Metal blow out near Oil Filler Cap

[BudEaton]

Have a 98 Eddie Bauer 4x4 Explorer, about 120,000 miles on it, this morning when my wife started it, it made a sound like they do when low on oil, where it sounds like you can hear the valves or lifters, just a steady clicking. I saw a puddle of oil under car and when looking under hood, saw a hole about the size of a penny below oil filler cap, it looks like it blew outwards, could not find the peice that blew out, probably down around the engine somewhere. My question is, can anyone tell me what happened or what caused this, from looking at it, it seems like its a bigger fix then I am capable of, am wondering if I could use an
epoxy or something similiar to repair this or would there be a lot of pressure that would blow out patch job, or whatever caused the hole in the first place just do it again. Took some pictures of this and downloaded to computer, but don't know how to insert to post. Thanks for any info on this.

Bud

 

[Joe Dirt]

Bud- you can upload your photos to a free site like photobucket, then link them here.

Is this connector what blew off? What engine do you have?

 

[1Aauto]

welcome to the site

 

[BudEaton]

Hi Joe, thanks for the reply, I have the 4.0, SOHC, V6 engine, mine is nothing like your picture, mine has the distributer and a thousand other things hooked to it, its not just a valve cover. My brother who is a fair mechanic, told me on the V6's that they have two timing chains, one going to each side of the engine, and said it seems that the timing chain could have jumped and hit the side where it blew this peice out, it still starts and runs fine, no missing or such, just makes that clicking noise as if the timing chain is hitting something inside. I bought this brand new and its been a darn good vehicle, never any problem till this. I stuck a screwdriver down the oil filler cap just to see if I could see it in the hole and I could. You can also see the timing chain in the hole or what I assume is the timing chain. I know this would probably be a pretty expensive fix, as the unit would have to be replaced and don't think I want to spend that kind of money on it. Guess I could try and sell it as is. Think I will patch that hole and see how it runs. Will try and get a picture in post.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Only because I don't know the SOHC covers, is there maybe a baffle in there that could have come loose, caught the chain and is laying loose in there?