2000 Ford Explorer Keep or Sell?? Timing Chain Rattle

[FleaMarket]

Need advice - I have a 2000 Explorer, XLT, 4 door, 4.0 SOHC, 200,000 miles, orginal motor and transmission. I've owned it since new and never had to do any major work to it. It runs good, everything works and the interior and body are in great condition.

Now there is one issue I have....the dreaded "timing chain rattle" that these motors are notorious for having. It rattles really "hard and loud" when it starts up for the first time in the morning (really bad on cold days) but it goes away in about 3 seconds or less and isn't really heard once your driving. Every now and then I can hear it at an idle, but not every time.

I've asked a few mechanics around and they say the whole motor needs to come out to make the repair and they really don't want to do it b/c its such an awful job, they've done them before. Plus its an expensive repair. Anyway, my question is.....should I go ahead and sell it at the flea market now before it gets worse and is completely tears itself up or keep it?? Anybody have experience on how much longer (how many more miles) I could drive this thing like before it wears through the timing chain cover?

The noise itself doesn't bother me and as long as it continues to be dependable I would like to keep it. I've been running a 20w-50 fully synthetic oil in it and it really quietened down the timing chain rattle for a while, but it came back eventually. Any suggestions anybody has is appreciated. It's sort of my backup car now so I don't have to drive it every day which should make it last even longer if I kept it. I just don't want to end up having to sell it for scrap by pushing it too long with this issue if I can help it.

Thanks

 

[Bill MacLeod]

20-50 is a very heavy oil for cold weather use, but since its worked for you in the past, not sure a lighter weight would help.
If you live in a climate that sees very cold temps, I would suggest a lighter weight synthetic and also the use of a block heater. In the past, I have used 5-30 synthetic and plugged in the block heater for about 3 hours before morning start-ups. It would significantly reduce the start-up rattle.
Infrequent start-ups in cold weather sure don't help, so in your case, a block heater would be very helpfull.
JMHO.

 

[FleaMarket]

Thanks for the suggestions. I live in a warm climate, Florida Ga line. I've run a thinner oil 5w30 and the heavier 20w50 synthetic seems to lessen the timing chain rattle some.

Anybody have any good guesses on how much longer I could run this Explorer like this? Will the rattle just keep getting progressively worse until a major breakdown?? Or has someone out there driven one with a similar condition for many miles over 200K?

Thanks again.

 

[Tom G]

I just don't want to end up having to sell it for scrap by pushing it too long with this issue if I can help it

You answered your own question...

 

[koda2000]

personally, i'd run it into the ground while running the thick oil. you could try the M0012 kit, but with 200K on it, i'm guessing the cassettes are probably about shot too. mine ran for another 60K with fairly terrible timing chain noises. when it finally died, i scrapped it. i couldn't sell it to some other unsuspecting soul w/out telling them about the problem and the cost of repair, at which point you'd just about have to give it to them for free. scrap value was around $400. if you can part it out you can make more, but that takes time to do.

 

[FleaMarket]

Koda 2000 - thanks for sharing your story. That is exactly what I am looking for, someone's input on how long they have run their Explorer 4.0 SOHC with a timing chain rattle before it dies. If I read your post right you made it to 260K before yours died, right?? What happens when it dies exactly, does it just break the chain and lock up the motor or what?

Thanks again.....anyone else got a similar experience please share.

 

[koda2000]

Koda 2000 - thanks for sharing your story. That is exactly what I am looking for, someone's input on how long they have run their Explorer 4.0 SOHC with a timing chain rattle before it dies. If I read your post right you made it to 260K before yours died, right?? What happens when it dies exactly, does it just break the chain and lock up the motor or what?

Thanks again.....anyone else got a similar experience please share.

sorry this wont be a short answer, but...
i'm not sure where you got 260K out of my post, but when my daughter bought the truck it was showing 130,000 odd miles on the odometer, but it was on a salvaged out-of-state title, which had rather obviously been altered to read 129K. so i have no idea what the real mileage was. it rattled badly at start-up and and sometimes made a diesel-like rattle when at operating temp from the day she bought it. this continued for about 40+K with regular oil changes every 3,000 miles. i originally thought i might install an used '05 Mustang SOHC V6 long-block when the engine finally died, but it ran with the rattle for about 2 years and when it crapped out i decided to junk it. i'd bought a 2000 Mountaineer V8 six months before and had it ready to replace the SOHC '01 Explorer (a year older, but a much nicer vehicle).

as far as how long a rattling V6 will go... it's hard to tell. i suppose it depends on what's causing the chain rattle. if it's the guides and/or hydraulic tensioners (which i suspect were my initial problems) i'd guess you can go for quite a few more miles. if your cassettes are disintegrating, you probably wont get that far. some here have recommended using a thicker single viscosity oil (like 50 weight) but depending where you live and how cold out it gets this might make it very hard to start your engine.

when my daughter's SOHC engine finally gave it up, it started running very rough and would hardly move the truck. if a chain actually breaks the valves will get whacked by the pistons and you'll be dead on the spot.

if you want to try it, you can install the M0012 kit. which consists of new hydraulic tensions, a new front chain guide and an oil restricter tube. it's not that expensive or hard to install these parts. it could stop the rattling as long as it's coming from the front driver's side of the engine. the other option is to run the truck into the ground and be ready to replace it when it finally dies.

good luck.

 

[2000StreetRod]

timing chain rattle

As soon as I finish my supercharger installation I plan to sell my Volvo and purchase a 4 door 2000 Explorer in good condition except for chain rattle for about $800 to $1,000. I wouldn't consider buying one that won't run because I wouldn't be able to determine if the transmission, axle, brakes, A/C were any good. If you run yours until the chain breaks and the valves get bent it won't be worth much more than scrap unless you part it out yourself. I suspect that your rear cassette guide is probably broken since your described symptoms sound identical to mine at 150K miles. I decided to repair mine before major engine damage occurred and I'm glad I did. The 4 door Explorer I purchase will become a backup vehicle for my wife's 2006 Highlander and my 2000 Sport. Because of knee problems I prefer a mid-size SUV. I prefer front engine rear wheel drive for reliability, maintainability, fuel economy, turning radius and reduced insurance cost. I was waiting for the BMW X5 sdrive to be released as a possible replacement for the Highlander but that's not going to happen with a $53K base price and twin turbos. I may be purchasing a 4 Runner.

 

[FleaMarket]

Hey thanks for the responses. I put in that kit M0012 a year or so ago, it did help initially but the problem came back after a while. I'm in the deep south and this is an extra vehicle at this point so I am basically just not driving it when temps are below freezing. It really just does a real quick "tap tap tap" noise for about 1 or maybe 3 seconds at the most on initial start up. Then it will rattle and sound like spark knock it I get on the gas extra heavy, but normally I don't hear the rattle during normal driving. Sometimes when I am at a drive through window I can hear a little rattle, louder than I would be comfortable with but if I rev it up a little it goes away usually when it comes back to an idle. I guess I will just run it as long as I can, baby it during the winter, continue to run 50 weight synthetic oil, etc. I've had it since brand new so I just guess I have an attachment to it. Maybe I can drop a V8 in it one day and use it as a hunting truck, who knows!!

If anybody out there has taken one over 250k with a timing chain rattle I would love to hear about it. I'm at about 205k right now. I will post updated occasionally if anyone is interested in how long it lasts me!

 

[96explorerxlt2wd]

I had pretty much the same symptoms with an engine I bought that was supposed to be in great condition. I put in two new tensioners which helped for a few weeks. I ran it with the rattle for a month and then changed the oil and put in 5w-20 synthetic. I haven't heard it since. That was back in July.

I forget where I read it, but I remember seeing somewhere that if you pull the oil pan and there isn't pieces of the cassette present, then the cassettes probably are not the problem. That was the only reason I didn't tear the engine down and replace the timing components. I had already bought a timing kit expecting it would need done due to the rattle.

I'll be interested to see how long it lasts. I'm hoping my engine lasts a while since it was supposed to only have 89,000 when I bought it.