Lifter tick

[Kuato]

On our 04 Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 liter, there is sometimes a lifter tick on startup. Lasts 20-30 sec (seems longer!) then goes away. Sometimes it will cycle, tick/no tick/tick/no tick then quit. After a minute or so, it will stop completely and not come back until maybe the next startup.

Engine runs fine, and the last oil analysis about 10k ago showed no unusual wear. I'm in the rinse of an ARX cleaning and will get another analysis when I'm back to synthetic.

I've always run 10w30 per the specs, but am considering 0w30 to more quickly get the oil where it needs to be at startup.

Anyone else had a similar issue? Opinions about the 0w30 welcome.

 

[Chris142]

My 02 Jeep with a 4.0 hates Havoline oil. Havoline makes it very ticky for some reason. SOPUS oils are very quiet in it.

Might try a different brand in yours?

 

[StevieC]

The 4.0's are finicky on oil and filters... You need a good flowing filter like Purolator and an oil it's happy with like Pennzoil/Quaker State.

 

[Gary Allan]

Relax until you're done rinsing to worry about further action. This seems to be the first casualty of worthy comment for these engines as they age. I haven't encountered it yet with either the 4.0 or 2.5 .

 

[mechtech2]

Or, a 5-30 can be tried.
Oil filters nowadays have antidrainback valves, and some cars are sensitive to having the right one.
Even a normally high quality good filter may have a bad oddball fault.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I have had many engines develop and then lose noises during a clean out. Junk is moving through the motor, noises can come and go.

And I second Mechtech2's comment. It is amazing how quiet things can get when you discover the right oil/filter combo for your vehicle.

 

[Kuato]

Thanks for the comments. I failed to say that the first time I heard it was at about 75k and that's the reason I'm doing the ARX. There's only about 1800 miles to go on the rinse then we'll get the good filter back in there with the good oil and see how it goes.