Another thing that causes a ticking is the notorious cracked manifold.
That can imitate a valve tick that happens as it warms up.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

"jamiecarson@gmail.com" wrote:
>
> Every six to ten months I get ticking. For a long time I thought it
> was lifters or exhaust noise. It drove me nuts not being able to find
> the root cause. Then one day I was reading a thread about carbon
> deposits not allowing valves to seat properly. I contemplated using
> ATF but settled on 12 oz of water poured down the throttle body just
> fast enough to make the motor start to stumble. Lot's of white smoke
> out the back for a few minutes but it stops it (the ticking) almost
> immediately. Lasts for a good long time. I think my Jeep runs a
> llittle lean. Maybe it's just that simple for you too?
>
> Brian

 

Another thing that causes a ticking is the notorious cracked manifold.
That can imitate a valve tick that happens as it warms up.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

"jamiecarson@gmail.com" wrote:
>
> Every six to ten months I get ticking. For a long time I thought it
> was lifters or exhaust noise. It drove me nuts not being able to find
> the root cause. Then one day I was reading a thread about carbon
> deposits not allowing valves to seat properly. I contemplated using
> ATF but settled on 12 oz of water poured down the throttle body just
> fast enough to make the motor start to stumble. Lot's of white smoke
> out the back for a few minutes but it stops it (the ticking) almost
> immediately. Lasts for a good long time. I think my Jeep runs a
> llittle lean. Maybe it's just that simple for you too?
>
> Brian

 

Could it also be some sludge or dried oil crud floating around in the oil
pan? Or even blocking the oil return holes in the cyl. head.
When you first start it this debris is in the bottom of the oil pan and the
oil pump pickup screen is clean. Then as you drive it around the debris
moves around and starts clogging up the screen and oil begins to stop
flowing to the rest of the engine.

I changed the valve cover on a '93 XJ 4.0 and the debris around the valve
springs was super thick. I plugged the oil return holes, scraped the debris
off and blew it away with some compressed air. Owner was quite pleased and
said the engine was running smoother and quieter.
Of course I changed the oil too and hoped any debris down in the pan area
came out.

Maybe some engine flushing and frequent oil changes make help! ;-)

Just a thought!
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1

 

Could it also be some sludge or dried oil crud floating around in the oil
pan? Or even blocking the oil return holes in the cyl. head.
When you first start it this debris is in the bottom of the oil pan and the
oil pump pickup screen is clean. Then as you drive it around the debris
moves around and starts clogging up the screen and oil begins to stop
flowing to the rest of the engine.

I changed the valve cover on a '93 XJ 4.0 and the debris around the valve
springs was super thick. I plugged the oil return holes, scraped the debris
off and blew it away with some compressed air. Owner was quite pleased and
said the engine was running smoother and quieter.
Of course I changed the oil too and hoped any debris down in the pan area
came out.

Maybe some engine flushing and frequent oil changes make help! ;-)

Just a thought!
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1

 

Could it also be some sludge or dried oil crud floating around in the oil
pan? Or even blocking the oil return holes in the cyl. head.
When you first start it this debris is in the bottom of the oil pan and the
oil pump pickup screen is clean. Then as you drive it around the debris
moves around and starts clogging up the screen and oil begins to stop
flowing to the rest of the engine.

I changed the valve cover on a '93 XJ 4.0 and the debris around the valve
springs was super thick. I plugged the oil return holes, scraped the debris
off and blew it away with some compressed air. Owner was quite pleased and
said the engine was running smoother and quieter.
Of course I changed the oil too and hoped any debris down in the pan area
came out.

Maybe some engine flushing and frequent oil changes make help! ;-)

Just a thought!
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1

 

Could it also be some sludge or dried oil crud floating around in the oil
pan? Or even blocking the oil return holes in the cyl. head.
When you first start it this debris is in the bottom of the oil pan and the
oil pump pickup screen is clean. Then as you drive it around the debris
moves around and starts clogging up the screen and oil begins to stop
flowing to the rest of the engine.

I changed the valve cover on a '93 XJ 4.0 and the debris around the valve
springs was super thick. I plugged the oil return holes, scraped the debris
off and blew it away with some compressed air. Owner was quite pleased and
said the engine was running smoother and quieter.
Of course I changed the oil too and hoped any debris down in the pan area
came out.

Maybe some engine flushing and frequent oil changes make help! ;-)

Just a thought!
--
later,
dave AKA vwdoc1