nc527

Hey guys, ever since I got my WJ a couple weeks back, ive been hearing this ticking type sound from the engine(4.0). It almost sounds like a diesel engine. I have already changed the oil(was very black when I got it) and added a thing of STP oil treatment to try and quiet it down. My dad thinks it could be a bad/sticky lifter, and is really worried about it. I don't really know if its anything to worry about or not, since I know alot of 4.0s tick for another 100k miles.

I attached a sound file of taken with the hood up. I tried moving the phone around to different places, but it sounds about the same everywhere. Any idea whats going on?

PS when you click the link just look for the play button at the bottom left of the page, ignore the big play now thing(its an ad lol)

http://www.tunescoop.com/play/323736...409-174234-m4a

dave1123

I sounds normal for a 4.0 lol! Seriously, bring it up to about 2000 rpm and it should go away. What it is is the lifters don't get enough oil at idle to keep the lash closed.

My 4.0 has 155K miles on her, and I'm running Valvoline Synthetic 5W30. It ticks a little, but with the hood closed, you can barely hear it. I've been told that synthetic oil flows better through the small feeder holes to the lifters. IDK if that is true, but my WJ runs very quiet compared to my ZJ that had 185K on it. I didn't use synthetic in it.

If you treat her right, you should get another 200K out of it, unless it rusts away.

newjack75

I just got my 04 wj and heard a ticking sound that felt like it vibrated all over the engine..lol...i read somewhere to check the purge solenoid and sure enough mine had a serious tick....i read its normal but im getting a new one anyway just to feel better about it...not sure if this is your situation or not but thought i would share my story....i swear when mine was ticking i thought my engine was truly messed up....so check the purge solenoid.

dave1123

I'm sorry, but if you listen to his audio, it's obviously valve clatter.

nc527

So should I try to run some kind of cleaner like seafoam through the engine and change the oil? or is it fine to just run the way it is?

Kingfisher

Mine sounds like a diesel when it's cold. Sounds better when it warms up.
Think I'll just let 'er rattle!
If I were you I think I would change oil again and don't add anything.
What oil did you use?

nc527

Valvoline high mileage 5w-30.

dave1123

Try using a synthetic of some kind. I'm using Valvoline 5W30 Max Syn. and this is the quietest 4.0 in my experience. They say synthetic flows thru small passages easier and the lifter feed holes ARE small.

ALSO! STP is just an oil thickener, nothing more. I grew up in the STP hype in the early 60's when everybody was using it and all it ever did for me was slow down my oil burning from bad rings.

ScottTheEngineer

drop the oil pan and look for piston chunks. I have 2 99's and both #6 piston skirts cracked. It looks like the piston oil ports got plugged by sludge, warped and cracked. Its an "easy" fix that doesn't require pulling the engine if the cylinder wall isn't damaged. The key is that you have to do it before the cylinder wall gets damaged. several vids on youtube show you how to do it. dropping the pan to check will cost you a gasket and 5 qts of oil.
I found damage to my cylinder wall so I had to have it bored. I ordered a rebuild kit with new pistons before I bored it out so I'm stuck with 6 brand new standard sized piston heads with rings if you're interested.

nc527

Changed out my oil a couple days ago, put in 5qts of pennzoil 10w-30, and 1 qt of 5w-20 in an effort to thin it down a bit. Seems to run a bit quieter now. Goes away around 1000rpm, and can barely even hear it now.