My 1993 190e, 2.6, 147K miles, occasionally makes a clackty clack noise when first started. It stops when the oil pressure comes up. This only happens on a cold start, and only once and a while , maybe every 3rd-7th cold start (Southern California).

At first I thought it may be a cam follower, but I stood in front of the engine while a friend started the car and it is coming from the timing chain area. I suspect a TC tensioner... My question is... does the tensioner rely on oil pressure to "pump it up"?, or is my tensioner sticky? if so can it be cleaned out?

I seem to recall reading a thread where the tensioner could be removed and reset. Is this correct or was I just dreaming?

Thanks,

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1993 190E 2.6 135k
1989 Ford Thunderbird SC 5 Spd 79K