Sometimes sounds like a tractor..making me crazy!!

[Mkobu]

Hello

I have a 98 explorer with 155K miles. Seems to be well taken care of and generally runs great...
However..sometimes when I start it up it runs really weird with a sound like the lifters are ticking and a puttering sound (sounds like a really old small tractor ) a friend said it was dieseling and get better gas but it does it no matter whether 87 octane or 93... A guy at auto parts store says it is a vacuum leak...
The weird thing like I said is that it does not do it everytime I start it just at random times... If I shut it off and restart it it will go away...sometimes I have to stop and restart 2 times and sometimes 3 times but have never had to do it more than 3 times. After it starts smooth again the engine runs fine.
The Tach doesnt seem to do anything weird as far as running real low RPM's or jumping up and down but the jallopy sounding engine bugs the crap outta me... I have noticed once that the display on my 7" radio screen had a flicker to it if that is any indication...

Has anyone else had this issue or know what in the world it could possibly be??

 

[FIND]

Dieseling is where the engine continues to lope after you turn it off, basically it is the same as knocking, heat and compression is igniting your fuel. It doesn't happen often on fuel injected vehicles because the fuel pump and the injectors shut off after you turn the engine off. Your engine isn't likely to be knocking on start up, since the engine runs a little richer at idle and especially at start up, and there isn't enough heat soaked into the engine to cause a knock.

To test for vacuum leaks, spray carb cleaner around your vacuum lines. If your idle changes, then you have a vacuum leak where you were spraying.

You can test charging voltage after starting and your battery, as that might be a sign of a weak alternator or a bad battery. Try to add a ground strap from an alternator bolt to your battery as well.

Most likely, you have a sticky lifter. Try some seafoam in your oil or some engine flush stuff, then change your oil.

 

[bilzy7]

I have the same random "once in a blue moon" ticking on start up. I haven't worried cause the truck runs fine. I have a can of sea foam, just waiting to use it. I've been lazy.
Ohh btw mine is also. 98 xlt with 125k miles on it's 4.0sohc. I had to repair slot of issues with this truck already as previous owners hid them the best they could. Hole in tire with 3 patches, brake line with a temporary metal clamp to keep it from full on spraying, door locks that were sprayed with wd40 then told me they paid 80 a door to have fixed. At least the rotors and pads are in good condition lol.
Good luck with your issue. I can see my timing chain or one of then when I take off oil cap, and from the tiny bit I can see, it seems in great shape...

 

[Sedition]

If your truck is sounding like a diesel, especially at idle, you may have an oil pressure issue. If you have the SOHC V6 you may have some broken peices of timing chain guide caught in the mouth of your oil pickup preventing sufficient oil pressure from reaching the valve lash adjusters at the top of the engine. This happened to me after I hydrolocked my motor.

If you suspect broken timing chain guide peices, you can drop the lower oil pan quite easily with 10x10mm bolts and look for broken peices. If you do find some laying in the pan I bet they are in the mouth of the oil pickup too, You can pull them out with your hands and a pair of long nose pliers. It's amazing how many peices can get sucked up in there.

 

[white_shadow]

i get lifter tick as well, ill change to a thinner oil next time. currently i have 10w30 in it, i gotta check and see what the manual says it wants, and give it that. before i change i might add some MMO to it and let it get hot, then change it. if the ticking stays, ill plan on new lifters soon.