2.9L valve tapping

[Popsrose]

I have a 2.9l and every time I get on interstate and run over 2500 rpm my valves start sounding off. My pressure gauge runs in the middle (6 oclock) and has every since I have had the truck. New oil and filter does not change gauge reading. Is their an oil flow diagram for this engine? Does pressure get read before or after filter? Any advise would be great on what to check. This is a factory rebuilt with 29 thousand on it. Thanks much and God bless.

[Dugan]

Try lucas oil stabilizer, I put this in mine and it quieted the valve, but made the injector noise more noticeable haha

[hopster]

your oil pressure gauge is probably an on or off gauge. if you want to read oil pressure hook a pressure gauge in place of the oil pressure sender.

[Popsrose]

My Gauge is a stock analog gauge for the XLT. (Fixed at Top Center) The readings vary with engine rpm from 7 oclock at low rpm to 5 oclock at high rpm. Average city driving is at 6 oclock. Under 2400 rpm the engine runs sweet. Trying to figure out if filter is clogged and building up or lowering pressure. What is normal pressure suppose to be? Does gauge read before or after filter? Is there an oil flow diagram? If gauge reads before filter then high pressure could be clogged filter. If gauge reads after filter then oil flow to valves is being restricted some where else. Thanks much.

[marauderx]

On my '91, I took an oil pressure sender from a thunderbird turbocoupe/SVO mustang/ the big bell one, and installed it, then it read low. Then I pulled the cluster, and according to all the wiring diagrams I had, there is a 100 ohm resistor on the flexible circuit board. I used to work(1999) at Presonus Audio as a testing tech, so I got really good at soldering small stuff. So what I did, as not to mess any thing up permenantly, I just soldered a single wire to each leg of the resistor, to short/bypass it. I now have a Working gauge, and it tells the truth...

[Popsrose]

Thanks guys for your input. Plan on pulling filter and seeing what shape oil is. I will replace gauge/sensor thinking it is gunked up. Maybe sensor bad. Still looking for oil flow diagram. Typical ford big V8 pump to filter, filter to sensor, then to engine ports. Which means oil pressure is pump pressure and not actual engine oil pressure. That sucks!

[kimcrwbr1]

If the sending unit is in the block then it is more than likely pressure at the crank. It could be weak valve springs but you can try adjusting the valve lash also. Put the #1 cyl on TDC on the compression stroke and turn the adjuster nut out until you feel lash then tighten it until there is zero lash and then count the turns 2 full turns tight. Then follow the firing order and adjust each cyl at TDC stick a screwdriver in the plug hole until the piston reaches the top turning the crank with a wrench clockwise. That is a engine cold adjustment the oil pressure sounds fine to me but wouldnt hurt to check with a mechanical guage. Pulling the valve covers will tell you if the upper end is getting oil also. A good 10W30 synthetic will help also with a motorcraft filter but if your engine is leaky it will leak more with the synthetic oil. Before you change the oil add 1/2 quart of ATF to the engine about 100 miles before you change the oil. You may need to drain a litlle out first so not to run it over full but the ATF will dissolve the gunk in the engine it is the only additive I ever use anymore its cheap and works great.

[Popsrose]

Thanks everybody for your input on my problem. I finally pulled the pan, pump and tube and found it full of gunk and small rubber shavings. Cleaned everything and engine runs fine now. Pressure gauge is maxing out like it never did before. Pulling the pan was a pain in the A!! but well worth. Talk to you guys later. Next project will be 5 speed rebuild. Popsrose

[pcollins]

Those pressure gauges that came with the truck from factory are fake. They read Full pressure once the engine hits 8 psi and they stay. A real oil pressure gauge would fluctuate around.

[ksum25]

Did you find out where the rubber shavings came from before you put the motor back together ?

[ksum25]

The only reason I ask is you said the motor has only 29,000 miles on it from a factory rebuild.

[Popsrose]

The Pressure gauge does fluctuate, it just shows a higher pressure than it every did before. No I didn,t figure out where the shavings came from. They where soft black rubber like from the pan gasket. Thought they might of been drop offs that where not trimed before.