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My 1990 351W EFI has a valve or lifter knock. It started a couple of years ago and now it is getting loud when I first start it until it warms up. How serious is this? What kind of damgage does this cause? Just wondering
I have the same kind of problem, in our 1986 Bronco with 302 EFI. It started back in april, the noise is coming from the top of the passenger side of the engine. I took it to the Ford House and to 2 other mechanic shops. They all told me I need a new engine. So I'm just wondering if Ford has a Lifter issue. Or after so many miles on the engine the lifters give out.
I think eventually it can do some serious damage.
I have a 1986 with the 351W and had the same problem. I heard someware that oil stravation to the lifters due to gunk deposits in the oil passages can cause this. So, I bought some of that engine flush stuff, I believe it was actually made by GUNK. I poored that in per the instructions and did an oil change afterwards (I added some other stuff that is supposed to keep the engine clean, sorry I don't remember what it was)and the lifter noise is gone. This was a good 3 months ago.The truck runs much better now. Hope this helps. Considering you have to do oil changes anyway I deffinately think it's worth a try. A hellava lot cheaper than a new motor too! Good luck.
I have had a bunch of 302's (5.0's)starting with a '72 maverick grabber and ending with my present '89 bronco. I've never had any lifter problems with any of them. They all ran 200k miles or better for me. I am on my second one in the bronco which is a factory crate motor. I got 220k out of the original and have better than 200k on this one and it still runs fine. I have had problems with exhaust manifold gaskets, and on the bronco, the manifolds themselves tend to crack. Either of these will sound like a lifter. Gasket clicks will go away after the engine warms up if it is not too bad. One way to check it is to rev the engine in either park or neutral when you first start it cold. If it is a gasket you should not hear it, if it is a lifter you probably will still hear the click. Either way I wouldn't change the engine for that (unless of course you are looking for an excuse to tear it down and put some goodys in it). In my book 302's are bullet proof.