ohc timing chain issue

[racsan]

just what year did the timing chain issue get fixed? (at least I assume it has) me & the gf are considering a exploder, while I would prefer a 302 V8 model, most Ive seen are newer, 2001-2004 vintage. for the right $ I wouldnt mind fixing it, but Id rather get one I didnt have to do serious work to. (then again, Id prefer a manual transmission and I think they quit putting those in a long time ago.

 

[Dirtman]

It was fixed in 2004 iirc

 

[snoranger]

It was never fixed... they eventually made it less shitty.

 

[19Walt93]

I retired as a Ford service manager in 2017 and we hadn't fixed a sohc timing chain noise for years so it seemed to me that they'd cured it. There were a few 02-10 Explorers with 4.6 v8's, if you can find one you'll love it and the gas mileage is about the same as a 4.0 sohc.

 

[JohnnyO]

It was fixed in 2004 iirc

2002 I'm pretty sure. As long as the oil was changed regularly it's rarely a problem. Lots of people are getting over 200k with no issues. I have 187k on mine and it runs like new.

 

[adsm08]

2002 I'm pretty sure. As long as the oil was changed regularly it's rarely a problem. Lots of people are getting over 200k with no issues. I have 187k on mine and it runs like new.

I have seen/heard a few different numbers for when it was "fixed" and why it happened at all.

There was a TSB or SSM about replacing the tensioners ONLY for a rattle with no derivability symptoms, which included vehicles up to 04.

There was a part number revision that came around in 06 or so.

A Ford trainer has told me that the whole issue was oil, and that for a while Ford was saying the 4.0s could run 5W-20, and then discovered the tensioners were not faring well with the thin oil and started saying to use 5W-30 in them again.

I personally have not seen a single failure after the 2004 model year, and that is out of probably a 10-20 thousand vehicle sample between all the customer cars, and those of family and friends and people here who have that engine, so I feel confident when I tell people it had been fixed in production by 2005.

 

[racsan]

I wondered about the oil, the escape I just got says 5w20 on the fill cap and its a chain drive ohc.(3.0) I realize thats a whole new animal compared to the 4.0 but it should probly run 5/30 as well. When I got this escape there was a 2010 ranger on the lot, 4.0/5speed/supercab. all black, very tempting but cant afford 2 payments right now. thought it was a 4x but just looked like one, kind of like a edge pkg, had the fender flares and ride height of a 4wd. should of at least test drove it, Ive never drove the ohc version of a 4.0 Had a ohv ‘93 for many years. on paper the ohc has more top end but Im not sure it would have the low end tourque like the ohv had. someday I’ll get one, want to pay off this new ride 1st and unload the hhr, it should be about wore out in a few years.

 

[adsm08]

I just got says 5w20 on the fill cap and its a chain drive ohc.(3.0) I realize thats a whole new animal compared to the 4.0 but it should probly run 5/30 as well.

Meh. You don't see those DOHC 3.0s having issues really ever. Their timing drive is far more similar to the 4.6/5.4 as well. The 4.0 SOHC's timing drive is a wholly unique beast in all of Fordom.

 

[RobertjeD]

Paul because 3 years to get a bolt in kitted engine in haha Or myself with taking over 18 months to even look at getting started on the awd swap