* Just installed 8 new oil tubes on the left cylinder head of this 119.985 engine (about 105K miles) in a '97 E420 (210.072). The end of the fourth (from the front) oil tube was missing, allowing oil to escape. This is apparantly a common problem. Looked for the missing end-piece but could find it. The cam lobes and cam follower tops looked ok.
* The engine makes the same ticking noise now as it did before replacing the oil tubes. And from the same area, top of the cyl head around cyl 6.
* Here are my questions. Do the hydraulic elements lose their sealing ability quickly when there's a reduction/loss of oil pressure to the element (since there's still plenty of oil in the area, just not under pressure)? In the future, should I plan on arbitrarily replacing the cam followers adjacent to any leaking oil tubes? And last, could anything else be responsible for the localized ticking? Thanks.

There's an excellent DIY on this site RE oil tubes.

If they're still ticking, you may have galling on the lifter faces - it'll show up as scratches and/or plain wear. Or even on the cam lobes. Surprisingly, there's enough oil slopping around up there that the lifters get [barely] enough oil to prevent destruction. I've never seen one that caused a failure, even one that had been driven with the problem for 50k miles. Just the wear you'd expect without direct lubrication.

Your noise may WELL be elsewhere. The most common spot is exhaust leaks. This makes a distinct ticking noise - especially if someone has had the manifold off, say to replace O2s or something. That gasket must be replaced whenever it's separated. Exh leaks can also be in the valve seats (although not as noisy), or even something real obvious like spark plug threads.

Last check is injectors. They'll make a similar tapping noise, although somewhat different. And they can be very loud in their final moments of life.

But remember - ALL 119s tick to a certain extent. A price to pay for the finest motor ever to be put into production

* I thought I would submit a concluding post to this thread. It might provide some useful information for someone else trying to diagnose an M119 ticking noise after finding a broken oil tube.
* The broken oil tube was the fourth from the front (of eight) on the left cyl head. That puts it right in line with the rear int and exh valves on cyl 6 (four valves per cyl). After removing the valve cover the second time, I discovered that the leaking/noisy hydraulic element easily depressed 2-3 mm. I previously assumed that a bad hyd elmnt wouldn't be that easy to pinpoint (with the engine off) so I didn't check them. The ticking hyd elmnt/cam follower turned out to be on the rear int valve on cyl 6, right next to/above the damaged oil tube.
* So the lesson is this. If you have a fairly constant ticking noise (particularly when extra rpms don't quiet it down), and probably a broken oil tube, be sure to check the cam followers, after replacing the oil tubes, before you button it up. Finger pressure will do. Just remember to face the heel of the cam lobe toward the cam follower for the test. There shouldn't be any free play in a good hyd elmnt.

The only reason I can figure for such a crappy design is to keep the service guys busy.

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.