Newb needs advice

[xaruum]

Hello,

Not really new to jeeps, been running around in them since I was 9 when my dad bought a Cherokee Chief with the Golden Eagle Package and we started searching for old mines in the Colorado Rockies.

I now have a '93 xj 4cyl 2wd with 197,000 miles. At the beginning of the summer the valves started tapping and it keeps getting worse. People now think I did an engine swap to deisel!

If I run on the highway, and get the engine over about 3krpm, then it is fine. I have 10w30 "high mileage" pennzoil in it and it is completely clean. A couple guys I talked to a few weeks back said I should be running 20w50, and get a valve job/rebuild, but that seems a little extreme.

I am thinking I need to replace the oil pump. Anyone have any insight?

Thanks in advance.

__Update__

Well, with no response here, I started going through rec.vehicles and found old posts talking about either using 5w30, going with STP Oil Treatment, using Rislone, checking for a cracked header, and replacing the Oil pump.

I decided to go the least expensive route first. I put Rislone in with new oil hoping that the lifters were clogged. The results are a little strange - It now runs super smooth at all RPMs and has more power, but the clattering noise has actually gotten *louder*.

I will be doing another oil change next week and plan on using 5w30. I will put another update up here for those that may be interested.

[xaruum]

updated for those that may be interested

[Steve]

Keep us advised as to the results. I'm curious as to what the solution will be. Sorry not able to give advice.

[NVRSTUKXJ]

does that motor have solid lifters?????....If I remember correctly (and my mind is not what it used to be)......solid lifters will also make a tapping sound and is normal.......

[FourxDad]

If you dont have solids, we use to dump a couple of qt's of atf in my brothers old truck and it would settle down. that stuff is high detergent i think.Btw you cant run it hard with that stuff in it.We also did it to my daughters car and it worked after about 300 miles.But then her noise came back, turs out her intake gasket decided to let go and spewed c*** all across the lifters. She was a trooper and tore it down and fixed it.

[xaruum]

Hey,

Ok, I got a chance to talk to an old mechanic, he said that the old willy's had the same issues and that they would put straight 40wt or 50wt in them to keep them going. He said that whoever suggested 5w/30 was seriously confused as that was the thinner oil.

So, I went ahead and changed out to 20/50. In the mornings it starts out quiet for about 5 minutes, what is strange is that it will intermittently clatter throughout the RPM range once it is warm. And I still get the oil-pressure light after about 30 minutes on the freeway. Overall the engine is not as loud as it has been, so there is improvement.

Problem is this is our only vehicle, so any mechanical work will have to be do-able in one weekend.

Still searching .....

[OlneyJeeps]

higher viscosity is the way to go; you want thicker oil to fill voids caused by wear... what brand did you use? Castrol generally does not break down as quick as cheaper brands (which is why is quiet when you start, gets noisy as warms up... oil gets thinner. I would think about doing cam/lifter replacement (where clatter comes from... knock would be lower end).

[UNSTUCK]

Mr. Olney is right on. The sad part is that it will only get worse. You're putting a band aid on something that needs surgury. But don't worry to much. You still have 90W. But once you need 150W, that's when you drop if off at the dealer for a trade in. They'll think it's in great shape. (They screw us all the time. This is how we get revenge.):D

[AZXJ]

Lucas oil stabelizer may help.. quiets down the 4.0L very nicely.

[fallx13xflights]

I started developing a knock on my rocker arms and it seemed to be coming from just one valve....I just replaced one quart of oil with lucas oil stabelizer and bought an expansive oil filter with a bi-pas and its gone away. That lucas stuff really works. But it sounds like you've got a problem far past that...Your valves might just need to be adjusted.

[ROCRWLR]

I read a 13 page post on jeepforum or jeepsumlimited the other day about seafoam and how it works miracles. quiets lifters and makes engine run smother.

[xaruum]

Looking into Lucas and/or seafoam for now, but I am leaning towards the opinion that the top end needs adjustment. I have a haynes manual and I am thinking about opening the top end, but I have no idea how long that procedure would take. Like I said before, I really can only do week-end type wrenching, nothing fancy.

Anyone ever do something like replacing the whole top end? Or is that the same as getting a "valve-job" done?