Valve Tap

[toolman617]

I have an '89 5.0, and I am having an increasing amount of valve tap. I had previously thought that it was the injectors, so I bought a new set of FRPP 19#'s. That didn't really solve the problem, but there was a bit of more hp The tapping is quite bad on startup, but then it evens out. It is also quite noticeable under load. It can be heard while driving from under the driver's side dash, and also from inside the valve covers if you're sticking your head in the engine compartment. I have been told that there is no easy fix for this and that the only real way to solve it is to replace the lifters and springs, which you might as well just do a simplified overhaul at that point. My car has 151k on it. I am a college student hoping that the car would last until I'm out of college (another 2 years), but I'm kinda wondering if it won't at this point. I would kinda rather do some work at this point than have it blow up on me while I'm going home (I got to college in IN, home is in PA). I will have tons of free evenings/nights over the summer and will live 3 blocks from campus (working at college over the summer), so a job as big as a rebuild could theoretically be done, but I would rather not if it doesn't have to be done. All that to ask - are there really any "simple" solutions, or is the only real option I have to order some lifters and springs and swap them in?

 

[Saleen0679]

No guarantees it will solve the problem, but you may want to try a de-carbon treatment before seriously tearing into the motor. A Ford dealer should be able to do it. There are some aftermarket treatments too, but I know the Ford process works great.

 

[HISSIN50]

i would want to be sure it is not an exhaust leak.

products like Seafoam are similar to dealer offered top-end cleaners (doing along the lines of what Saleen said). if contemplating a rebuild or teardown, it would not hurt to try that first. there are about 10,000 threads on those products in here, if interested.

good luck.

 

[90mustangGT]

The tapping is quite bad on startup, but then it evens out. It is also quite noticeable under load.

Wow, tapping like that would scare me? Who told you to replace the lifters and springs? Sounds like someone is suggesting throwing parts at it, and I bet they are wrong. Fist of all, that isn't an indicator of bad valve springs or lifters. More likley valve guides than springs or lifters. Really, I'm really going with HISSIN50 on this one,

i would want to be sure it is not an exhaust leak.

me too. You first crank up, small crack/leak in manifold/header really audable, heat expands metal, leak seals up, you put it under load, exaust pressures push the leak back open. Worse case, rod berrings, best case, loose rocker arm or an exaust leak. Ford rocker arms don't have much a history of comming loose, and the lifters are really good as well. Put a solid metal rod, such as a socket extention against the valve cover and put your ear to it, if it's comming from the engine you'll hear it loud through the extention. Maby you should take it to a technician. Even if you have to pay dianostics, it will save you in the long run considering if you really don't know what your looking a or doing.

 

[Shakerhood]

Maybe its just your lifters tapping, when I run 5W-30 in the Summer mine tap, a switch to 10W-30 Stops it completely. Check for easy stuff first before spending big bucks!

 

[toolman617]

Yes, the tapping is kinda scaring me, and that's why I want to fix it now so that I don't kill the engine. Thanks a bunch for all of the help. I am going to try the SeaFoam stuff as soon as finals are over (next week). I won't be doing much driving in the meantime. As for the exhaust, I am actually missing 3 header bolts, but one of the owners before me (one of the 6) put new MAC equal length headers on, and pretty much Permatexed them on, so I figured that it was holding well enough that I didn't have to worry about it. I am thinking about paying the extra money and going with a locking set of bolts - are they worth it? As for oil, I am already using 10W-30, and it uses a quart or two every oil change (3k miles). It used to use a quart every 300 miles or so, but then I used some stuff called Engine Restore, and it brought it up to the quart or two every 3k that it is now (quite the oil mileage increase if you ask me).

After finals, I will update this again with any results that I get from doing this in the next week or two. Thanks again!!