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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
i have an 02 V8 with 92,000 miles. On cold startups you can hear the valvetrain rattleing, kinda like a lifter tapping. It goes away when warm. What would be a good valve train replacement? What valve spings, lifters, etc.?
You ain't kiddin...what was it..11Hp gain for all that work? I think I would have gone for a considerably more agressive cam if I were gonna put that much effort into the job.
Ya gotta love how they make it look like a 1 hour job.....Wish I could cut and edit my projects to go that easily and quickly....
yea im having the same rattling problem in my 4.0 when i start up... its much more prevalent in mornings when its cold rather than when its hot although it still makes a small noise... its also audible when im on the brake in drive... if i stick in it neutral the noise kinda goes away
is this the belt tensioner? thats wut i was told and how much does it cost to replace one? do i have to lift out the whole engine block to get to it??
I have only had the truck for around 4,000 miles and changed the oil when i got it with valvoline 10w30. Its due for an oil change in about 300 miles. The noise is there on a cold startup and then goes away. While driving its there when under pretty much any type of acceleration. I was hoping it was something underneath like a heat shield but its not. So its possibly its the timing chain but im out of options on what it can be. When starting when cold its pretty loud, kinda sounds like a lifter tapping.
I am having a similar problem.
I have a 02' with a 4.6 v8.
I can here what I think is a valve or lifter nosie. I can here it during driving and it seems to be consistant around 1500 and 2500 rpms.
Also, I am having a what i belive is a fuel or ignition problem.
This occurs more often after filling the tank with fuel. I get a hesitation and what seems like a miss in one of the cylinders. I have had a garage replace fuel filter, plugs, air filter, and do a fuel system test (came back with 5lbs over spec) Also, I have had the vehicle die at stoplights on occasion. However, this rarely if ever has happened when I have less than a 1/2 a tank of gas.
well a smoke test tests the fuel evap and smog components of a vehicle. the reason for leaning towards this is that efi systems need a small amount of pressure built up in the tank and evap hoses to work properly, and since your problems seem to occur after you take the gas cap off or soon after. releasing the pressure then it takes a while to build back up...
at any time that the fuel system could be suspect as a problem and a pressure test is done a smoke test should be done also as common precedure.
atleast to rule it out.
If you think you have some valve tap w/ high miles, you could try an additive called Lucas Oil Additive, its some good stuff. You replace a quart of oil with that on your next oil change. Its pretty think, but blends with the other oil and helps get rid of valve tap. Its a cheap try and possible fix and you can get it at any parts store.
they actually pump smoke into the evap system and watch for smoke to come out of somewhere. it will usually reveal a cracked hose, bad breather valve or something of the sort.
besides timing chain, does anyone else have any ideas on what would cause the cold startup rattle. This seems to be common with the 4.6's in the f150's. I was hoping to have an idea before i just up and tore the engine apart.
Is it just doing it when its cold out? A lot of cars with some miles on them will have some valve tap when its cold because the oil thickens the colder it is. So until it circulates and warms up, oil is not protecting as well as it should. Also if you haven't changed the oil lately and its do, I would really try the lucas oil additive, I've seen it get rid of a lot of mild tapping noises in the motor.
Also make sure you using the correct weight for the engine. The 4.6L uses 5w20. You also have to take into account that a vehicle with high miles, sometimes comes with new noises from age such as a lifter or valve tap noise. It can also depend on how its driven or has been driven in the past and how well its been maintained.
You have to look at and eliminate the simple, less costly items that could be causing this to prevent you from dumping cash into it that doesn't need to be done. You may be looking into to your problem too far, you never know unless you start somewhere and to process of elimination or take it to a reputable shop that backs their work and have them check it out.
i dont think its from that low on the truck... ive had the same problem pretty much ever since ive gotten the vehicle and it seems to come from outside the engine block... i changed my oil 4 days ago and its still the same deal... i havent really worried about it cuz its not that its harmful, just extremely annoying and makes ur truck sound bad when u have it running.. if u think this lucas oil additive still might be the answer, where could i get it from?
i do use 5w-20 and a motorcraft filter. i just changed the oil about a 1000 miles ago after sea foaming it. i have tried the lucas additive and a few others. nothing seems to help it. the sound only last about 7 sec on cold startup and then its gone.
You can get the additive at any automotive store...pep boys, auto zone, etc.
Justin: it might just be do to high mileage and worn internals. 7 secs. isn't really anything to worry about, though I wouldn't want it either.
There are way too many factors in a valve tap noise like I said. Mileage, poor maintenance, age, sludge build up in motor, extremely cold weather thickening the oil, etc. Its either a process of elimination or live with it until it gets worse and becomes a major issue.
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