Timing Belt Tensioners or Bad oil filter?

[jimEMT]

My 03 4.0 (w/ 143k) started with a noticable engine noise on startup a month or two ago. It was after an oil change, and soon after startup (a second or two) the noise would go away. It was remaining longer, and I was growing more concerned. I initially paid it a little concern, and hunted through the forums. I noticed the threads on the timing chain tensioners and seemed convinced an issue was going on there. It did seem like an oil pressure issue though...if the car was warm, no noise...only from a cold start. I was running a K&N oil filter and always have used full synthetic oil w/ changes every 5k....

I was planning on having the tensioners fixed, and just changed the oil...noise seems to have gone. I guess it could have been a faulty oil filter, or could there have been a clogged port to the timing chains? I always yuse the Motor Flush at oil changes. My question is....is that noise I had still indicative of a problem with the tensioners? I don't want one of them to go on me if that was the first sign. I also don't know if it really was the oil change that could have fixed the issue...

Thanks...

 

[Tarpman]

I have an 03 with the 4.0. I had a metallic noise upon startup, probably started around 250000 miles. Only happened on cold starts but went away after a few seconds to a minute or so. Thought it was tranny, couple of people on here said it might be chain tensioners I think there is two. Ended up being my lower end, main bearing, but one day at around 276000 it finally went and I had to replace the engine. Hopefully that's not your problem but I've heard you have to pull engine to replace the tensioners because one is in the back I think. Hope this helps, and that its an easy fix

 

[Exproblems]

I was running a K&N oil filter and always have used full synthetic oil w/ changes every 5k....>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I always yuse the Motor Flush at oil changes. My question is....is that noise I had still indicative of a problem with the tensioners? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From my own personal experience, stop using "Motor Flush" especially at every oil change. Not necessary. You should only use motor flush in extreme, un-maintained engine's that are sludged up real bad. If you change your oil and fliters on a regular basis and use quality supplies (which you seem to do), you should never have to flush the motor. Motor flushes can loosen up internal engine parts/seals you don't want loosened up. I used a can of motor flush in one of my cars back in the late 1970's and it caused the engine noise I had to get louder and the engine crapped out not long after using it. My girlfriends father who was a Supervisor at the local Chevy Engine Plant, told me that the motor flush loosened up the varnished, internal engine parts that had been seated in place over time by the engine oil and the 100k+ on the engine. Wish I would have asked him about using it prior to doing so. Maybe todays engine flush formula's are made better (meaning less caustic to the engine) than when I used some in the late 70's, but I haven't used it since in any of my cars since because of it what it did to my engine back then. If you feel the need to use motor flush again on your engine, get it done professionally at a shop that has a garauntee that the product they are using, won't harm your engine and if it does, they'll repair or replace your motor at their cost. Otherwise, I wouldn't touch the stuff myself. Sorry can't help you on the timing chain tensioner guide issue, but I have read in here that they are source of problems in the first year, 2002 models for the 3rd generation Ex's. Supposedly, in the later year Ex's, Ford corrected the timing chain guide issues. I have a 4.0L 05 with 88k on it, no noise from the timing chain guides here.

 

[fifthranger]

Wish I would have asked him about using it prior to doing so. Maybe todays engine flush formula's are made better (meaning less caustic to the engine) than when I used some in the late 70's, but I haven't used it since in any of my cars since because of it what it did to my engine back then

There is a reason those "flushes" aren't recommended by automakers, and I agree with Exproblems -- if you don't have problems already and you know the maintenance history of your vehicle, then, why flush your motor? I don't see the harm necessarily after 60,000, 100,000, or 120,000 miles, but you perform the operation every 5,000. Back to your post, I would think that if the noise started shortly after an oil change, then clearly the problem was most likely that oil change, however, with 143K miles on the vehicle, age may be taking a toll.