Trying to save my '97 Explorer

[Psmyth]

Hi,
From when I bought it my '97 explorer had some rattling in the engine which I think was to do with the timing chains and the tensioning cassette. I drove it about 2,000 miles always under 3k revs and it was going great until the other morning when on starting it sounded as horrible as hell, loud too and the oil pressure had dropped considerably.

After having read lots I think the oil pick up is blocked by debris from a broken timing chain tensioner and that has significantly reduced the oil pressure.

I wanted to take the oil pan off and clean it out together with the pick up screen but I can't figure out if I'll need to raise the engine or not to remove the pan. I've read that you do and also that you don't...??? Could anyone clarify this for me? I don't have the facilities to raise the engine I don't think but if it's a matter of crawling under the car draining the oil and removing the pan, I think I can handle that.

I've also read a thread where cleaner and multiple oil changes without taking the pan off cleaned things up enough to regain pressure - anyone had experience of that?

Any help/advice much appreciated.

I'm in the UK so dealing with the UK version of the '97 SOHC 4.0 Explorer.

Thank you,

P

 

[Psmyth]

Had a look under the vehicle and it looks like the sump should come off relatively easily unless I'm missing something. Then going to clean the pickup screen and see how much sludge/crap is in there. What engine cleaner/flusher would anyone recommend?

Thanks
P

 

[kevin p]

I can't answer your question but I have a genuine 89000 mile engine with all the ancillaries and ECU. I've just put on a fresh set of intake gaskets. It has service history book. You are welcome to it. All I ask is a very small donation to go to the Birmingham hospital who saved my sons life. Simple.

 

[Psmyth]

I can't answer your question but I have a genuine 89000 mile engine with all the ancillaries and ECU. I've just put on a fresh set of intake gaskets. It has service history book. You are welcome to it. All I ask is a very small donation to go to the Birmingham hospital who saved my sons life. Simple.

Hello Kevin,

That is very kind of you and I may indeed take you up on that offer. I have a mechanic in the family in Coventry. If I can get the car to him there by sorting out this oil pressure thing then depending on his words of wisdom it is likely we will need a new engine.

Happy to hear about your son.

P

 

[Psmyth]

So I was under the explorer today to take off the sump and see what was happening to cause the low oil pressure. I've never done anything like this and read everywhere that you can't take off the sump/oil pan on a '97 Ex without lifting the engine. Well it isn't true. You just undo the bolts and it comes right off without any problem at all. After I removed it I could see there was a large piece of broken chain tensioner wedged in the oil pickup pipe which together with some other fragments, was causing the loss of oil pressure. Apart from that the sump was clean and there was no gunk or build up of any kind. I replaced it filled with clean oil and then started the engine which sounded a lot better than when it was running with no pressure. The oil pressure needle went up as the car idled at high revs but dropped when the revs dropped. I revved the engine a bit and sure enough the pressure stayed high.

Unfortunately I then turned the vehicle off, messed about a bit tidying up various tools but left the door open and the light on the door obviously ran the battery down. So now I have to charge the battery or get a jump before I can see if the car will drive ok! If it does I'm then going to attempt to get up to Coventry and have a mechanic in the family look at it.

If I need to replace the engine I'll be in touch Kevin - whereabouts are you?

Many thanks, P

 

[kevin p]

I'm in Telford mate.