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Another Timing Chain Post

prayforsurf0

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City, State
Montauk NY
Year, Model & Trim Level
1998 Ford Explorer XLT
Just wondering if this sound I'm hearing on startup is my timing chain, though it doesn't exactly match the sound people describe, it does occur at startup and my SOHC is hitting 235 K !

From what I've heard online through videos and descriptions, timing chain is more of an abrasive, metallic, rattling. What I'm hearing sounds more liquidy, like the coolant moving around in the tubes. Almost like a bubbling. If I were asleep and the sound made its way into my dreams, I feel like the visual would be marbles being gentle agitated in a sealed PVC tube filled with oil. Its not a dry, rattling sound or metal clanking around and it goes away pretty fast.

Ive taken to starting my vehicle up by cranking for 10 seconds with gas pedal floored, and then allowing it to start once I release the gas pedal on the first start up of the day. I've been advised this builds oil pressure in the engine before allowing it to start. But sometimes I still get the marbles, in an oil filled tube noise even with this start up procedure.

Are we certain this is the beginning of the end, or could it be something else ?

Thanks !
 



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My guess is that something timing chain related is broken. I start my '01 ST buy cranking it for 10-12 seconds for the first start of the day. It was quiet for for about 6 months and then started making a noise similar to what you're describing, but not all the time. I dropped my lower oil pan (second time I've done this) and found a piece of broken spring metal in the bottom. I was expecting to find broken pieces of tan plastic. The opinion here was that the broken piece came from the jack-shaft or balance-shaft tensioner. If that's what it is, it's apparently less fatal that the timing chain guides, and more easily repaired. I've decided to drive it into the ground, as I put less than 5k on the truck per year and it may very well live longer than I will at that rate. There's no way to know what broke w/out taking the front timing cover off, but I suggest you drop your lower oil pan and see what you find in there.
 






My guess is that something timing chain related is broken. I start my '01 ST buy cranking it for 10-12 seconds for the first start of the day. It was quiet for for about 6 months and then started making a noise similar to what you're describing, but not all the time. I dropped my lower oil pan (second time I've done this) and found a piece of broken spring metal in the bottom. I was expecting to find broken pieces of tan plastic. The opinion here was that the broken piece came from the jack-shaft or balance-shaft tensioner. If that's what it is, it's apparently less fatal that the timing chain guides, and more easily repaired. I've decided to drive it into the ground, as I put less than 5k on the truck per year and it may very well live longer than I will at that rate. There's no way to know what broke w/out taking the front timing cover off, but I suggest you drop your lower oil pan and see what you find in there.

Thanks Koda2000, you were one of those that helped me decide how to start her up after a week sitting a month ago. I use that procedure now every morning. Thanks for those tips. I actually recently dropped the oil pan approx 2-3 months ago just for a good internal perspective of my engines health. I was happy to find nothing but oil. Not even a little grit. I was kinda proud :) I guess I'll drop it again to see if there's anything new there.
 






Quick question, does it do it in the summer as well, or just the winter? Is the defrost on by chance? Just asking because the ac clutch on mine makes noises like you are explaining. and the AC runs in the winter when the defrost is on to dry the air.
 






Quick question, does it do it in the summer as well, or just the winter? Is the defrost on by chance? Just asking because the ac clutch on mine makes noises like you are explaining. and the AC runs in the winter when the defrost is on to dry the air.

Hmm, I think I started noticing it in the fall. But my ac compressor has been eliminated. I run a shorter belt and have entirely cut it out of the loop when the pulley went bad and I didnt want to spend money on a new compressor.

I've experimented with starting the car with the heat turned on, off etc and havent been able to conclude that the noise occurs with any definite repetition or pattern. Its actually pretty hard to hear, I tried to record so I could post it on here, but when I start the car the engine and chime of the car starting is so much more significant that you can't hear the sound I'm describing.

Before I had the terrifying realization that it could be the timing chain, I hadn't even considered the timing chain because the noise was so "liquid" sounding. I imagined the the pressure of the coolant moving around and balancing and bubbling every time I heard it, but couldn't understand why I only recently starting noticing the sound after having the car for nearly over 7 years.
 






If you think the noise might be related to the cooling system, with the engine cold, remove the radiator cap and see if the radiator is low on antifreeze. It should be filled completely.

If you find the coolant level in the radiator is low, it could be the cause of the noise you're hearing. The cooling system is supposed to be a sealed system, pushing and pulling coolant as needed from the coolant reservoir. If there's a leak in the radiator, or the hose between the radiator and the reservoir, the reservoir will remain full, but the radiator coolant level will drop. If the leak is in the radiator is high up, there's enough coolant present in the system to keep the engine from overheating, but the flow of coolant may be noisy. Once the coolant level drops below the level of the leak, it will remain constant, but rather then pulling coolant from the reservoir, the system will push/suck air through the leak point.
 






If you think the noise might be related to the cooling system, with the engine cold, remove the radiator cap and see if the radiator is low on antifreeze. It should be filled completely.

If you find the coolant level in the radiator is low, it could be the cause of the noise you're hearing. The cooling system is supposed to be a sealed system, pushing and pulling coolant as needed from the coolant reservoir. If there's a leak in the radiator, or the hose between the radiator and the reservoir, the reservoir will remain full, but the radiator coolant level will drop. If the leak is in the radiator is high up, there's enough coolant present in the system to keep the engine from overheating, but the flow of coolant may be noisy. Once the coolant level drops below the level of the leak, it will remain constant, but rather then pulling coolant from the reservoir, the system will push/suck air through the leak point.

Thank you Koda. Great insight there. I will be checking on that.
 






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