Lifter noise at cold start up - Off-Road Forums & Discussion Groups

JonesJ · #1 06-22-2009, 10:33 PM

I have just bought a 2004 jeep wrangler unlimited ( LJ) and when I first start it up in the morning there is what sounds like a lifter noise. The jeep only has 50,000 miles on it. I dont want to have to get into the motor if I dont have to. Any advise would be appreciated.

Jim_Lou · #2 06-23-2009, 06:26 AM

Which engine does it have? A lifter ticking for a few seconds after startup is no big deal. Many engines do that for most of their life with no ill consequences. Change the oil and filter with the products recommended in the owners manual and report what happens.

JonesJ · #3 06-23-2009, 03:10 PM

I have the 4.0l. Sometimes it can take a couple of minutes for it to quiet down. Last week when I was wheelin it made the noise off and on for part of the day. Should I check the rocker arms to see if they are loose? My guage shows that I have good oil pressure and I dont have any oil leaks.

Jim_Lou · #4 06-23-2009, 04:26 PM

I doubt that the rocker arms will feel loose. Change the oil and filter first, unless it's been changed in the last 3,000 and you know that the factory recommended oil was used.

Pete88YJ · #5 06-23-2009, 05:12 PM

4.0 liter engines are notoriously noisy as it is, with a continuous upper end knock/clack.

At least I think so. The 258 in my YJ is quieter than the 4.0 in my TJ. Or maybe it's all in my head.

HA, 'head', motor, clacking, get it? Sorry, couldn't resist.

Are you sure it's not a normal 4.0 noise?

Pete

RRich · #6 06-23-2009, 05:15 PM

Sometimes it's easy to be misled by a small exhaust leak. You get the tick tick tick when cold, then when it heats up it becomes less. (The crack closes up a little.) It can sound just like a rocker tick.

Try something - get a strong pencil beam flashlight. Let it cool off to where it'll act up.
Put the Jeep in a dark place, a garage with the lights out, a dark night etc.

Start it, make it tick.
Spray a little WD 40 or light oil down the throat to make it smoke out the back. If it's smokes out the back from the oil, it will also send a little smoke out the exhaust leak.
Use the pencil beam flashlight to shine around the exhaust manifold, head pipe connections etc. The pencil beam against the dark background will illuminate the drifting smoke coming out of where it shouldn't. Then just trace it back to the source.

Sometimes you can listen through a hunk of heater hose like a stethoscope to find the tick, but it can fool you.

TeamRush · #7 06-24-2009, 12:15 AM

Not sure I have a bunch to add...

As lifters wear, the don't hold oil from one time running to the next, so they might take a while to 'Pump Up'.

Some of the noise you are contributing to 'Lifters' might be slop in the rockers...
Push rod wear, rocker wear, valve stem wear...

As the engine runs a little but, valve stems and pushrods 'Grow' with heat and take up the slack, the noise lessens.

I'd check my rockers, make sure the install is depressing the lifter pistons by about 0.030"...
If the lifters aren't preloaded, they WILL make noise until everything gets slobbery 'gooped' up with oil and heat expanded...

spook2 · #8 06-24-2009, 05:08 PM

Something no one has mentioned, which probably means I'm full of beans but, don't the injectors themselves make a fair bit of ticking noise when they're operating?

Booger · #9 06-27-2009, 05:07 AM

What oil filter do you use? I've tried them all and most the check valves leak and drain back, then I started using Napa Gold filters, they seem to be the only one that don't backdrain oil into the pan when shut down, just a thought, works for me.

Booger

IKSS now

Raduckal · #10 06-27-2009, 03:58 PM

Napa Gold filters, as I have read are good filters, but for the money Purolaters are a better value. A very slightly heavier oil can quiet an engine as well.