Push rods or Valve spring... Video attached
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 5
From: Arkansas
Year: 1987 & 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
What your feeling doesn't look excessive.
Hydraulic lifters (that your engine has) uses oil pressure to keep the tolerances in check.
Lifters do go bad occasionally and camshaft lobes go flat and that can create extra rattles in the valve train.
you can only move a few because the others are in various states of opening the valves.
Hydraulic lifters (that your engine has) uses oil pressure to keep the tolerances in check.
Lifters do go bad occasionally and camshaft lobes go flat and that can create extra rattles in the valve train.
you can only move a few because the others are in various states of opening the valves.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
What your feeling doesn't look excessive.
Hydraulic lifters (that your engine has) uses oil pressure to keep the tolerances in check.
Lifters do go bad occasionally and camshaft lobes go flat and that can create extra rattles in the valve train.
you can only move a few because the others are in various states of opening the valves.
Hydraulic lifters (that your engine has) uses oil pressure to keep the tolerances in check.
Lifters do go bad occasionally and camshaft lobes go flat and that can create extra rattles in the valve train.
you can only move a few because the others are in various states of opening the valves.
.But i do have a loud lifter noise and oil pressure is around 15psi@ idle and 35psi@2500rpm.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 5
From: Arkansas
Year: 1987 & 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
How many miles on the engine?
Regular oil changes?
Does it rattle when you first start it then quiet down once oil pressure builds?
I want you turn the engine with a socket and ratchet, with the valve cover off.
Watch the first two rockers, you will see one go down then return, then the next go down and return, now your going into the compression stroke of that cylinder, rotate it another 1/4 to 1/2 turn.
Feel the rockers do they feel about the same as far as movement goes?
If so, go to cylinder #2 doing the same thing watching them and gauging the compression stroke. You can also pull the plugs and just use your finger to feel for compression and check the rockers on it, do they feel the same as #1? OR does one of the #1 feel loose compared to #2?
You get the idea.
Also look at the rocker arms where the oil hole is and make sure the push rod is not worn through the rocker. I actually seen this on a SB Ford 5.0 the other day.
If you can't find an obvious loose rocker, it could very well be related to just having low oil pressure and bearings being worn.
If you seen a rocker that doesn't move as much as the others, this could very well be indictive of a flat cam, (worn out lobe) or a worn out lifter.
Sometimes the lifter wears out and get concave on the bottom and trashes the cam, other times it can be a busted spring in the lifter.
Hope that make sense to you.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thx for your detailed explanation caish.
I'll report back when I get to work on it tomorrow.
Appreciate all suggestions.
Oh, can I run the engine with the valve cover off (saw it on YouTube )?
I'll report back when I get to work on it tomorrow.
Appreciate all suggestions.
Oh, can I run the engine with the valve cover off (saw it on YouTube )?
Last edited by BotakBeng; Oct 31, 2011 at 08:12 PM.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Most low oil pressure issues are related to bearing wear.
How many miles on the engine?
Regular oil changes?
Does it rattle when you first start it then quiet down once oil pressure builds?
I want you turn the engine with a socket and ratchet, with the valve cover off.
Watch the first two rockers, you will see one go down then return, then the next go down and return, now your going into the compression stroke of that cylinder, rotate it another 1/4 to 1/2 turn.
Feel the rockers do they feel about the same as far as movement goes?
If so, go to cylinder #2 doing the same thing watching them and gauging the compression stroke. You can also pull the plugs and just use your finger to feel for compression and check the rockers on it, do they feel the same as #1? OR does one of the #1 feel loose compared to #2?
You get the idea.
Also look at the rocker arms where the oil hole is and make sure the push rod is not worn through the rocker. I actually seen this on a SB Ford 5.0 the other day.
If you can't find an obvious loose rocker, it could very well be related to just having low oil pressure and bearings being worn.
If you seen a rocker that doesn't move as much as the others, this could very well be indictive of a flat cam, (worn out lobe) or a worn out lifter.
Sometimes the lifter wears out and get concave on the bottom and trashes the cam, other times it can be a busted spring in the lifter.
Hope that make sense to you.
How many miles on the engine?
Regular oil changes?
Does it rattle when you first start it then quiet down once oil pressure builds?
I want you turn the engine with a socket and ratchet, with the valve cover off.
Watch the first two rockers, you will see one go down then return, then the next go down and return, now your going into the compression stroke of that cylinder, rotate it another 1/4 to 1/2 turn.
Feel the rockers do they feel about the same as far as movement goes?
If so, go to cylinder #2 doing the same thing watching them and gauging the compression stroke. You can also pull the plugs and just use your finger to feel for compression and check the rockers on it, do they feel the same as #1? OR does one of the #1 feel loose compared to #2?
You get the idea.
Also look at the rocker arms where the oil hole is and make sure the push rod is not worn through the rocker. I actually seen this on a SB Ford 5.0 the other day.
If you can't find an obvious loose rocker, it could very well be related to just having low oil pressure and bearings being worn.
If you seen a rocker that doesn't move as much as the others, this could very well be indictive of a flat cam, (worn out lobe) or a worn out lifter.
Sometimes the lifter wears out and get concave on the bottom and trashes the cam, other times it can be a busted spring in the lifter.
Hope that make sense to you.

The rockers' movement didn't feel quite the same actually....more movement on cylinder #1 but on a good note, all the rocker moves
.Here is another video of the up+down movement,

Any thoughts?
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 689
Likes: 2
From: Upstate N.Y
Year: 2000.1999,1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
That oil pressure is fine, it calls for 13 psi at warm idle and roughly + or- 10 psi for every 1000 rpm. You could also check the torqe setting on the rocker arms just for shi_s and giggles.
Last edited by 413maxwedge; Nov 4, 2011 at 06:26 PM.
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Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Las Vegas
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0

Still waiting for some parts before i can fire her up....wish me luck.
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