Jeepcreep6

1991 jeep cherokee limited

do you know how many hydraulic lifters it has? And everything i'll need to replace them (gaskets etc.)

jessenator

12 lifters (2x cylinder)

And I'm not a seasoned re-builder, but my gut/common sense tells me: If you're digging that deep, I'd replace the cam and timing set, too (if the lifters are indeed bad enough to warrant replacing).

Aside from the lifters and the cam You'd also be in:
head gasket
head bolt/stud set (since they're torque-to-yield)
timing cover gasket
timing/front main seal
timing set
oil pan gasket

Nix the last four if you do just lifters.

Might help to recommend other options if we knew what you're experiencing? is it just lifter noise?

Jeepcreep6

Here is a video of the noise. A mechanic friend of mine said it would be the lifters needing replaced.

jessenator

To my ears, that sounds pretty okay… there's a little metallic noise— is it louder/more noticeable in person?

What does the exhaust-end sound like? With some issues you can hear it there and then you don't have the normal injector tick clouding up the sound profile.

When I think of bad lifter/tappet noise, it's more like:

dammit, that link isn't putting the timecode in the link right— go to 30 seconds in to hear…

If it were me, I'd run some Marvel Mystery Oil or MOA treatment a couple hundred miles through it and see where you're at. Rather that first than potentially throw away money on a major repair I didn't need.

Anyone else want to weigh in?

jordan96xj

Yeah, I'd like to weigh in by encouraging Jeepcreep6 to follow your advice. It is good.

Even if it was lifters, you'd have quite a bit more testing to do to be as sure as possible before tearing into a job like that. That video did not sound severe at all (maybe its just me). Even just an oil change could end up quieting that down.

jessenator

Thanks!

Another thing for OP to consider, now I've got my head on straight: don't recall (mobile) if you listed miles, but more importantly, oil pressure.

If you've got nominal oil pressure, I'd say you're in the clear. If you're seeing lower pressure, you could go as far as that test in the etcg video, seeing if you're getting oil to the top.

cruiser54

Good point.

Jeepcreep6

I've got 287, xxx km on this jeep. The oil pressure is good, usually in the middle of the guage, a little to the left sometimes. So you guys don't think its lifters? I was thinking maybe a tune up of everything would quiet it down? I feel it has power loss as well

Jeepcreep6

What does the marvel mystery oil or MOA treament do?

00t444e

Most high mileage 4.0s have some lifter tick, mine rattles pretty good on startup, but it mostly goes away after the engine has ran a couple minutes. People have had success quieting down the lifters by using Seafoam, Marvel Mystery oil, or switching to a different type of motor oil.

cruiser54

Do this.

Drain the oil. Use 5 quarts of Shell Rotella T4 and one quart of MMO.

Use a Wix filter.

Drive it.