ok guys i have a clicking noise coming from my engine, i drive a 98 Cherokee with a 4.0 in it. i just recently took off the exhaust manifold and on the headers there was a hole, so i welded that together, 2nd i got new manifold gasket and new seal that connects headers to exhaust piping, yet i still have this damn clicking, and it actually got worst, does anyone have any ideas, im thinking next either lifters, re-tighten all the bolts or maybe even the timing belt tensioner?? ideas????

 

Is it audible (and clear) enough that you may be able to catch it in a quick vid?

 

you still have an exhaust leak, the ticking your hearing is your exhaust valves closing.
Run to operating temp and re-torque all the exhaust manifold bolts, and use a torque wrench! proper and uniform torque is key, especially for exhaust manifolds.
I just did the same exact thing for a crack in my header and the damn ticking is back so I gotta do it all over again

 

yea i just tightened all the bolts up again and that seemed to work, but u said that you just did this and its happening again? i hope not im kinda sick of dumping money into this thing mechanically, i really want my lift and wheels/tires this summer. dont get me wrong i love my jeep, but it seems like everytime i have money, somethings new breaks.. what else is new? haha

 

First lesson in owning a Jeep, these vehicles are high maintenance.

 

Eh, I have 211k on mine and wouldn't call it high maintenance. As for the tick, other than the exhaust leak, Jeeps are notorious for lifter tick. A good oil filter and some heavier weight oil or lucas helps a lot.

 

nah. its just one more of those things that make it a jeep. they all do it. some sound like diesels, some just have a faint tick. you'll have to learn to live with the weird things about these

 

Lucas helps with that? Gonna try some of that tomorrow then also when I ran a tank of super unleaded in it (premium whatever the expensive gas lol) it seemed to quiet down quite a bit.... May have just been a coincidence though

Also, could an exhaust leak only cause the ticking if its near the manifold? Or could leaks from the cat to muffler cause this as well? Because I've got alot there lol

 

I run a bottle of lucas every other oil change and a k&n oil filter and my lifter noise has vanished....well maybe not vanished but it is definitely A LOT better

 

Does it work fine with full synthetic? Also I just changed my oil like a few hundred miles ago, think it would be fine to put it in now?

 

Mine is a little different situation.
Tc drop + bad motor mounts = cracked header