Rod bearings?

[IdyllwildRanger]

Hi. First off this is my first post. looking around on the site it seems that you guys are a bunch of good people out to help eachother.. its awsome and I hope to become a part of it.
now for the bad news. I have a 98 ranger with the 4.0L. It has about 120k on it and I got the vehicle when it had 30k about 5 years ago. For the past month or so there has been a loud rattling or chatter nThoise. I took a stethascope and poked around and the noise is deff. loudest at the oilpan. Im not super knowledgeable on this stuff but i would think it is the rod bearings going out. Is there any way to conferm this without pulling the motor. What are some other possibilities that it could be? Jusr a little history if it helps at all... there is no oil leaks on the vehicle, and it does not seem to be burning it. the oil pressure gauge stays right in the middle of H and L and does not move with exceleration( it never has, seem a little wierd that it doesn't) The spark plugs and wires were changed about two years ago as well as the fuel filter. and latelly it has a bit of a cold start problem. I dont know if any of that helped but now you have all the facts. Any input would help. thanks and glad to be here!

 

[sittenHIGHon35s]

Hi. First off this is my first post. looking around on the site it seems that you guys are a bunch of good people out to help eachother.. its awsome and I hope to become a part of it.
now for the bad news. I have a 98 ranger with the 4.0L. It has about 120k on it and I got the vehicle when it had 30k about 5 years ago. For the past month or so there has been a loud rattling or chatter nThoise. I took a stethascope and poked around and the noise is deff. loudest at the oilpan. Im not super knowledgeable on this stuff but i would think it is the rod bearings going out. Is there any way to conferm this without pulling the motor. What are some other possibilities that it could be? Jusr a little history if it helps at all... there is no oil leaks on the vehicle, and it does not seem to be burning it. the oil pressure gauge stays right in the middle of H and L and does not move with exceleration( it never has, seem a little wierd that it doesn't) The spark plugs and wires were changed about two years ago as well as the fuel filter. and latelly it has a bit of a cold start problem. I dont know if any of that helped but now you have all the facts. Any input would help. thanks and glad to be here!

i have a 2000 4.0 and i have pretty much the exact same problem i a have been thinking its a rod any help would be great

 

[AllanD]

I'll type something that others will tell you is true to my well known pattern.

IF you have ANY doubts about the engine the first thing you should do (other than saving some money) is start "junkyard shopping" for another complete engine, preferably one that you can SEE running before they pull it.

do NOTHING "major" to this engine that you are getting from the junkyard,

"Major" is anything more complex than new spark plugs, wires or valvecover and-or oil pan gaskets.

IF the heads "needed" to come off a replacement engine you don't
really want it in the first place...

It's a cryin shame you're on the west coast
I saw TWO '96-97 4.0's today in the "engine lot" at my favorite u-pull it.
(this is their segregated yard for running engines "no parts off" until they sell the RUNNING engine (that they demonstrate for you)

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