Oil filter quality and Timing chain noise

[TDI Ranger]

I recently finished the rebuild of the engine on my black 03' Ranger in late December. I installed the Cloyes timing set. Everything ran great. After 50 miles or so it got it's first oil change with Motorcraft 5w30 and a Motorcraft oil filter FL820S. I had a couple of occasions where I had some chain rattle at start up (cold starts were in the 60-70's), and two times where the front chain continued to make noise on hot restarts that lasted for 30 seconds or so (the truck had sat for at least 30 minutes). Obviously this was very concerning. I felt like this was on oil pressure problem or a defect in the tensioners. I had two things I wanted to try #1 replace the oil filter #2 replace the tensioners with OEM Ford. I had a Wix filter 51372 on the shelf. I removed the Motorcraft filter and replaced it with a Wix and topped up the oil. I have put almost 2000 miles on the engine since then. No rattle or timing chain noise since then. Cold starts have been in the upper 20-40's.

My theory on the oil filter is that oil is draining back past the check valve in the filter, causing air to be in the upper part of the oil galleys and the tensioners loose prime. There would be lag in the time oil pressure is available in the tensioners. The Motorcraft filter is $3.19 and the Wix is $4.94. Maybe you get what you pay for and the Motorcraft is somewhat subpar. I have always thought of Wix as being a quality brand. Maybe I'm mistaken. I have waited a while until I put some miles on the engine to test my theory. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[racsan]

I thought motorcraft filters did have a “anti drainback valve”.

 

[sgtsandman]

Could have been a defect in the filter. The manufacturer of Ford filters is a decent maker. Not all OEM filters are great but that is one thing Ford hasn’t cheaped out on. I think it’s the same maker that make Purolator Pure One and Mobil1 filters. There are better filters out there but the Motorcraft filter isn’t a slouch.

 

[bobbywalter]

High efficiency purolater.

Motocraft is really good. For a pushrod engine.

 

[DILLARD000]

...finished the rebuild of the engine
...installed the Cloyes timing set. Everything ran great
...After 50 miles or so it got it's first oil change with Motorcraft 5w30 and a Motorcraft oil filter FL820S
...couple of occasions where I had some chain rattle at start up (cold starts were in the 60-70's)
...two times where the front chain continued to make noise on hot restarts that lasted for 30 sec
...felt like this was on oil pressure problem or a defect in the tensioners
...wanted to try #1 replace the oil filter #2 replace the tensioners with OEM
...had a Wix filter 51372 on the shelf. I removed the Motorcraft filter and replaced it with a Wix
...2000 miles on the engine since ...No rattle or timing chain noise since ...Cold starts have been in the upper 20-40's

You've got a good looking truck & clean looking engine rebuild.
2001 SportTrac here with >250kMiles & all original V6~4.0L~SOHC + 5r55e +1354; equal to a 2001 Ranger ExtendedCab.
Been changing Oil+Filter every 6mths for several years now, using 0w30.FullSyn in the Spring, 0w20.FullSyn in the Fall.
Prefer 0w so don't need to wait for 5w to warm up, gets oil to those OilPressurized TimingTensioners ASAP on ColdStarts;
but I live at 9kFeet elevation with below zero winters; recommend 0w30.FullSyn year round for the "Hot 'Bama" climate.
Typically use Mobil1 or SuperTech\Warren oil. Also do "GasPedal To Floor" prestart crank for 5~10sec if truck has sat for more than 12hrs.
Use K&N# hp2011 Filter ( 14psiByPass 14gpm Rated ) instead of Ford# fl820s (16psiByPass 13gpm Rated).
Changed left+right TimingTensioners twice now in 22years, using OEMs.
Have installed Cloyes Tensioners on friends engines; slightly shorter maybe 1mm than OEMs, but had a better\thicker washer seal.
More info on my wiki pages below:

Engine Oil

Oil+Filter changes are an often neglected, greasy, lowly task, however they preserve & extend engine life. For any vehicle under warranty, it's best to use & record OEM spec Fluids+Filters+ServiceIntervals, so to not void that buyer protection. For a new vehicle\engine, changing fluids & filters...

2001fordexplorersporttrac.fandom.com

Engine Oil Pressurized TimingTensioners

As of this 2020 writing, I'm just dumb lucky, not having had any TimingChain component failure with this 20yr old V6-4.0L~SOHC engine; only issue noticed is momentary rattling during very cold morning starts. The recent removal of the lower Oil Pan & Pump Screen was clean, without any...

2001fordexplorersporttrac.fandom.com