i have a 92 ranger with a 3.0, it has what sounds like a lifter noise, but if you hold at 1500 rpm of a little higher the sound is gone, or if under acceleration or climbing a hill it is always their even at an idle. was just curious what is causing this annoying noise, i was told it is nothing to worry about by the previous owner he said it has had that nois fo like around 50,000 miles.

 

Could you be hearing the fuel injectors? They will put out little taps and as you increase RPM's you won't hear them. You can use a stethoscope to be sure. My '93 3.0 started a lifter tap well over 100k mi., but still ran great.

 

Could be a sticky lifter, I suppose. I agree, pick up a scope and try and listen in...

 

Check out your # 1 Cylinder for ovaling, my 91 had a bad case of piston slap and by the time I found the time to open it up and look it ovaled it bad enough to have to rebore it . Can't figure it out, I babyed the truck and did oil changes every 4000 Km on the POS.