I have a 1999 Safari, has approx 178,000 miles on it. WHen you start it up it is making a very loud ticking noise. Oil level is fuel, has about 50lbs of oil pressure at startup then drops to 40. HOwever when you start it the oil pressure gauge moves up and down with the ticks. then stops after a couple minutes. Im afraid to let it run too long since i dont want to hurt the engine. A few months ago it did it for about 4 minutes then stopped. Please help.
Our oil pressure gauges are not the most accurate. I would get a mechanical gauge to check pressure. If it has good pressure your set. Mine has warbled at idle before. But only in a certain range. It is my gauge and not the pressure. Above and below that pressure pressure is steady as a rock.
There is a service bulletin named "Morning Sickness" On our vans engines.
The valve lash was set to loose and the lifters tick untill they get oil pressure built up. Annoying but harmless.
Now just thinking here. Nothing to worry you but things to check also. Oil gauge is electric. Check the alternator when it starts see if it the source of the ticking. Check your voltage with a gauge under the hood. See if it spiking and doing something wonky as lumpy would say. I don't think it is anything to worry about but just checking things is a good thing.
the only issue with the ticking is it wont stop now. ANd it makes the van sound like a piece of junk. I will check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge and let you know. I really dont think its coming from the Alternator since it was replaced last spring. But who knows.
You might want to get a mechanics stethescope to locate that ticking noise. And I'd look underneath to see if any of your oil cooler lines are leaking although you said the oil is full.
The transmission flex plate apparently can crack and cause that ticking as well. Bad bearings in pumps and Alt can also, gotta track it down!
Does it sound like a little man with a very small hammer hitting the inside of the engine ?
Best thing to do is try taking the very small hammer away from the little man.
Uncle Bob
If IRCC, that would most likely be one or more lifters that are going flat. Possibly from lack of oil, or from
gum accumulation in the lifters themselves allowing the lifters to leak down. Perhaps a detergent additive
to the oil is in order. Something not too harsh, like Rislone, or a Lucas product.
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