I know that these 2.9 engines have a problem with the lifters clicking. Mine will do it when i run it hard, and also in the mornings for a minute or two. How long can i keep running it like this? Whats gonna happen to the engine? Thanks JD,

 

mine did that when i got it. I took the enging out and apart. Pressure washed all the oil ports. They get clogged up pretty good if the oil isn't changed regularly. Then i put it back together with new heads (mine were bad) and put in a high volume oil pump. No more noise and the truck has 140K miles on it and still going.

 

What weight oil are you using, what brand filter, and how long since the last oil change? How many miles on the truck? The 2.9 is notorious for leaks from the valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, oil filter adapter, rear main seal, and front crank seal / timing cover gasket, as well as oil flow problems -- the oil pickup screen is known to clog as well as the oil passages, not to mention premature cam and crank bearing wear. The lifter noise, according to the Owner's manual, is "normal". On your next oil change, and every oil change for a while, you should run engine flush in it prior to draining the old oil and refill with 10W-30 and use the Purolator filter. If it still does not quiet down considerably, you may end up having to do a partial rebuild and replace all the bearings at the very least, if not the oil pump and lifters as well. Could also be that your pushrods for the valves are a little out of adjustment, which to cold set them, you'll need to have a cold engine without the lifters pumped up and rotate the engine by hand slowly starting with the #1 intake and exhaust and work your way through the firing order until they are all set. If I remember right, it's 1/2 turn to 1-1/2 turns after the pushrod is touching both the rocker arm and the lifter. A procedure for it is in the online repair guide on autozone.com under either engine rebuilding or routine maintenance, I forget exactly. Hope this helps.

Jeff -- Where did you get a high-volume oil pump for a 2.9??? Everywhere I've looked they sell the standard volume Melling pump, but I know you can change the spring to beef it up. I'd like to know so when I do rebuild my 2.9, I can put the hi-volume pump in.