My 99 Ranger 4.0 is approaching 100K miles. I've been pretty diligent changing my oil every 3-4K miles using the standard 5W/30. I'm not ecperiencing any problems although sometimes when I first start the vehicle I hear a slight klitty-klak when ideling and the noise seem to go away when I get moving and don't hear the noise at all after the engine is all warmed up. I've read a lot about oils and additives but don't know who to believe regarding all the miracles vendors claim regarding their products. I would like your oinion. Would I be prudent to change to a different type oil such as high mileage or semi-synthetic or a higher viscosity oil perhaps such as 10W/30? As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

To me, 100K-miles is "just getting broken in good". You can expect at least 250K-miles, and easily more. While you can try a higher viscosity oil (I would suggest during the summer only, though), you're probably doing best running your regular oil. Otherwise, I would angle toward synthetics, and maybe a little Lucas. ;)

My 3.0 Vulcan ranger makes the same noise. Probably lifters/rods. I am not too concerned about it as there have never been OBD2 codes or other problems. I am considering going to high milage oil anyways and I have 130000 KM. Not for the noise, but to help the seals and such. My oil stays new looking for at least a couple of thousand KM and I am very religious about changes every 5000km.

0.02

I added a quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer to four quarts of the standard Castrol 5/30 oil. The noise seemed to have increased in intensity. If this continues, I will drain my oil again and install what I had been using before.

there not even broke in until 100.000 these days specialey a ford rager or ford ranger or ford ranger xlt you take care of it like that rangers will go for ever. if not lifter a injecter can tick to my dads 2002 does and he never like fords until he got his ranger 4 years now and just oil and the normal maitanace 200.000 now keep it...but for there cars dono...

My 99 Ranger 4.0 is approaching 100K miles. I've been pretty diligent changing my oil every 3-4K miles using the standard 5W/30. I'm not ecperiencing any problems although sometimes when I first start the vehicle I hear a slight klitty-klak when ideling and the noise seem to go away when I get moving and don't hear the noise at all after the engine is all warmed up. I've read a lot about oils and additives but don't know who to believe regarding all the miracles vendors claim regarding their products. I would like your oinion. Would I be prudent to change to a different type oil such as high mileage or semi-synthetic or a higher viscosity oil perhaps such as 10W/30? As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".by the way he run 10-30 pensoil in it.

One thing I've figured out about Ford cars, you've GOT to keep that transmission fluid fresh. That's what happened to my Taurus. :mad:

I bought a 90 ford ranger 4.0 about 8 years ago that had 115K on it when i bought it. It had a klickity klack noise which I assumed was the lifters. It seemed to go away when it warmed up for quite a while. I drove it until it got 198K miles and the older it got the longer the sound lasted before it went away, and had I not drove it for too long adding water after my intake manifold gasket went out before I fixed it I have no doubt that it would still be running fine today. Seemed to be a common problem with the 4.0, never affected performance or caused any breakdowns, but the noise was always there from 115K to 198K miles. I changed my oil every 2K-3K miles, and always added a bottle of STP every oil change. I drove it hard. After the intake manifold gasket went out and I drove it to long it started pushing water out of the overflow container. I replaced the heads and the head gaskets about 4 times before I figured out that it mustve cracked a piston sleeve, as it would and still does drive perfectly fine for about 5 or 6 miles until it warms up, then it starts pushing water out the overflow container, but when its cool it runs fine, but always has the klickty klack.

I added a quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer to four quarts of the standard Castrol 5/30 oil. The noise seemed to have increased in intensity. If this continues, I will drain my oil again and install what I had been using before.

Dump the Lucas, and don't go to a higher viscosity oil, either. The reason that Cologne engines develop a lifter tick is due to wear, but it's not likely to grenade the motor any time soon. It's just a part of their character.

More than 90% of the wear an engine experiences is during start-up, and the higher the viscosity, the longer it takes to protect the engine components. Ford designed it to use 5w-30 for a reason.

Check out http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ and get a load of how Lucas products stand up to other brands. It's not pretty, and the increased viscosity from the Lucas is why your lifters are noisier than usual.

I use Castrol full-synthetic 5w-30 or the same vis Mobil 1, which ever is on sale when I need to change oil.

Btw, I only change mine every 9k miles, with a fresh filter and top off every 3k. That's in an '89 BII w/ 300k+ miles.

-zz