Pix as promised...

['99 EB Explorer]

Ok, so I uploaded the pix of my old oil pan...as well as the misc. stuff I found in the bottom of said oil pan.

Up on jackstands draining the oil

Here you can see where the oil was leaking. And YES, the pan is sheet metal...

And the junk from the pan. The pen is there to reference the size.

This piece is steel...almost feels like an old dipstick or something like that...

And these are plastic. There were several of these

Any ideas/input?

 

[7.5L_STX]

hell if i know but ya got it fixed thats whats important. and clearly it still runs so those pieces couldnt have done any really noticeable damage

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Actually...there IS a new problem that just started yesterday.

When I start the truck, the RPM comes way up as normal, but when it comes back down, the truck dies. It doesn't do this every time, sometimes it bog's really low...and other times it does nothing at all and runs normal.

When it happens, I start it right back up and it runs fine...or if it just bog's, it runs fine when it comes back up and nothing happens until I try to start it again......IF it happens.

I just went to pick up my rear diff cover gasket today and I picked up a new air filter and fuel filter while I was at it.

 

[7.5L_STX]

well then i stand corrected. but that kinda maybe sounds like it could be vacuum or fuel related.

 

[Jason_J]

The plastic almost looks like the sleeves I used to put the new valve seals on the motor I just rebuilt. Hard to tell from the pic but strange none the less.

 

[Snoranger]

Those would be pieces of your timing chain tensioners that are falling apart. Welcome to the wonderful world of the 4.0l SOHC.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

well then i stand corrected. but that kinda maybe sounds like it could be vacuum or fuel related.

Yeah, I was leaning towards fuel..hence the new filter today. I did notice around the time it started getting cold this winter that my fuel mileage dropped like a rock. I know it's normal to lose mileage in the cold...but not this bad.

As for the valve sleeves, the plastic isn't hollow like a sleeve would be. It's solid. I didn't really think to inspect anything while I had the pan off...it was too damned cold. lol.

I guess we'll see over time.

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Those would be pieces of your timing chain tensioners that are falling apart. Welcome to the wonderful world of the 4.0l SOHC.

How would they make it into the oil pan?? Isn't the timing chain an external assembly?

 

[Snoranger]

When you've got some time, heres a good read on that.


http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269442


The timing chain cavities are open at the bottom for oil return. They are big enough for pieces of the guides to fall into the pan.

 

[jeffw920]

Those would be pieces of your timing chain tensioners that are falling apart. Welcome to the wonderful world of the 4.0l SOHC.

+1 on the tensioner

 

['99 EB Explorer]

Damnit. Ok, if I have to pull the engine out to fix that....I'm NOT putting it back in OR fixing it! lol. Perfect time to do a 302 swap!

 

['99 EB Explorer]

HA! Just found a guy that's selling his '96 with a 302. He's asking $1000. I'm sure I can talk him down because of the age and the fact that it's got about 186,000 miles AND it was a roll-over. Now I just need a stinking job. lol

 

[7.5L_STX]

there you go, perfect excuse for a v-8 swap. go with a 460, come on you know you wanna

 

['99 EB Explorer]

NO! It's a budget build. Can't afford any of that right now. lol. I'll be pulling everything I need out of the other Ex. (if I actually get it to begin with). And I'd probably be doing a rebuild on the 302 before installation anyway.

 

[Snoranger]

Drive it til it blows up. you may be surprised how long it will last!

I found a LOT more pieces of my tensioners in the pan then that. That was about 10K miles ago. Mine rattles a touch at start-up and goes away after 1-2 seconds. I beat the F@#K out of it. But I own 9 vehicles, if one breaks,I jump in a different one.