Preventative Rocker Arm Replacement?

[staplesofficewar]

Just got an 02 wrangler after a 15 year break from them. This particular jeep is clean, but has a lot of road miles (never been off-road beyond gravel roads) at just shy of 200K

About 8K miles ago (16 months) previous owner had a lifter(s) hang up on cylinder 3. The shop they used replaced cam, lifters, push rods, timing chain, oil pump, water pump. A lot of good stuff.

I hear a rattle/ tapping up top, but figured it was just the 4.0 sound. Its odd to me that they didn't go ahead and replace the rocker arms at the time. Either they inspected them and they were still good - or they were OK and were trying to save the client a few dollars.

At 200K, I'm considering replacement with rockers and hardware. Thoughts or prayers? Would I also install new push rods with the rockers or use the new ones in the engine?

 

[macleanflood]

Shop should have replaced the pistons.

Did they check the bottom end?

-Mac

 

[staplesofficewar]

Shop should have replaced the pistons.

Did they check the bottom end?

-Mac

This was before I owned it and I'm going based on the invoices the previous owner gave me. They had the oil pan off to replace the oil pump and install the cam, but not sure you can inspect the pistons this way.

They noted on the invoice " The lifters seized and wore the lobes off the camshaft on cylinder 3. Removed the cylinder head to access the lifters, replace the camshaft, lifters, pushrods, timing chain set, new gaskets and head bolts. install new oil pump and clean out oil pan, new water pump and thermostat, spark plugs, new harmonic balancer, all PCV components, new oil and filter and filled with coolant. Replaced high side ac line due to role rubbed in it."

There is no smoke on startup / while running. Why would pistons need to be replaced in this case?

thanks,

 

[ColoJeep]

This was before I owned it and I'm going based on the invoices the previous owner gave me. They had the oil pan off to replace the oil pump and install the cam, but not sure you can inspect the pistons this way.

They noted on the invoice " The lifters seized and wore the lobes off the camshaft on cylinder 3. Removed the cylinder head to access the lifters, replace the camshaft, lifters, pushrods, timing chain set, new gaskets and head bolts. install new oil pump and clean out oil pan, new water pump and thermostat, spark plugs, new harmonic balancer, all PCV components, new oil and filter and filled with coolant. Replaced high side ac line due to role rubbed in it."

There is no smoke on startup / while running. Why would pistons need to be replaced in this case?

thanks,

Sometimes the piston skirts crack and make noise , this happens a lot on 2.5 4 cylinders , but can happen to 4.0 . The bummer is the shop had the head off to do the other work , which would have made the replacement issue much easier.

 

[staplesofficewar]

yea same for the rockers. I think I'll do them since I am sure they are original. Not too expensive anyways. What's common on the push rods? Replace with new or go with the installed ones from 16 months ago? Ill see if I can pick up the sound in a video clip after I get home.

 

[Moglocker]

yea same for the rockers. I think I'll do them since I am sure they are original. Not too expensive anyways. What's common on the push rods? Replace with new or go with the installed ones from 16 months ago? Ill see if I can pick up the sound in a video clip after I get home.

Yes,when I replaced my head last summer,was in a hurry to get on the road for a Colorado trip,I noticed a few rockers with worn bottoms,should have just bought a set of melling at O’Reilly but didn’t,I think I can hear them when oil gets hot,will probably change em out soon.