My sisters 2005 Explorer 4.0 V6 has that terrible chain rattle (with only 30k miles on it). It used to only be audible on a cold startup, but now you can hear it all the time so who knows how much longer this thing has. It's come up on a year since it's last oil change using 5w-30 Pennzoil Platinum, probably less than 3k miles (lots of short trips). Would it be beneficial to use a thicker oil to try and quiet it down?
Thicker Oil for Timing Chain Rattle
- Thread starter RoGuE
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No.
Magnatec 5W20 helped somewhat on my 4.6 2V, but it generally only rattled when it was cold. If it rattles all the time, it may already be too late.
I don't have the tools, time, or knowledge to do it myself and I priced it around and it is an extremely expensive job, nearly as much as a whole motor replacement. I let her know what could happen but she just can't afford it now. This car has been plagued with issues. Weird electrical issues, HVAC blender issues, computer says change oil all the time even after resetting it, TPMS issues, abysmal fuel economy (our Suburban gets better gas mileage), peeling paint even though it is almost always garaged.
Originally Posted By: RoGuE
abysmal fuel economy (our Suburban gets better gas mileage)
30k is pretty low milage. There are 2 chain tensioner's (oil pressure fed) they could be plugged. I would change both of them before I did anything with the chains. But first you should drop the oil pan to see if pieces of the chain guides are in the pan. If they are then installing new tensioner's would not help. There are plenty videos online on changing the tensioner's. The engine would have to come out to change all the timing chains. I would not go to a heavier oil. Also that 4.0 is an interference engine and if the chains go when driving bent valves will more then likely occur.
Originally Posted By: RoGuE
I don't have the tools, time, or knowledge to do it myself and I priced it around and it is an extremely expensive job, nearly as much as a whole motor replacement. I let her know what could happen but she just can't afford it now. This car has been plagued with issues. Weird electrical issues, HVAC blender issues, computer says change oil all the time even after resetting it, TPMS issues, abysmal fuel economy (our Suburban gets better gas mileage), peeling paint even though it is almost always garaged.
Sorry to hear that. She may want to consider trading it in? But, everything is about $$$$$. Only a matter of time.
Good luck!
Respectfully,
Pajero!
Might be a bad ground somewhere(electrical issues).
Originally Posted By: RoGuE
I don't have the tools, time, or knowledge to do it myself and I priced it around and it is an extremely expensive job, nearly as much as a whole motor replacement. I let her know what could happen but she just can't afford it now. This car has been plagued with issues. Weird electrical issues, HVAC blender issues, computer says change oil all the time even after resetting it, TPMS issues, abysmal fuel economy (our Suburban gets better gas mileage), peeling paint even though it is almost always garaged.
Originally Posted By: littleant
30k is pretty low milage. There are 2 chain tensioner's (oil pressure fed) they could be plugged. I would change both of them before I did anything with the chains. But first you should drop the oil pan to see if pieces of the chain guides are in the pan. If they are then installing new tensioner's would not help. There are plenty videos online on changing the tensioner's. The engine would have to come out to change all the timing chains. I would not go to a heavier oil. Also that 4.0 is an interference engine and if the chains go when driving bent valves will more then likely occur.
Originally Posted By: PimTac
Originally Posted By: RoGuE
I don't have the tools, time, or knowledge to do it myself and I priced it around and it is an extremely expensive job, nearly as much as a whole motor replacement. I let her know what could happen but she just can't afford it now. This car has been plagued with issues. Weird electrical issues, HVAC blender issues, computer says change oil all the time even after resetting it, TPMS issues, abysmal fuel economy (our Suburban gets better gas mileage), peeling paint even though it is almost always garaged.
Originally Posted By: Pajero
Sorry to hear that. She may want to consider trading it in? But, everything is about $$$$$. Only a matter of time.
Good luck!
Respectfully,
Pajero!
Originally Posted By: emmett442
If it's as bad as you say, the chain guides are already chunked/broken. Thicker oil won't help a thing.
You'll need to replace the guides.
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Whimsey
Use proper oil. Fix chain. Tensioners?
Rogue the pieces are most likely larger and would not come out of the drain. The pan should not be that hard to do. At this point I would not drive the vehicle. A little investigation can go a long way. Remember a vehicle with a blown engine is worth a heck of a lot less then a vehicle with a noisy engine. There a people out there (private sale) that can do the repairs for 3-400 dollars. A nice summer project for them.
What oil filter is on it? On my Explorer it would make a noise if I ran anything other than a Motorcraft. 820S if I remember correctly. I always ran 5W30.
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