For those of you that read my post from yesterday about my truck 'clicking', I think it is a lifter. I started it this morning....no clicking, nice and quiet. Drove to work, no clicking. Got home and went back out to the store, and it started clikcing again, and I was losing power, so I look down at the oil pressure gauge, and it had dropped down almost to the red (0). Thankfully, this was only a matter of about 3 seconds. I pull over, shut the engine off, let it sit for about 5 minutes, started it, nad the oil pressure was back up to normal, and no clicking!!!!

It's a 1990 Ford f150, 300 inline 6 cylinder, 5 speed tranny.

Must be a lifter huh? Are they hard to fix, replace, and would a good engine flush somve my problem???

PLEASE help!

[This message has been edited by rtifactman (edited 02-06-2001).]

 

WHAT YEAR AND SIZE ENGINE WOULD HELP TO ANSWER YPUR QUESTION

 

Hey rtifactman,
Just noticed where you live, my brother and his family live in Lynchburg, I went to Lynchburg College and my parents live in Forest, Small World. Anyway I dont see how a sticking lifter could cause an oil pressure drop(even if our oil pressure guages were reading actual pressure). Since the oil pressure guage is actually an electrical switch that is supposed to read about 4psi to send a signal to the guage and your guage almost read "0" pressure(indicating that there was less than 4psi of oil pressure). I sounds to me like there might be an oil pump problem happening. The clicking noise would speed up and slow down with engine speed and the clicking could be caused by a bad gear in the pump or a bad drive gear for the pump. If one of the gears has a broken tooth it could be 'slipping' causing a clicking sound. Are you absolutly sure the noise is coming from the top of the engine? I would have the oil pump checked out ASAP just as a precaution. My co-worker has blown 2 engines in her last 2 cars because the oil pumps failed.

------------------
99 XLT,4.6L Auto,4X4,tow pkge,Factory Side Steps and Mudflaps, K&N filter,BugflectorII, Amazon Green/Silver, Pace Edwards Rolltop Cover.

 

Sorry, Have to agree with Hobbit.

A stuck or dirty lifter will not cause a loss of oil pressure. Dirty or hot oil can cause a lowering of oil pressure, however.

Drop the oil pan and install a oil pump. On this engine, I believe you have to remove one motor mount and jack the engine up 1 inch to remove the oil pan. One good item, most Ford people would agree that this is probably the most durable engine Ford ever built. I had the exact same truck with 90,000 on it and it never saw the shop.

One other item with this engine is spark knock. Usually caused by excess combustion deposits in the chamber or bad EGR valve. Ford had a TSB on spark knock back then, they sold a can of combustion remover that you poured into your running engine and then shut off immediately, let it sit, and eat away. It fixed my spark knock.

good luck.

------------------
2001 Screw, 4x4, 5.4L, 3.55LS, trailer tow III, 255-16 tires, skids, no cap yet.

Superchip
Gibson Stainless SS
AirRaid FIPK
Line X, other misc.

 

I also forgot to mention that if it is dirty or stuck lifter, you can drain a quart of oil and replace it with a quart of transmission fluid. Tranny fluid will sometimes clean a bad lifter.

------------------
2001 Screw, 4x4, 5.4L, 3.55LS, trailer tow III, 255-16 tires, skids, no cap yet.

Superchip
Gibson Stainless SS
AirRaid FIPK
Line X, other misc.

 

Oil pump is not the problem. Pickup screen is. THis seems to be a fairly cvommpon problem on higher mileage inline Ford engines especially., the 2.3l OHC was terrible about it.

 

Hobbit,
Do you know Derek Davis?

 

as far as i know, the lifter does NOT cause the low O.P. its the low O.P. that causes the ticking lifter (if they are hydraulic...) i believe the tick comes from the lifter not being able to "pump up" and then the lifter and pushrod tap each other and make the noise. Definatly check the oil pump and see if it is working correctly and like nomopar4me said check the pickup screen also. be careful about driving the truck if the O.P. keeps dropping real low, if it can't supply enough oil, you could spin a bearing and that really sucks!!

 

I would probably agree with the pickup screen
probably clogged up, I had a used 1978 f150 that had a similar problem that the oil passages in the upper part of the motor were
clogged up and once the oil reached the top end it drained too slow and loss of oil pressure followed, Turned off the motor and allow time for oil to drain back down and pressure was back up. This is just something you can easily check by removing the valve cover before the oil pan.

 

Give Marvel Mystery oil a try...I used this on an Acura Legend that had a noisy lifter...fixed it (well at least it stopped clicking!). It's worth a try before you start tearing into the motor

------------------
'99 F150 SC, 4x2, Oxford white, flareside, 5.4,
bodyside mouldings, Snuglid hard tonneau, airbox and fresh air mods.
Duraliner drop-in (gave up on the Penda Nascar). Gibson Supertruck. Ford 2-piece bra. Catch-All floor mats. Image tail light covers. B-Quiet sound dampener in rear of cab. **** pile rug protecting spare tire (Raoul made me enter this)
No door cracks yet at 20K!!!

 

rtifactman,
Sorry, don't know Dereck Davis. I haven't live in Lynchburg since about 1984. Still visit a couple times a year though. I can't believe how much that area has grown since I live there. I still miss it sometimes, but Jersey is where my wife and I have made our lives(for now). Maybe someday move back to the Blue Ridge.

Take care

Hobbit

------------------
99 XLT,4.6L Auto,4X4,tow pkge,Factory Side Steps and Mudflaps, K&N filter,BugflectorII, Amazon Green/Silver, Pace Edwards Rolltop Cover.

 

I know a Derek Davis that went to Lynchburg College that now lives in Jersey....and he has fanily here.
Small world, but not TOO small I guess!!