Engine tick?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Iowa
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline6 4.0
Engine tick?
My 96 XJ sport just started ticking. Usually at start up and it goes faster as I accelerate. But then it just goes away. And it's not at every startup either. I was thinking a noisy lifter but wouldn't that be ticking all the time? When it does make the noise, throttle response seems to be a little sluggish. Any thoughts? Thanks :-)
#2
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
14 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
With it running try holding a long screwdriver or such to the valve cover and the other end to your ear, it should be pretty obvious if its a stuck lifter. Removing the valve cover for visual inspection would help too. Lifters can get a good deal of varnish built up on them causing them to stick.
Exhaust leaks can also sound like ticking though, depending where it's leaking from.
Exhaust leaks can also sound like ticking though, depending where it's leaking from.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Iowa
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline6 4.0
Okay I can try that next time it starts. If it was a noisy lifter or an exhaust leak would it still only tick every once and a while?
#5
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,872
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Yes, it could be one lifter and intermittent.
Try this. Next time you start it and hear the tick, shut it off. Wait 10 seconds and restart. Is the tick gone?
Try this. Next time you start it and hear the tick, shut it off. Wait 10 seconds and restart. Is the tick gone?
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Iowa
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline6 4.0
Thanks for all the replies guys, appreciate it. I tried turning it off and back on but it still ticks. I'm thinkin I'll just scavenge some money up and go to the mechanic.
#7
Seasoned Member
The Jeep 4.0 is 50 year old technology. Your mill is 20 years old. 4.0s are known to be somewhat noisy. I have a '98 and it has ticked for over 10 years. On really cold mornings I can also hear a lifter complaining till she warms up.
My point is: your ticking might not be a problem. If it's just tick, I probably wouldn't throw money at it just yet.
My point is: your ticking might not be a problem. If it's just tick, I probably wouldn't throw money at it just yet.
Trending Topics
#8
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
The Jeep 4.0 is 50 year old technology. Your mill is 20 years old. 4.0s are known to be somewhat noisy. I have a '98 and it has ticked for over 10 years. On really cold mornings I can also hear a lifter complaining till she warms up.
My point is: your ticking might not be a problem. If it's just tick, I probably wouldn't throw money at it just yet.
My point is: your ticking might not be a problem. If it's just tick, I probably wouldn't throw money at it just yet.
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Iowa
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline6 4.0
I'll just wait and see what happens lol. Makes me feel better that other people have ticks too. I was pretty worried there for a while. So far she's fine so I'll just let it be.
#10
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,872
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Iowa
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline6 4.0
#12
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,872
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Drain the oil. Add 1 quart of Marvel Mystery Oil and 5 quarts of Shell Rotella T3 oil. Use a Wix oil filter.
Watch how quickly the oil turns dark.Sounds like you've got a sticky lifter.
Monitor what the oil and sludge look like inside the valve cover through the filler hole. It will melt away......
Watch how quickly the oil turns dark.Sounds like you've got a sticky lifter.
Monitor what the oil and sludge look like inside the valve cover through the filler hole. It will melt away......
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Iowa
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline6 4.0
Drain the oil. Add 1 quart of Marvel Mystery Oil and 5 quarts of Shell Rotella T3 oil. Use a Wix oil filter.
Watch how quickly the oil turns dark.Sounds like you've got a sticky lifter.
Monitor what the oil and sludge look like inside the valve cover through the filler hole. It will melt away......
Watch how quickly the oil turns dark.Sounds like you've got a sticky lifter.
Monitor what the oil and sludge look like inside the valve cover through the filler hole. It will melt away......
#14
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,872
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
#15
CF Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Drain the oil. Add 1 quart of Marvel Mystery Oil and 5 quarts of Shell Rotella T3 oil. Use a Wix oil filter. Watch how quickly the oil turns dark.Sounds like you've got a sticky lifter. Monitor what the oil and sludge look like inside the valve cover through the filler hole. It will melt away......
Last edited by 93XJeeper; 03-09-2016 at 09:24 AM.