Enigine noise 2003 4.6

[JKs2003awdv8]

Hello all,

I have come upon this forum by Google as have many of you I would assume. I just joined and I must say that I have allready spent hours upon hours scouring the posts reading interesting info. Today I joined so hopefully somebody can give me some insight on my issue and maybe I can help one of you all.

Well I have a 2003 Explorer Eddie Bauer. It is 4.6v8 AWD and it has the Auto trans, 3.73 LS package. We absolutely love the truck except for the noise... I have found several postings about engine noise but none of them are exactly fitting to mine. It makes a noise similiar to a rod bearing but only when it is in drive and only up to about 2500-3000 rpm then it goews away? We bought the truck with 75k on it and it has 90k on it now. The guy I bought it from was using the 10w30 bulk at Firestone but I switched it to 5w20 MC with a Ford filter, no help. I took it to my mechanic who thought it might be a rod bearing and he changed the oil to 10w30 bulk unknown brand cheapo with one bottle of Lucas. 1200 miles and no change? My wife drove it up to Flagstaff at x-mas time and said it was much quieter up there but it seems the same to me down here if not even louder. If it is the timing chain deal then i cant fix it (2 much $$$) and I'd like to know if there is a thicker or better engine oil I can try to quiet it down a bit and prolong this motor for a while. We live in Phoenix.

Thanks:

 

[JKs2003awdv8]

Well I'm surprised to see no input here

 

[turbo cat]

i think those also had a torque convetor issue that can sound like a rod knocking. if it is a timing chain issue i sugest you get it fixed before the chain breaks and turns a valve into a piston poker and puches a nice hole thru a psiton alowing the piston to crumble into mutiple pieces leavin gthe rod punch a hole thru the cylinder wall ruining the block or completely chop the block in half