My mother-in-law just bought a 93 Explorer (4.0, auto, 4wd, 100+ miles). When I was driving it, the engine would start ticking until it got past 40mph. I changed the oil the other day but the engine still ticks at idle, but after a minute or two it seems to go away and them come back. Not sure if this helps but when I changed the oil, not much came out and it was really black.
Thanks,
JM

 

What viscosity oil did you use? I use 4 qts of 20W-50 plus a quart of Lucas oil stabilizer in my '93 . My wife had a Ford Taurus that developed a tick after the car overheated. I thought the engine was done. I changed the oil and the tick went away for good.

 

I put in 5W-30, but not the high mileage kind....

 

shouldn't u use heavier oil or is that just to help stop smokin probs. i just redid my heads on my 91 ex with 165,000 km the rods were shot to hell and the rocker arms were all pitted. so i would imagine this is where your ticking is comming from. If i never had to change my head gaskets I would not have bothered with the heads. So the ticking is a concern but I don't think its a life or death situation.

 

the 4.0 are nortorius for ticking. Hammer is correct, the problem is that the push rods and the rocker tips wear down and cause the ticking. The only way to get rid of it is to replace the rods and rockers.

Chris

 

Chris, and what about valve lifters (tappers)? Should they be replaced as well? If only the rods and the rockers are contributors, it should be pretty easy to do-it-yourself for me... Dropping off the heads is not what I can do myself, though.

My '93 Explorer also experiencing this ticking while engine is cold so I think about fixing this problem until it gets worse.

With best regards,
Yuri

 

Thanks, it looks like this is not an easy fix. I guess she will have to live with this for a while.
jm

 

I had this problem as well with my 1992 explorer xlt. i always heard the ticking or taping sound when i first started the truck. as soon as temp gadge needle hit right about the middle, i noticed the noise would go away. i was told the noise can also be the gas you are using. one day i put it 87 instead of the 93 octaine, my truck sounded like a deasel mack truck...the pickup was horrible and i thought my truck was going to blow up. once i switch back the 93 the truck ran alot better with no noise.

 

Sorry about that, I forgot to include the lifters. They colapses and add to the ticking. They are the reason you have to remove the heads.

Chris

 

It is also possible (not likely) that one of your oil journals is somewhat obstucted. As your Oil heats up, it gets thinner, and would be able to flow more easily through partially clogged journals. This would mean, when the engine is cold, not enough oil is being delivered to the head. Once the Oil heats up and thins out some, then the ticking would go away. I personally agree with ckrichard and think it's probably the lifters/pushrods, but since it's a lot cheaper, and wouldn't take very much time at all, I would try changing the Oil and using some sort of oil conditioner just to see if it goes away.

David

 

I too have heard that ticking is common...sometimes it's spark knock caused by a dirty MAF. I had that once (back when) wish that's all I had now...now I've got a dull knock. Very solid sounding, and louder at the bottom of the engine than the top...sounds like main or rod bearing going out.

 

As engines heat up, parts expand- meaning your lifters and rods are now in tighter contact. This will eliminate some ticking if the clearence is not too bad.