Hello all, I have a 1991 cherokee sport 4.0l 5spd, 261xxx km on the clock. It has developed a random lifter tick. Runs absolutly flawless...no overheating since i have owned it changed the oil 3 times in the last 15000km. Oil pressure is better than any 4.0 I have ever owned, no coolant loss noted.

I have attached a couple of pics, one showing hot idle, oil pressure and coolant temp, and one of my oil dipstick. This oil only has about 500 km on it. (10w30 quakerstate, mopar filter)
Nothing obvious under oil filler cap. I was hoping to do lifters this summer, but now not sure if its going to be time to go deep lol. Send the head out? Total rebuild or jy engine.
Any input appreciated, thanks in advance
Brent

P.S I have only owned for less than a year, rescued it from a backyard where it had sat for almost 2 years....

How far do you drive to work or school?

That dip stick no very promising ......Add a little Marvel every oil change it might surprise ya what it can accomplish.

Approx 20km one way, temps today (when pic taken) about -10 celcius

(I am a chrysler tech by trade, just perplexed as it doesn't show hg symptoms)

I agree, it has me a little worried.

find a jy motor and rebuild it
run the current motor until it's done and have the rebuilt one ready to go

but then my 91 has been ticking for 50K miles, and still runs great

Ok, what's that in a real measurement?

about 12 miles and 14 degrees in your world lol

I am begining to think combination of cold temps and maybe a poorly operating ccv system

that guage cluster is just throwing me off.. lol...

but on the topic.. doesn't look good... I would probably have a back up plan set...

I don't think the engine is reaching operating temperature and condensation is building up in your crankcase.

Removed valve cover to inspect, all clean, no sign of moisture, sludge all appears to be in good shape. So no explaination for moisture or tick lol, but at least ruled a couple of things out and fixed an oil leak at the same time.
Eliminated water outlet tube (it was rusty and leaked after valve cover job). I replaced it with a heater hose nipple and a new longer heater hose. I also have eliminated the oil filter adapter. Wanted to replace the o rings , but had the wrong parts, turns out with a simple mod to the nipple that fits the oil filter, there is no problem with using the proper filter directly on the engine block.

What? No pic of the valve train?

No sorry it was 3 am and didnt have the phone handy, but it was 100% sludge free!, I cleaned the valave cover , replaced ccv elbow and vac lines to intake and map sensor.

What do you see on the dipstick that I can't see?

The 4.0's in our XJ's are very noisey engines. A little lifer tick is normal. Like was said, pick up a JY engine and rebuild it (or stroke it) and run your current engine until it dies.