Is this new noise a lifter?

[brucecooner]

I've been hearing a brand new noise from the 4.0 the past few weeks.

This is definitely not the old piston slap, I had gotten used to hearing that.

This sounds like, dried peas rattling around in a tin can.

It seems loudest around the area of #1 up in the valve cover...

 

 

 

I can also hear it from underneath too.  Not sure if it's coming from the bottom or just traveling from up high.

 

 

 

 

It's been running Rotella T5 30 weight oil for a while now. 

I'm wondering if this oil cleaned up the top end which coupled with the lighter-ish weight oil let a tired lifter start nagging.

 

IF it's a lifter, is that something that can be fixed with the valve cover off? (I have a new cover gasket waiting for me to get to it)

 

 

 

 

[cruiser54]

when does it do this?

 

On start-up?

 

If so, shut it off, count to 10, and restart it. Noise gone? 

[jpnjake]

Take a long screwdriver and put it to the valvecover and then put your ear to the screwdriver, then do the same to the oil pan, whatever is louder is where it’s originally from.

[mjeff87]

Sounds like a dragging timing chain to me (if I'm hearing the right sound you're pointing out, there's a couple of them in the clips).  Pop your dizzy cap and watch the rotor as you or someone tries to turn the engine with a breaker bar on the HB nut to see how much slop the chain has.

 

And fun fact, you can't pull the lifters on a 4.0 without pulling the head.  2.5's you can, but not 4.0's.