2.3L Engine Clack

Hi All,

Two days ago I had a bit of a surprise from my 03 manual transmisison Ranger with 68,000 miles on it. As soon as i revved over 2000 rpm a distinct clacking started and rate of clack was proportional to engine rpm. Clack is really the best descriptor of the noise. It does it mostly when the engine is under load in any gear. In neutral it can do it, but generally requires several repeated revs to get it to occur, and then its usually at higher revs than 2000. It will not always do it, sometimes you can get through the gears without barely hearing it. Engine can be cold or warm and it sounds pretty much the same.

I did a compression check (190 psi +/- 5), plugs looked okay, only one was eroded a bit more than the rest. The oil is a nice golden color and no metal particles are visible to the best of my eye. Checked and cleaned the PCV valve and the tube going back to the intake manifold. I checked all the heatshields/guards i could find and didnt see anything loose. We took a stethescope and were not able to isolate the location but it does seem to come from the left side of the engine (as standing in front of the truck facing it).

Without any solid insight past what had been done, I stopped by the dealership and took a service guy for a ride so he could hear it. His comment was that outside the truck he thought it something loose vibrating, and once i took him for a ride he said probably detonation. As a result I picked up a bottle of octane boost and filled the rest of the tank (only 6 gallons filled it up) with premium fuel. I've drove 20 miles or so and had it idle about a half hour since and not been able to notice a difference. Do I need to go longer to rule this out?

I have a Carchip (ODBII monitor), and the only two error codes are ones i've had for two years, P1450 and P0457 so I don't think they come into play. Using the carchip the max timing advance I see is about 55 degrees, is this a normal range?

Like Vw_Guru_06, my ranger has always sucked up some coolant, and air blows out of the engine oil fill when the motor is running.

Also posted this over on ranger power sports, but any input as to what I can do or check would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Trioxin

mine is making this same sort of noise butit doesn't start till around 2500rpms and gets louder the higher the rpm's go.

Exaust leak?

Loose cams?

Did you recently run low on oil? Have you tried engine additives like Lucas oil treatment?

It may not be internal, but it certainly sounds like what mine did recently. I was hauling some weight lond distance and when I restarted on the way home it was pretty loud clacking. The oil was low...

I've been running about a half liter of Lucas in every oil change trying to slow down some blowby...you might try that to see if it clears it up...

Could also be an exhaust leak but you would have picked that up with the stethescope...

Did you recently run low on oil? Have you tried engine additives like Lucas oil treatment?

It may not be internal, but it certainly sounds like what mine did recently. I was hauling some weight lond distance and when I restarted on the way home it was pretty loud clacking. The oil was low...

I've been running about a half liter of Lucas in every oil change trying to slow down some blowby...you might try that to see if it clears it up...

Could also be an exhaust leak but you would have picked that up with the stethescope...