj2]

check for exhaust leaks. check the egr pipe for cracks. just replaced mine cuz it was ticking, and problem solved!

 

[chips2481]

Is there an easy way about doing that? Should I look for anything like dark area's from the smoke? Or should I be able to see the crack or leak clearly?

 

[nssj2]

check when its running cold. determine what side it is, and that should narrow it down. the egr pipe is a little metal thing, 1/2 inch or so in diameter comming out of an exhaust manifold (dont know the side on the 4.0). if you feel hot air, leak! you can also sea foam the motor (search site), then you can follow the source of the white smoke under the hood.

 

[chips2481]

MadExplorer93- I will try and explain as best as possible the sound it makes. For starters when I rev the engine up it will make a clanking or something like clack-clack-clack each time after I let go of the gas after about 3-4rpm. Another sound is a slight ticking that I only hear sometimes, which doesn't really sound like a problem. And it will always make a loud ticking, like the valve is hitting the piston if I go faster than 55 on the freeway and will stay that way for atleast 15 minutes while driving on regular roads going 30 - 45 mph and then it will stop ticking completly. And the last sound is it makes a put-put-put noise from the exhaust and you can hear a noise with the same timing from the engine like something isn't timed right in the engine for the exhaust.

nssj2- seafoam sounds like a great idea, I have never used it before and I had no idea that it would make any white smoke come out. Does it actually help clean the engine also or is it just to make the smoke come out to determine where leaks are?

 

[chips2481]

awesome thanks

 

[nssj2]

ment to clean the engine and intake system (valves, manifold, other carbon buildups) when added through the pcv valve. theres a really good how to on here, but i don't know where it is at the moment. white smoke is an after product because, well, youre adding a petroleum product to the air intake haha. good luck! hope it isnt a bent valve...

 

[chips2481]

Great thanks I will just have to keep driving 55 down the freeway to make sure it doesn't act up. Probably won't do any work on it other than maybe the seafoam until I get the transmission in my other car. It's transmission was the only reason to buy this truck. Sucks that I got another vehicle problem after spending a good amount of money on a truck that also needed the center driveshaft support replaced and still needs the differential replaced. He snuck the engine problem right past me too

 

[rookieshooter]

Use a stethoscope or just put a screwdriver with the blade on the valve covers and your ear on the other end. It will pin point the set of rockers or valves that are making the noise. If you have never tried this, it will amaze you what you can hear. A long extension works well also. Or even a wooden dowel.

 

[chips2481]

wow awesome idea thanks. What would a bad valve sound like compared to the rockers?

 

[chips2481]

asdffasd

 

[rebelranger2001]

clank

im havin the same problem with my 01 ranger and i just took it to the shop the other day and found out that with the sohc its got cam followers and not rocker arms any way what has happend is that one of the followers has backed off and came loose and is destroying the cam its self in which is causing the noise so id take the valve cover off and see if one of the followers has loosend up or if there is any cam damage...

 

[chips2481]

Sorry I didn't reply back sooner but I did have this problem fixed and it was easy. I went to get my oil changed and they had asked me if I wanted to get my air filter changed because they said it looked dirty. I though it was fine but apartenly it wasn't. I got it changed and now it will only tick if I am going above 70 and it doesn't sound half as bad so it is as good as fixed. However I do still have some lucas oil stabalizer in the oil which may be making it tick less. I will let you know what happens when I get the oil changed this week.

 

[XtremeRanger89]

get some seafoam into your oil and fuel injectors and that should help. Mines ticks and i looked and listened around and its my fuel injectors.