Piston slap?

[j4life]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered a million times but I'm still pretty new to computers and finding my way around, so I apologize for the question. The diesel sound, what do some of you think it is? My Cherokee shows 186,000 miles but the speedo was broke when I bought it and I'm guessing it has well over 200K. My ex's boyfriend bought one with close to 300K and it sounds pretty quiet and doesn't look like it was pampered or like the engine had been changed. One mechanic listened for about 3 seconds and said it was piston slap and not to worry about it. I've had other Jeeps with the 4.0 and they didn't do it. Some times when I start it a sound like lifter clatter comes from it but if I shut it off and re-start it (sometimes 2or3 times) that noise is gone and just makes its normal (for it) diesel sound. What do you think- piston slap, lifters,rocker arms, what? Thanks for any answers on what I'm sure is an old question but I'm not smart enough with this damn thing yet to find.

[jeepgod]

Without hearing the actual noise......it is difficult to diagnos over the internet......my guess is the possibility of a worn cam or valves.....worn cam will cause lifters to be slapped on the bottom in turn wearing out cam lobes and such.

[j4life]

What can be done to check this out? The engine seems to be in fairly good working order other than the noise. I'd hate to spend that much on a reman-parts, labor etc if this is fixable.

[muddeprived]

Use your phone or video camera and get us a video/sound recording of the noise then we can tell you what it is probably.

[j4life]

I'll have to go to my sisters house tomorrow to do that. I appreciate the help.

[jeepgod]

Originally Posted by muddeprived

Use your phone or video camera and get us a video/sound recording of the noise then we can tell you what it is probably.

X2 ^ Great idea mudd!

An engine can still run ok with lifter issues as long as they are not too bad.......you may just have sticky lifters too.

You could pour some seafoam in your engine oil to see if this alleviates the problem. You can get this stuff at your local auto parts store for around $8 just follow the directions to the "T".

[j4life]

I't did it since I bought it. I've been running 10w30 syn and Lucas since 11/09 with no difference but I can try the seafoam in the oil, tried it once in the gas.

[jeepgod]

After trying the seafoam, if it keeps it up, without listening to it or being by it, I would assume the lifters and cam may be the problem......this is very common for the 4.0 engine if the oil isn't changed on a regular basis. You could either run it until it pukes and then have a new one or a rebuilt one put in.....or you could buy you a junk yard engine and have it rebuilt so that when your engine goes....you'll have a good engine on hand.

[2000XJ]

Moved to the right section