Engine ticking noise

170

Asked by KSMCH Jul 16, 2016 at 11:45 AM about the 2001 Ford Ranger XL 2 Door Extended Cab RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I ran my 2001 ford ranger  (245,000 miles) without
a problem oil changes every 5,000 miles i started
smelling burnt oil and within a week it started
making a load clanking noise i got it to a gas
station and they put almost 4 quarts of oil in it and
that made it quiter but it's still there I know a shop
will have to fix it but being a woman I would like a
little help so I am not taken advantage of

16 Answers

65,510

Before getting engine worked on try this may or may not work but it is worth a try. Add some Lucas Engine Oil Stablizer to oil and let idle until tapping goes away. When it worked for me let idle for 45 minutes to a hour before tap went away. Do not over fill remove some oil if necessary before adding Lucas.

5 people found this helpful.
159,075

Magic in a can or bottle is not likely to fix it. If you had to add 4 quarts of oil to the engine and it is still making noise it will likely be an expensive repair. Burning oil smell was an oil leak and if you would have checked the oil.......learn where the dipstick is located and how to use it to avoid this in the future. Best of luck with it.

4 people found this helpful.
Best Answer Mark helpful
170

UPDATE I drove to a shop they said I lost oil because of bad rear main seal. He said I would need to rebuild or replace the engine. Does this sound right

10 people found this helpful.
159,075

Hard to say what the damage is until it is taken apart. 245,000 miles was pretty good service. Is the engine noise a tapping or knocking sound? Is the engine the 4 cyl or the V-6?

5 people found this helpful.
170

When it first happened it was aloud clanking noise with a loss of power now it is just a lite ticking sound and power has returned it is a 2001ford ranger 3.0 v6

3 people found this helpful.
159,075

Slight ticking, I would try "Firebird" suggestion of using an oil additive. Keep us posted.

3 people found this helpful.
170

Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions Bob and firebird 338

4 people found this helpful.
230

If your engine is ticking it is because of either your engine is combustion outside its envelope of normal combustion front that the precise firing of the spark plugs and fuel injectors is off so your Pistons are firing wrong which is making it combust and making shockwaves that in turn are making your cylinder pressure increase dramatically your engine is no good because this is not fixable unless you get it rebuilt. But driving it as is will destroy the engine and cause detonation of the engine.

2 people found this helpful.
230

So I would advise you to get an new engine or have it rebuilt because this issue is not going to go away

5 people found this helpful.
159,075

@Kabba45, the engine is ticking due to either a bad rod bearing or more likely something in the valve train was damaged by lack of oil. It has NOTHING to due with combustion. If it is just a collapsed lifter that actually has no damage the noise may go away. Using an oil treatment may or may not help this.

5 people found this helpful.
110

I have 2008 ford ranger 4.0 and when started and running it makes a ticking noise and the right side on top and that all you here so please if you herd of this before please let me know

9 people found this helpful.
110

I changed oil every 5.000 kl i just came home and was going back out and when i started it .it started ticking and it ran ok but all you can here is the ticking sound I tryed seafoam but it didn't help

2 people found this helpful.
50

Okay, your first order is to locate the ticking noise. If you have no check engine light on. If check engine light is on go to advance, auto zone, O'Reilly's, Napa pep boys, and get them to pull the code and give it to you. Then look the codes up online with code and make model and year of your vehicle. Now if no check engine light is on! We now will have to find the clicking. You do this with your phone. Just be careful. Open the hood and turn the car on. Then take your phone and start recording a video move phone near all pullys in the front. ( The wheels with the belts on them ) then run it across the valve cover. (will have a oil cap on it with the oil symbol printed on the top in yellow. And is on top of your engine.) Then you will stop the video. Replay the video and note where the ticking is the loudest. With that amount of miles on it I would think it would be a lifter. But, water pumps alternators power steering pumps AC compressors can all make ticking noises in your engine bay. If it is a lifter first do a seafoam oil change. You can look this up online. Then when refilling the oil add the Lucas oil in there appropriately with your synthetic oil only use synthetic.

3 people found this helpful.
50

PS, keep up with your fluid levels from now on. Your pocket will thank you.

2 people found this helpful.
30

I have a 99 ranger and its ticking at the bottom of the engine... the ticking goes away once I push the petal and ticks loud wen idling... any suggestions plz?? Its weird cuz if I put it in park it gets loud but if I put it in neutral it goes away for about 5 seconds

3 people found this helpful.

My Truck is doing the same thing. Did you find what the problem was? 1998 Ford Ranger 3.0 4x4 automatic

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