Hi, I have a 4wd '93 Ford Ranger with a 4.0 V6 in it. It has roughly 110k miles on it. When I first bought it, it would tick very seldomly. Now it ticks quite often. It sounds like a lifter or something because usually if you rev it up, the ticking will stop. Where I bought the truck from says that the ticking is a lifter but can not be adjusted and that it is quite normal for the V6's to do that. The oil level and everything is good. Any ideas and/or recommendations out there?

 

You pretty well have it all down, Joey. It's a lifter (pretty sure). I can't say they all do it, but quite a few do. And finally can't be adjusted.

You can do an oil change with motor flush to loosen up stuck lifters. That may be all it needs. Or it may be a leaking lifter due to wear in which case a heavier oil may help.

If you cruise the shelves at the local auto parts store you find a lot of additives that target the noisy lifters. You could try that route. I can't say if they would or wouldn't do the job for you.

I think first I would do the motor flush and oil change, though.

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

Thanks for the reply, how exactly is a motor flush performed?

 

It's in a can. You drain a quart of oil out. Add the quart of flush. Run it for what the can says - about 5 minutes. Drain it all out and refill with new oil and filter.

 

Aww, thanks. Well, I shall try that come this pay day.

 

Well I flushed the motor and I put in new oil and added a 2 stage additive and it did not help. It seems to have helped a slight bit if anything. Any other ideas out there?

 

A sticking, dirty, noisy lifter (if in fact that is what it is) can usually be corrected with the use of Marvel Mystery Oil. The best method I have found is to substitute 1 quart of oil with a qt. of MMO when changing the oil. Since you have already changed the oil, drain it again into a very clean container when the engine is cold. Pour all but one quart back into the engine and then add the MMO. It could take many months for the ticking to disappear using this method, but it usually works, sometimes immediately. Depends on how gummed up the lifter is. Hope this helps.

 

Would this be an overhead cam engine with perhaps more easily removeable lash adjusters?

 

I have no idea whether it is or not. I bought this truck used like 2 months ago.

 

It's a pushrod engine.

 

Oh. okay. Kind of a major tear down to get to it then.

He could try lifter quieting additives and if this does not work, perhaps add an oil thickener like the various brands of that motor honey oil product, like Lucas, STP, Snap, etc. (looks like honey and pours like it also) which may boost the oil pressure some, and may retain the oil in the lifter longer.