My son just bought a 2001 Ranger with 175K miles. It has many new parts and was well-maintained by the previous owner. There is s slight lifter noise when the engine is first started. The oil pressure gage reads normal. When RPM increases the noise goes away. Is this normal due to the wear on the engine? Is there a recommended oil additive that might alleviate some of the noise at cold start up?

 

Welcome to the best site on the web for Ford trucks, and congrats on getting a great small truck.

What motor do you have in it AND what type of oil filter does it currently have on it?

The gauge is not a real gauge. If you want to know the exact oil pressure you're getting you should install an under-dash gauge and disconnect the dummy gauge. I got one for mine for around $20 and it was a piece of cake to install.

 

what an engine? Cologne 2.9 ore 4.0... Had similar problem on 3.0... replaced oil pump and noise went away... What oil pressure gauge reads at idle?

 

Its the 2.5 liter. The more I listen to the noise it sounds more like a knock. It seems to becoming from the bottom left side of the engine.

 

ouch.... is it 2.5 SOHC? may be this is rod bearing.... what is oil pressure at idle?

 

I crawled under the truck and had my son increase rpm. I listened to the noise through the oil pan. The sound is definitely coming from the top side of the engine. It does become almost unnoticeable when rpm increases.

The factory oil gage indicates the pressure to be right at the mid-point. Can you recommend an after-market gage that provides the real pressure that I can install myself?

 

Ok, remove valve cover and inspect cams.... look carefully at cam surface. May be you will see what cause noise.

I dont think its oiling problem. sometimes hydr. valve lifters stuck. Ford reccomends to change. I let my lifters be in solvent for 2 days and they were really reanimated...

 

Equus makes a good one for what I consider a decent price. I got it at OReilly, but I'm sure NAPA or someone else carry's one for around $20 which is what I paid, but you'll need to buy the mount for it for an extra $10 I think it was to mount it under dash.

 

As has been asked, what weight oil & what brand oil filter is currently in it?????

When you remove the oil fill cap & look inside, what do you see in the way of deposits, on the top end?????

The guys are right, Ford has given us a O/P "idiot gauge" that has been modified, such that it reads straight up, if it has about 7 psi, so it amounts to not much more than the oil pressure idiot light!!!!

If you don't want to remove the mod, or install a aftermarket gauge, you can temp install a shop gauge, to check oil pressure, by removing the op sending unit & attaching the shop gauge there, for a pressure check.

Just some more thoughts for consideration. Let us know what you find.

 

i do not think it is oiling problem... amy be lifter is bad and that is all.....

 

For what its worth, my 99 with the same 2.5L has been doing this since I bought it at 75K miles and is no worse for wear at 110K miles now. Mine only does it cold, goes away when hot and is quieter when I use 5w20 oil vs 5w30.

 

Thanks. Your comment is encouraging. We changed the oil using Motorcraft 5W20 synthetic blend and added one-half quart of Lucas oil stabilizer. The engine is definitely running quieter. The noise isn't completely gone but IS less. What is even more amazing to me is that the engine doesn't burn any oil and has plenty of torque for a machine with 175K miles. Mazda built a nice little 4 banger!

I am interested in doing a top end job. What is involved in getting to the cam and lifters? Any recommendation on a aftermarket guide - Chiltons or Haynes or other?

 

Technically it is a Ford engine. Not to down Mazdas at all, Mazda built a few very nice 4 bangers too.

 

4 bangers made by ford in EU are very nice too, but there is no european 8-cyl engine by ford....

 

it is a Ford engine that's design dates back to the German 2.0L four from late 60's. Ford made some changes and increased the displacement to 2.3L in 74 for the Pinto and Mustang II. Ford stroked it to 2.5L in 98 and phased it out mid year 2001 for the 2.3L Duratech.

If it is not using oil at 175k it will likely be going strong at 300K.