Help needed with a noisy tappets

[sandpitcobra]

I have a noisy tappet on my 1989 Ford 5.0 HO V8. Adjustment is hydraulic and the manual talks about the push rod being out of tolerance. This seems a bit random as it has been running fine for the past few months. Could it be anything else?

[BO DUTCH]

May be very basic, may check the dipstick level. Low oil level can cause tappet noise too.

[Gaz64]

Yes, it could be any of a bunch of things, collapsed lifter, check ball not seating internally, foreign particles within lifter body, worn pushrod, worn rocker arm, mushroomed valve stem, worn guide, roller lifter wheel bearing failure, cam lobe failure.

[sandpitcobra]

Great, thanks for the responses. Oil level is fine
I'll take off the rocker cover and start looking.

Cheers!

[trularin]

I think some of these will cause your problem:

bent push rod
collapsed lifter
low oil
cam lobe failure
rocker stud pulling out of head
Rocker stud in screwing out of head
excessive rocker arm wear
imminent valve failure
insufficient oil pressure to lifter galley

That should cover most of the problems.