1989 4L Loud Valve Tap noise any inexpensive solutions

[gai092460]

Hi  Fellow members 

 

My 1989  4L  with 181 K  on the odometer started with a slight valve tap that with in  5 min would disappear ,its now permanent tap 

 

any inexpensive solutions ( Oil changes I  do  every 2 thousand miles ( Just completed one last week the tap started ) I  also tried using 

 

oil with Zinc thought that would help as well Mystery marvel nothing so  far helped 

 

Thanks George 

[pizzaman09]

I found the last time that I changed my oil, I had a lot of valve noise if even a stuck lifter on cold starts for a while.  It seems that after the oild broke in the problem went away.  Are you using an especially thick oil?

[gai092460]

Hi Pizza man 

 

I used Millers oil 15W 40 with Zinc 

[gai092460]

Are you able to adjust the valves on 4L engine 

[AZJeff]

21 minutes ago, gai092460 said:

Are you able to adjust the valves on 4L engine 

Like almost all hydraulic valve lift equipped engines, the 4.0 does not have any way to adjust the valve lash.  The lifters are supposed to accommodate that, assuming all valve train parts are of OEM spec.   The only time you see any sort of adjustable valve lash system on a 4.0 is when people install aftermarket camshafts and rocker arms with other than standard lift ratios.

 

One way to confirm if it's truly a valve train noise is to remove the valve cover and start the engine, and then try to use an automotive stethoscope to listen to each rocker arm at it's pivot fulcrum to pinpoint the noise.  (Taking the cover off also lets you inspect the valve train for any abnormal stuff at the same time.)

[gai092460]

Totally stock engine     

[cruiser54]

I like AZJeff's suggestion.