My jeep has a ticking noise coming from the valve train at idle, and it seems to go away when i accelerate, but when it comes back at idle..... its not a rod knock, it comes from the valve cover i am curtain of it. I don't have a oil pressure gauge that works (always is pinned passed 80 psi for some reason i can't figure that out) so could the noise be a result of a bad oil pump? it runs great otherwise. I need to replace my oil pan gasket soon so would it be a good idea to replace the oil pump while i am at it? Are they pretty hard to replace?

Specs:
1989 jeep Cherokee
4.0L I6
185,000 miles

 

The first thing is you need an oil pressure guage that works,as far as the noise goes it could be many things,but you need to get your oil pressure back,either install a mechanical one,or replace your sensor,it may just be a bad connection,try and move the wire and see if it helps.

 

thanks, ok i will buy a gauge tomorrow, as far as wiggling the wires i have tried that, and i have looked for any loose connections or unplugged wires, so i don't have any idea whats wrong with my gauge.

 

unplugg the sender if the guage goes to 0 replace sender....if not you may have a guage issue.
If you listen to the exhaust can you hear a miss? im gonna bet you have a colapsed lifter.....When i neal down by the bumper mine misses. I have a bad lifter which is gonna be replaced this weekend.

 

UPDATE! i just started my jeep 4 different times and there is no noise coming from the valves at all other then normal noise.... i think it might just happen when the motor is up to operating temperature. I listen to it and i can't hear a miss at all, even at operating temperature. Oh, i unplugged the sender and nothing happened, the gauge was still pinned past 80 psi...

 

in that case i would suspect wiring or a faulty guage..... My jeep doesnt miss at idle when the engine is cold nor do i have lifter noise. but when it warms up it starts acting up...........you unplugges the sender above the oil filter?

 

yeah, that would be my guess, ill just put a mechanical gauge in it, not a huge deal. Yeah i unplugged the sender by the oil filter... When its warm it doesn't miss either, its a pretty strong running motor for how many miles it has, but it does make lifter noise when its warm i think (i have only had it for a week, and so far i have only gotten to drive it that much) Should i be worried or is it semi normal for these 4.0l motors with high miles? its not that loud of a tick... but enough to notice.

 

I have 160K on mine the jeep 4.0 will run into the 200-300K range without a problem. I am a tech so little ticks and taps drive me nuts......Lifters going flat is common with the 4.0.....It just means one isnt pumping up under oil pressure like it should. You will loose around .100 of lift for that cylinder. Most people wouldnt notice that on only 1 cyl. they can still safely be ran like this.