89_XJ775

Hey guys, tried searching but didn't really find anything close enough.

I just bought an 89 XJ as a project truck, it has the 4.0 with around 210K miles. It runs awesome except a noise that kind of sounds like a lifter but could possibly be an exhaust leak or cracked header? I need help with a few tests or steps to figure out what my problem is here. I will most likely also be taking off the valve cover to replace the gasket since its leaking soon anyways if that helps. Anything that might help please let me know. Also, it passed a smog test yesterday so I'm not sure if that rules out exhaust leak or not.. I'll see if I can maybe get a video of the sound up if possible?

Thanks!!

cruiser54

When is the tick most prominent? Does it ever go away or reduce in intensity?

purplegrocerygogetter

Well, as I searched and found tons of info here in the forum about sticky lifters, one I found was to turn it off and see if it built pressure & another flush the oil and use a high detergent oil, that build up can be nasty. And then there is seafoam. Oh and some kinda mavelous oil. Try searching sticky lifters, you will find alot of useful help, and it could be you have one that is just worn down.
I ended up going with a oil flushing, and a better oil my YJ only has 147,000 miles also tossed in some purple stuff from Auto zone. Lifters all quiet.

89_XJ775

It seems to me the noise is most prominent when acccelerating, I can't really notice it while it idles. I did find those tips purple, just wasnt exactly sure if I was actually dealing with a sticky lifter ya know?

coloradocherokee

i have the same question...i dont know if i have a sticky lifter or not. but im gonna try this stuff called engine restore. ive heard it does pretty well on quieting lifters.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/rev...ormula-130469/



we will see

The_ocho

I run a v8 can restore in mine with 10w40 and it really quiets down my lifter. Without it that thing is super loud. my proof is I changed the oil and ran it and it taps a lot. add a can and it quiets down within a few min. good enough for me

cruiser54

Noise under load is not a lifter.

coloradocherokee

thats what i thought but wasnt sure. my noise quiets under load and pretty much goes away when my jeeps warm

cruiser54

You may be hearing piston slap then. Fairly normal. What brand of oil filter are you using?

coloradocherokee

no clue, id assume its stock. could you explain what a piston slap is? really sorry that i dont know more about enigines...

cruiser54

First off, we need to know what brand of oil filter is on there. I'm sure it's been changed in the course of the engine's lifetime.

Piston slap is when your pistons fit a tad loose in the bore and rattle a bit until they warm up and expand.

89_XJ775

I believe I have Fram on mine. I'll check in the morning. I cant hear mine until I'm driving.. I was thinking maybe exhaust leak would be a better thing to check before putting all these additives in my engine.. It just doesn't sound tick-y enough to me... Any easy way to figure out if the manifold is crasked or any tips?

cruiser54

Crawl under it with a flashlight and shine around where the pipes on the header come together. Cracks will be easy to see.

If you have a Fram, swap it out ASAP with a Wix or Napa Gold. Don't worry about losing much oil. They don't hold any in them anyway. That's a part of the problem aside from general poor quality.

andrewmp6

Try rislone engine treatment it works for a year i learned that trick working at a used car lot lol.

coloradocherokee

oh sorry i mis read that i thought you said what brand of lifter....right now i have a friestone oil filter...i let them change my oil a few months ago...mistake number one. anyways im changing my oil this next week i plan on using a wix or napa gold like you recomended on another thread. what kind of oil do you usually run? and these engines take 5 and a half or 6 quarts?