4.6 Problem!

[justin99]

anyone know how to solve this issue?
# TSB #03164 -- SOME VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L 2V ENGINE, WITH AN ENGINE BUILD DATE PRIOR TO 8/29/03 MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE TICK NOISE THAT IS PRESENT AT ALL TEMPERATURES DURING IDLE. 2004 MODELS INCLUDED. *TT (NHTSA ID #10003118, AUGUST 18 2003)

mine does it pretty bad.

 

[justin99]

noone has any ideas?

 

[jlmontes]

Sorry, haven't heard of anything. If it's a TSB, is there a corrective action covered by warranty?

 

[rocket 5979]

This will help you... I pulled it off my Alldata account...

 

[Turdle]

I read some of those engines are prone to piston slap.

 

[justin99]

thanks for the info. if that is the case that really sucks. seems like alot of work. but the noise is pretty bad. has anyone actually done this?

 

[JDraper]

This is also a common problem with the 4.6 DOCH Cobra and Mach 1 motors. On the DOHC, it usually originates from the last 2 cylinders on the left bank. My original Mach motor had "The Tick" too. Ford fubar'd the design of the cooling chambers in the heads so that the coolant pools in the back of the head instead of circulating, which causes a hot spot. This overheats the valve guides, causing "The Tick" and premature wear in the valves/guides. There is an aftermarket crossover tube that helps improve coolant flow. I'll have to do some digging on the Mach board to find it, but I don't know if it will work on the SOHC motors.

 

[justin99]

This is also a common problem with the 4.6 DOCH Cobra and Mach 1 motors. On the DOHC, it usually originates from the last 2 cylinders on the left bank. My original Mach motor had "The Tick" too. Ford fubar'd the design of the cooling chambers in the heads so that the coolant pools in the back of the head instead of circulating, which causes a hot spot. This overheats the valve guides, causing "The Tick" and premature wear in the valves/guides. There is an aftermarket crossover tube that helps improve coolant flow. I'll have to do some digging on the Mach board to find it, but I don't know if it will work on the SOHC motors.

thanks that would be great. mine has 92,000 miles so its not under warranty.

 

[JDraper]

Found the link. http://www.ldcchicago.com/products_CM.htm It's designed to provide cool (er) water to the rear of the driver's side head. From all I've heard on the Mach site, it works quite well. Unfortunately you have to pull the tranny to do the install. It's designed for Cobra's and Machs (DOHC), so I would definitely contact the company before ordering one to see if it works on a SOHC motor.

 

[justin99]

thanks. i emailed them to find out.

 

[justin99]

just got this back from LDC Chicago
It would have worked with some minor modification to the kit by the installer, however if you already have the tick, it will not remedy the situation.

 

[justin99]

update! i put the explorer up on our lift and put a stethoscope on it to find out where the noise is coming from. well... its coming from the block. you only heard the noise around idle and 2-3k rpms. if you get on the gas and break 3k or so you dont hear it and the truck pulls hard. but down load its rattling and its coming from the block, not the heads or anything. any ideas?

 

[JDraper]

Uh oh...I have first hand experience with that one.....The 4.6 DOHC motor in my Mach was replaced under warranty for a rattle in the block. The motor was improperly built and had .003" of play between the wristpins and the connecting rods, which was causing the rattle. When the motor was torn down, you could grab the connecting rod and rock the piston side to side. My symptoms were a loud rattle under no or light acceleration from 2k-4k rpms. Under heavy load, there was no audible rattle.

Other possibilities are piston slap or bad bearings.

 

['97 V8]

geez, im having one of those days. Watching speed hone a cylinder today, then my buddy comes in and says the speed shop told him he has piston slap and now this...wierd.

 

[justin99]

if this is the case i will just wait until it blows before i fix it. it just runs so strong i doubt it will blow up. the sound is just annoying.

 

[JDraper]

My Mach ran strong as he!! up to the day they tore down the motor. It just woulda gone BOOM sooner or later.

 

[rocket 5979]

if this is the case i will just wait until it blows before i fix it. it just runs so strong i doubt it will blow up. the sound is just annoying.

Why wait for it to blow just to buy ALL sorts of new stuff? If it concerns you enough to worry about it then rebuild it now and save yourself the money and heartache from having to buy a whole new engine.

 

[rocket 5979]

My Mach ran strong as he!! up to the day they tore down the motor. It just woulda gone BOOM sooner or later.

+1. Cars usually do run strong as heck up till the breaking point and then it all goes to hell.

 

[pumpkin]

Something else to check out....

This may not be related to the problem but I found this on Wikipedia the other day about early 2002 models w/ 4.6L 2V engines and cracking manifolds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modular_engine

 

[justin99]

Why wait for it to blow just to buy ALL sorts of new stuff? If it concerns you enough to worry about it then rebuild it now and save yourself the money and heartache from having to buy a whole new engine.

i guess my reasoning is that I am not sure what to do to fix this. Right now its at the Ford dealership for a back window recall and I'm having this listen and see what they thing. If i knew what parts to replace to fix it then i would. I just dont want to tear down my dailey driver and not know what im looking for.