OT. Not 4wd related, but I would like your opinion anyway

Submitted: Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 19:50

ThreadID: 38762 Views:2703 Replies:4 FollowUps:3

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David from Engine Saver Low Water Alarms

OT. Not 4wd related, but I would like your opinion anyway

My Daughters friend rang the other day for help as her car was making a "clicking" sound. Flat battery I said.
Off we went with the jumper leads only to find that the car, an XE falcon would start, but made a dreadful knocking noise.
Removed # 3 plug lead and the noise stopped. "PISTON" I expertly said, to much gloom. ( Owner is an 18 year old girl, just starting out in life )

Anyway I slowly drove it home to my place and said I would look at it over the weekend.

I slept on the problem and had second thoughts about the piston bit and removed the rocker cover to find # 3 inlet valve pushrod completely out of the rocker.

Scratched the old head a bit (mine not the falcons) removed the rocker and pushrod to check for cracks and bends, all OK so refitted and runs good again.

Is this a common problem with old fords?

The valve doesn't seem to be sticky, the hydraulic lifter doesn't rattle and the car was recently serviced by a local mechanic and a ford motocraft oil filter fitted.

Can any one who has had this problem before and knows the answer please post a follow up as I want to be able to reassure the young owner that this won't happen again but until I know what caused it I am in the dark myself.

David

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Reply By: herkman - Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 20:04

Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 20:04

AH the little precious has had a failure.

I had a secetary that used to have the problem and it used to do it so often.

Eventually we bought a new push rod and the adjusting bolt, and the problem went away.

Have you checked that none of rods are bent, if they are chuck them away

Regards

Col

AnswerID: 200548

Reply By: mr fixit - Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 21:14

Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 21:14

yep quite common. The valves stick in the head. Used to happen a lot in car yards after they had sat for some time. Everyone I have fixed had bent the pushrod. Roll in on the kitchen to see if it wobbles, I always used to replace the offending pushrods and most times I never seen the vehicle again.

Doug

AnswerID: 200569

Follow Up By: mr fixit - Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 21:17

Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 21:17

That should read "roll it on the kitchin table" to see if its bent

Doug

FollowupID: 459666

Reply By: frosty01 - Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 21:19

Monday, Oct 23, 2006 at 21:19

Hi David,
Have had this happen on two different occasions with two different cars.

Both with alloy head cross flow engines. So this may well be a ford thing.

AnswerID: 200578

Reply By: David from Engine Saver Low Water Alarms - Tuesday, Oct 24, 2006 at 10:12

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2006 at 10:12

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question.

I think we will replace the pushrod as a precaution although the car is running OK at the moment.

Might try some upper cylinder lubricant as well in case the valve was sticking.

David

AnswerID: 200647

Follow Up By: Batman69 - Tuesday, Oct 24, 2006 at 10:30

Tuesday, Oct 24, 2006 at 10:30

While you replace all pushrods, take the time, spend a little extra and replace all hydraulic lifters as well. Sounds to me like one of them is crook.

FollowupID: 459758