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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
I have a '91 Explorer with 115,000 miles and the lifters in the engine have been ticking for about 5 months (gets a little worse all the time). It goes away after a couple minutes after driving it. It pretty much runs good other than the annoying noise. I was wondering if the engine needs rebuilt, only the lifters need fixed or could I just get away with an easier fix like an additive? If the 4.0 engine does need rebuilt, is it a good type of engine to learn on since I haven't done one before? Any information about anything relating to my problem would be greatly appreciated.
For a quick cheap response. What octane gasoline are you running? If running 87 or 89, try the super premium grade, this could resolve the clicking. Another thought, when was your last oil change? The valve train is the last part of the engine to get the oil feed from the pump, if the oil gets dirty, or is too thick this area can be starved. A fresh change with a thinner oil could also help get the oil through faster upon cold startup. Finally, before deciding to service or overhaul, perhaps consider checking the actual oil pressure, and compare it to specs. All of these are quick and easy thoughts to get an idea of whats going on.
I use 89 octane with ethanol. I just changed my oil with valvoline. It does seem to quiet down a bit right after I do it. Would it help to use a blend or full synthetic oil?
The octane thing seemed to help my 92' Ranger 2.3L. Whenever I used anything less than 93 it would rattle. It would even rattle sometimes using 93, depending on weather conditions. Unfortunately I don't have my service manual handy, so you might consult a ford technician about where to check the pressure. The theory behind checking oil pressure is that there will be a plugged port somewhere on the block of the engine where a guage can be screwed in. This step gets beyond my current expertise.
Ticking lifters is not a good reason to rebuild the engine. You want to rebuild it when your compression is low, it leaks lots of oil, and runs really bad. Then it is time for the $500-$700 to rebuild (yourself) the engine.
You can swap out the lifters without taking out the engine for about $40-$50 (doing the work yourself). I would not recommend this if your a novice (I wouldn't even bother with it) since you would end up spending 8-16+ hours doing the work.
My '93 had some minor ticking (with 70k miles) that went away when I switched from Mobil-1 5w-30 to Mobil-1 0w-30 (yes that is Zero W-30). It is a bit thinner at startup than the 5w-30. As a biproduct of changing my oil, the ticking went away....
If its a ticking noise its most likely the lifters. There is really no problem with the engine. The ticking noise is due to the fact that the lifters aren't lubricating (themselves, i believe) properly. The main problem is that the annoying noise makes your truck sound like a POS.
Anyhow, the lifters will not cost $40 and if anyone can find them for that price, please let me know. I picked them up from the dealership two years ago for $300/set(12). (IRONICALLY: you can purchase high performance lifters for a V-8 (16) for a fraction of the price $70). As for the Explorer, you can purchase them for under $200 from http://www.vanirtech.com.
My opinion: The oil and any additives will just be a temporary solution to the problem. Eventually they won't work after a while, but it can calm the problem down and avoid further annoyance. In addition, I heard that the when you change your lifters, you should change your camshaft as well - something to do with premature wear. Needless to say, on start-up (two years later), I am hearing a very faint lifter noise again. If you decide to have them replaced outside, consider your engines condition and ultimately, whether you want to go the extra mile. It can save time and money down the road.
Well I was somewhat mistaken on the price of lifters. It turns out that the roller lifters for the 4.0L OHV are $31.49 each (ouch!!). Of course some autoparts places might be a bit cheaper than NAPA.
I guess I was thinking back 10 years to when I had to buy lifters for my old 70 buick 455...My mistake...
