98 OHV Engine Knocking at Idle

[br3nnan]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 98 explorer sport with only 80k kms on her but she has an engine knock at idle but happens more so when the idle dips a little to low and is random does not appear to happen all the time. It does not increase with the revs. It also has a rough idle and the smell of over fueling. These could be unrelated to the knocking though.

The knock really sounds to be coming from down low but its very hard to tell because the power steering is always whining and needs to be replaced.

-replaced the plugs with new platinum plugs
-replaced air filter
-cleaned maf - not dirty at all
-cleaned IAC - not really dirty
-new OEM belt

Any help is greatly appreciated. Maybe someone has had a similar issue? The rough idle and knocking are driving me almost as insane as the power steering noise

 

[Alaskakid87]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 98 explorer sport with only 80k kms on her but she has an engine knock at idle but happens more so when the idle dips a little to low and is random does not appear to happen all the time. It does not increase with the revs. It also has a rough idle and the smell of over fueling. These could be unrelated to the knocking though.

The knock really sounds to be coming from down low but its very hard to tell because the power steering is always whining and needs to be replaced.

-replaced the plugs with new platinum plugs
-replaced air filter
-cleaned maf - not dirty at all
-cleaned IAC - not really dirty
-new OEM belt

Any help is greatly appreciated. Maybe someone has had a similar issue? The rough idle and knocking are driving me almost as insane as the power steering noise

Mine is doing the exact same thing. its a 96 explorer 5.0 awd has a knock that does seem to almost disappear with higher rpms, and I do also have the smell of over fueling but it has never gone over...
But from what I have gotten your exhaust could have a very bad leak in the header area and or you actually have a mechanical breakdown inside the engine it could go either way. as for the gas smell I dont have an answer or even hint of why that is...

 

[br3nnan]

Mine is doing the exact same thing. its a 96 explorer 5.0 awd has a knock that does seem to almost disappear with higher rpms, and I do also have the smell of over fueling but it has never gone over...
But from what I have gotten your exhaust could have a very bad leak in the header area and or you actually have a mechanical breakdown inside the engine it could go either way. as for the gas smell I dont have an answer or even hint of why that is...

I think it might be in my cat, the knocking that is. I reved the **** out of it coming home and I could hear something almost like bouncing around and tin sounding, no lack of power and it sounded more in the exhaust not the motor. Might have to remove one or both of my cats to see if there is something in there... Tried just banging on it but dont hear anything. they were pretty hot so I will check the shields and stuff today.

 

[koda2000]

cats can melt down and break up. this is usually preceded by some sort of engine problem. in my experience, this usually makes a rattling sound in the exhaust.

 

[Alaskakid87]

I think it might be in my cat, the knocking that is. I reved the **** out of it coming home and I could hear something almost like bouncing around and tin sounding, no lack of power and it sounded more in the exhaust not the motor. Might have to remove one or both of my cats to see if there is something in there... Tried just banging on it but dont hear anything. they were pretty hot so I will check the shields and stuff today.

Yup that def sounds like a cat issue in your case mine not so much... but let us know how it pans out cats can get pricey