2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Topic: 2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm (Read 2545 times) previous topic - next topic

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #15 – October 18, 2009, 07:33:19 PM

Quote from: t3skidoo;295368

with the idle screw bump up the idle to above 2K, use a broom handle as a stethescope to find out where the noise is loudest.

Don't go messin' with the idle screw... Place a washer(or a couple pennies) on the set screw between it and the throttle lever and that will hold the idle up so it can be heard...

I dunno what it is, but doesn't sound like a rod bearing and I doubt it's a main... Could maybe a wrist pin...

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #16 – October 18, 2009, 08:56:02 PM

Sounds to light to be a main or rod bearing. Are you sure it isn't coming from under the valve cover? That sounds alot like a bad HLA, or a cam lobe, or several lobes, that've gone flat.

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #17 – October 19, 2009, 12:09:41 AM

if you keep the idle up we have found it useful to use a length of tube and point it around with the other end close to your ear.
if you open the oil fill hole and does the noise get louder?

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #18 – October 25, 2009, 05:36:25 PM

I have tried the hose and cant tell, opened the oil fill and can't really tell, it does seem to echo through the hose more up top than when I put the hose on the block below the exhaust manifold...the noise is less when cold and the first start of the day and the oil pressure is highest then also...are they connected?...could it be that when the oil pressure is highest it gets more oil to the valves/lifters at the top of the engine and that's why it's quieter on the first start?

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #19 – October 26, 2009, 03:13:51 AM

What type of oil filter are you running?

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #20 – October 26, 2009, 09:58:18 AM

Can't tell, just got the car a few weeks ago and the previous owner did a oil change as the oil is pretty clean and not thick...he did not goop it up.

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #21 – October 26, 2009, 08:30:41 PM

The more we listen to it and use the hose, the more it sounds top end, under the valve cover, oil pressure is best when cold, I assume because the oil is thinner then and less noise, I don't have lot's of $$, so what would be your plan?
Do I need to do the oil pump...at 2000 rpm and warm and knocking or chattering the pressure is right at 40lbs...when cold it's up around 60.
I have never done one of these 2.3 but think I can get to the valves by removing intake and valve cover and not pull the engine, can I check to see if this is where the noise is or do we just do the rockers and what else and hope this is it?
And...Thanks for all the help!

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #22 – October 27, 2009, 05:37:54 AM

My dads 460 van does the same thing. It started when he put on the fram oil filter, but he is sure its cause he used slightly lighter weight oil. I would pull the valve cover if it were me and look for wear marks, and if its a fram filter, go get a moto-craft one and swap it on.

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #23 – October 27, 2009, 05:39:08 AM

Oh also, there is a rubber gasket on the top of the filters that can sometimes get stuck to the screw part on the oil filter mount, I have heard that that can either bypass or stop oil off and on from recirculating through the system.

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #24 – October 28, 2009, 12:12:57 PM

If what we are hearing is top end under the valve cover is this serious and needs to be fixed or can I just live with this?....or would you figure replacing the rockers, lifters...or what?...And since we would be that far would it be dumb not to do XXX because we are already there....I guess I am asking if it were your car and you had valve chatter and not loaded with $$$, what would you do?

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #25 – October 28, 2009, 05:49:57 PM

pull off the valve cover and see what is under there. You'll never know till you get there. Your cam is not a roller, so oiling problems will hurt it faster then some cars. If you have an oil pressure gauge, hook on up, if not, pull the valve cover and see what you can see.

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #26 – October 28, 2009, 10:31:13 PM

At idle the oil pressure starts out cold near the middle of the dash gauge (middle of normal range) and by the time it's warm it's near the low end of the "normal" range, I didn't like that so we hooked up a real gauge and it starts cold between 50 lbs and 60 lbs, by the time it gets warm it's less than 30lbs, but when warm you can rev it to 2000 and it reads about 40lbs...do you think the pump is ok or not?

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #27 – October 28, 2009, 10:40:24 PM

Pull the valve cover and inspect the cam. Your video sounds like mine when I had about 4 lobes go flat on the stock slider. You'll be able to see the damage quite clearly with the valve cover off and you rotate the cam. If it is wasted, and I'm betting it is, replace it with a cheap ranger roller with followers, and replace the HLA's while you're in there. You'll lose a little top end power with the ranger roller, but they can be found cheap.

2.3L bottom end rattle above 2000 rpm

Reply #28 – October 29, 2009, 12:58:17 PM

Mine is a auto and I guess the auto's are rated about 40 HP behind the manual and think I read the auto's have a smaller factory cam than the maunals, is the ranger cam a upgrade to what I have from the factory and what year(s) Ranger can works as a replacement and would I expect to pay?