Topic: 3.0L ticking noise

[superyoat]

i just bought a 1990 4runner for cheap. it makes a ticking noise mostly on acceleration but you can hear it a little when it is idling. i'm thinkin that the valves just need to be adjusted but not sure. i was wondering if anybody else has seen this and might know better. any advise helps.

[junya92toy]

On the 3.0s its better to have a ticking noise then no noise. Also it could be the injectors are getting dirty. take a long screw driver, put the tip against the fuel rail and stick the handle to your ear, then do that to the head. See what one is louder.

[superyoat [OP]]

On the 3.0s its better to have a ticking noise then no noise. Also it could be the injectors are getting dirty. take a long screw driver, put the tip against the fuel rail and stick the handle to your ear, then do that to the head. See what one is louder.

ok i will try that. so the ticking is nothing new?

[Rocksurfer]

Not saying it is the injectors but they can get a really loud clicking, those that have experienced them pretty much ignore it and live with it. My 86 was horrible.

[junya92toy]

Ya its pretty common. If its quiet then the valves are too tight and you could burn a valve. Also my 3.0 was ticking very loud, I did the screwdriver trick and it was the injectors. So 3 bottles of fuel injector cleaner with 3 tanks of gas did the trick.

[superyoat [OP]]

ya i have a stethoscope so i used that and there is a little noise from the valves but not much. the injectors are making a ton of noise though so i will run a few things of injector cleaner through it and see how that does. thanks for the advise.

[Snowtoy]

If the cleaner doesn't quiet them down, you could always pull them and have them cleaned and rebuilt.  Depending on the mileage it might be a good idea.  Even after a rebuild, mine are still pretty loud, have been that way since the truck was new, just something you learn to ignore.