Sounds like lifter tapping but...well

[silveri]

Hey,

I've a '92 Crown Vic with a 4.6 that has this constant tapping noise. It seems to be coming from the top end and two of my more mechanicly inclined friends agree. Since it's on the top end I don't think it's a rod so I would say it was a lifter the way it sounds but since a OHC engine like this doesn't apparently have lifters what could it be and how would I go about fixing it.

Just a side note it drives just fine with no hesitation or anything irregular and the oil pressure is fine. Thanks for your time.

 

[AquamanCHS]

I'm not trying to be a smartass, but what is this? It's described as a "hydraulic lifter"

 

[silveri]

ahh..well the lifter thing was told to me by an old school chevy guy so I didn't really know what to think. Thanks for that though...

 

[nyuk98gt]

silveri:

Get a mechanic's stethoscope (e.g.--Lisle, made in USA, about $10) and put the tip on each injector and then along the cylinder head right beside the spark plug hole. The injectors can be pretty loud. By listening to the cylinder head, you can tell pretty accurately where the noise is. A length of tubing will work somewhat, too, but not as well as a stethoscope. It's the only way to track the noise down.