Valve tap

[Burns]

My 302 has developed a slight valve tap. It doesn't happen when the engines cold, like after sitting all day at work or overnight, but it gets louder the more the engine's run. I already run 20w50, and I don't have the time to tear it all down and check out what's doing it. I'm kind of wary putting checmicals in, because while some seem to work, they chew up everything else as well.

Anyone have any ideas on what could work to solve or lighten the issue?

 

[Justshootme84]

Have you tried Seafoam?

 

[Tennessee Jed]

I had a 1992 5.0 and used Lucas oil additive every time I changed the oil never affected it, got over 200k out of it. When I fist got the '92 it was doing the valve rattles and it turned out to be the oil pump going bad, I heard it was common Ford 5.0 problem.

Does your oil pressure look good?

 

[Burns]

Have you tried Seafoam?

Not yet, but I will now.

I had a 1992 5.0 and used Lucas oil additive every time I changed the oil never affected it, got over 200k out of it. When I fist got the '92 it was doing the valve rattles and it turned out to be the oil pump going bad, I heard it was common Ford 5.0 problem.
Does your oil pressure look good?

The pressure's holding right now, which is why I'm using 20w50. If I go anything thinner, I lose a little pressure.

 

[madmax]

Not yet, but I will now.The pressure's holding right now, which is why I'm using 20w50. If I go anything thinner, I lose a little pressure.

sounds like the pump is goin, might want to fix it before it hoses everything, not sure if you can drop the pan without removing the engine, maybe if its lifted, also the oil gauge is electronic so it could be reading higher than it really is, 300 bucks will get ya a new set of heads off eBay, GT40p's even all the pollution control crap should even work.

 

[Burns]

sounds like the pump is goin, might want to fix it before it hoses everything, not sure if you can drop the pan without removing the engine, maybe if its lifted, also the oil gauge is electronic so it could be reading higher than it really is, 300 bucks will get ya a new set of heads off eBay, GT40p's even all the pollution control crap should even work.

Yea, I was really hoping it'd be something simple or cheap. I'm trying to avoid putting too much money into this one when I got a 351w being build in my garage. Slowly, so this might have to be done before I can swap, unfortunetly.