Engine Clatter

[onlyme]

Does anyone know what this noise may be? Possible lifters or a rod? It just started about a week ago, not long after recent oil change. I used a Motorcraft filter and 5w30 oil. This truck isn't driven much, mainly just around town is all, it rarely ever sees above 35-40 mph also. The noise seems to get worse when the engine is warm, and increases with rpm. It sounds like its coming from under the valve cover, but I'm not 100% sure.






98 Ranger 2.5 with 5 speed

 

[Mark_88]

I tried to listen to the sound byte but it would not load on my Windows PC...

Without being on scene it is best if you simply use whatever tools you have to determine whether the sound is coming from the bottom end or top end...once you know that you can pretty much tell what it is...and I would hazard a guess that it is top end clatter from lifters not lifting or some other such thing...which you can do nothing about short of rebuilding the head...so removing the valve cover will only give you another possible problem with sealing the valve cover...not worth the effort...nothing to see on these engines.

Quite often it will go away or lessen in volume...and it is quite often caused by running low on oil or other problems with oil viscosity...especially in colder climates using thicker oils.

I got a loud clattering on my 2.3 that usually resulted in having to pull over to the side of the road and adding oil before I could continue because the valve timing goes down the tubes when the lifters are not functioning as intended.

Best to maybe check the oil to make sure there is enough in the bottom end...avoid heavier oils unless it is a really high mileage engine that you will replace some day soon...but I suspect it will go away without doing anything other than adding oil if needed...

Very important not to over fill these engines too...that usually leads to oil blowing out all over the place...and hinders performance quite a bit.
..

 

[onlyme]

Strange thing this engine didn't make any sounds like this a week ago. I did notice something tonight though that may be the culprit, my brand new spark plug wires on the passenger side of the engine were arcing in a few places and you could even see electrical current flowing through a couple of them, I'm guessing maybe they may be the cause of the noise possibly.

 

[Mark_88]

Things like arching wires, small exhaust leaks, and sometimes even radio interference (noise) can sound like that...also a hose off of the DPFE can make a horrid racket and includes things like stalling and won't idle properly...which happened to my 96 (it was a 98 2.5 running with 96 2.3 parts) and drove me crazy till I figured it out.

Really just a matter of time before you figure out all those things...and even the clatter of valves is not as scary once you've had it a few times. The first time I heard it I thought the engine was going to blow apart...

 

[onlyme]

Yeah it scared me cause I kept thinking a rod, but most people that's heard it says doesn't sound like a rod noise,I guess my new plug wires are grounding out and causing a noise.

 

[onlyme]

Solved the problem, it wasn't lifters after all, the coil pack connector for my passenger bank spark plugs was bad, and it was shorting out and arcing. I replaced it with a new one, and no more shorts, arcing, or clattering sound.

 

[Mark_88]

Good work!