Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Exhaust leak or lifter tick?

DropTopDon

DropTopDon

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Nov 7, 2019
Messages
642
Location
VA


Is my 4.0 supposed to sound this loud/ticky? I had a nasty exhaust leak at the flange from the manifold to the cats and re-seated the cats and the leak got much better but I still hear this ticking. I was thinking maybe lifter tick too but It seems a bit loud to be lifter tick and I hear it when giving gas too. Also I heard that lifter tick goes away when warm but my tick is always there at idle. Soapy water test concluded no more leaks from tailpipe to cats but not sure about the manifold. I plan on putting thicker oil like 10w-40 or maybe even 15w-40 next oil change with some marvels mystery oil to hopefully quiet it down. I know everyone here doesn’t believe in additives but i see no harm in trying if it supposedly works for some people. Any thoughts?
 
It doesn’t sound bad to me. Mine is just as loud and got a bit of a tick to it also. 200,000 miles but runs good. I did try the marvel mystery oil in mine and it quieted it down quite a bit. Mine had an occasional rattle at startup is why I tried the snake oil treatment. I’m not a big believer in that kind of stuff, but figured what the heck I’ll try it. My noise is probably the timing chain, just waiting on a reason to jump in and put a new one in.
 
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CODE5 said:
That really doesn’t sound too bad… was yours ever this loud?


Click to expand...

That idle video is almost identical to how mine sounds at idle. I don't have any exhaust leaks. I think it is just the 4.0 being noisy. I tried thicker oil which didn't help much. Really triggers my OCD not having a smooth sounding idle
 
DropTopDon said:
That idle video is almost identical to how mine sounds at idle. I don't have any exhaust leaks. I think it is just the 4.0 being noisy. I tried thicker oil which didn't help much. Really triggers my OCD not having a smooth sounding idle
Click to expand...

Mine was quiet even after I found coolant in my oil (head cracked along with gasket) after I installed the new cylinder head and gasket it ticks pretty bad… Runs great just sounds like a wind up toy going down the road lol
 
UPDATING: I finally fixed it. I removed the valve cover and went cylinder by cylinder, setting the engine at top dead center - I found that cylinder 5 had very loose rocker arms. She no longer ticks! We're back in action! I drove it for about 60 miles this weekend, and she's running better than when I bought her last April.

This is from a cold start:

 
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CODE5 said:
UPDATING: I finally fixed it. I removed the valve cover and went cylinder by cylinder, setting the engine at top dead center - I found that cylinder 5 had very loose rocker arms. She no longer ticks! We're back in action! I drove it for about 60 miles this weekend, and she's running better than when I bought her last April.

This is from a cold start:

Click to expand...

This is the best news I have heard all year. Now for me to do mine! I was losing hope with mine and was about to just live with it forever. So you removed the valve cover, set the engine top dead center, and then ran the engine an saw that cylinder 5 had loose rocker arms and then tightened them? Aside from replacing my rear main seal I have never done any engine related work so it would be great if you could explain how I can do it too. It must be great to not hear that ticking noise anymore.

Also is that video before or after you tightened it?
 
DropTopDon said:
This is the best news I have heard all year. Now for me to do mine! I was losing hope with mine and was about to just live with it forever. So you removed the valve cover, set the engine top dead center, and then ran the engine an saw that cylinder 5 had loose rocker arms and then tightened them? Aside from replacing my rear main seal I have never done any engine related work so it would be great if you could explain how I can do it too. It must be great to not hear that ticking noise anymore.

Also is that video before or after you tightened it?
Click to expand...

I saw it as soon as I removed the valve cover - the bolts were sticking up visibly loose - I went cylinder to cylinder pulling at the rocker arms with my hands, and that was the only one that was loose.

That video there is after I fixed it. As for the process, this is similar to what I did:

 
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CODE5 said:
I saw it as soon as I removed the valve cover - the bolts were sticking up visibly loose - I went cylinder to cylinder pulling at the rocker arms with my hands, and that was the only one that was loose.

That video there is after I fixed it. As for the process, this is similar to what I did:

Click to expand...

Sounds easy enough. How tight did you tighten it? I will do it this weekend and report back!

Is your tick at idle gone?
 
DropTopDon said:
Sounds easy enough. How tight did you tighten it? I will do it this weekend and report back!
Click to expand...

So you'll tighten it down so that you can still "turn" the pushrod left/right - snug. Then, you use a torque wrench and torque it to 21 lbs.
 
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CODE5 said:
I wondered about that too, but once it ran a few minutes I had to cut it off because it was flinging oil all over the place lol.
Click to expand...

Gotcha, just wondering. Also were you able to reuse all the valve cover grommets and gasket?
 

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