So about 2 weeks ago my check engine light came on as soon as I started my truck and it started to make this knocking noise. The higher the revs the louder and more constant the knock is. I did the "stick test" last night and its definitely coming from the motor right above the oil filter. I thought it might be my transmission, ready to blow, but it doesnt sound like its coming from there.

Any idea on what it might be?

 

This doesn't sound good. Check Engine Light or Check GAGE Light? The GAGE light could be for a loss of oil pressure. What does the oil pressure gauge say?

Get it checked before you drive it anymore. Knocking sounds from the bottom end only get worse with miles and could put a rod through the block.

 

Oil pressure is good. Clean oil. I dont drive it daily so its been sitting since this all started.

Its the check engine light that is on, unfortunately. To be honest Im scared to even start it.

 

could be a piston hitting a valve or a rod knocking....either one is expensive......if you know someone with a OBD II code reader get them to come over and read your codes....

 

I know someone but hes a ***** and wont come over to help. :(

If its a piston hitting a valve or a rod knocking, what could possibly cause that? My truck is still KIND OF low in miles (please dont tell me off roading cause then that would mean my dad was right....hahaha)

 

just tell the asshat that you will give him a few bucks..................or have it towed to a repair shop and let them check to see what the problem is....

the only reason off-roading could cause those problems is sometimes offroading you will hit high rpm's....that could cause a bunch of problems with an engine....if it was extended into high rpm's for an extended period of time it would cause damage.......

 

ok then pulling a trailor with 3 fourwheelers probably would have done it! hahaha

oh well, **** happens, I just want to know what to do to fix it. Im guessing that if it checks out to be a piston hitting a valve or a rod knocking (which I am pretty sure it will be) then its not something I can take a Saturday and Sunday to do huh?! Whats that run?

 

to replace either and fix it correctly you almost have to pull the engine......i know for a fact to fix a piston problem, you will have to pull it so you can turn the engine over to unbolt the piston......i dont think a Saturday and a Sunday combined will be enough time....and unless you know what you are doing, then you shouldn't mess with it......to have it done you are prolly looking at around a couple grand to have it fixed.......I would take it to a well know mechanic and let them tell you what the problem is....

 

for a couple grand I should just drop a bigger engine in it. But I suppose that taking to a professional should be my first step. sigh :(

 

it would cost more than a couple grand to do a v8 swap the proper way and make it look stock.....heck it would cost 2 grand to buy a wrecked explorer with a v8 in it......then you have a lot of time and other cost that go into swaping it in.....like rebuilding the engine....you wouldn't want to install an engine that would need to come back out for a rebuild in a couple thousand miles......

take it to a professional and see what they say.....i would have it towed there....

 

FIRST THINGS FIRST get the codes pull from the PCM. Dont start assuming that it could be a piston hitting the valves, rod knock or whatever. It could be a carbon knock for all you know, seafoam will take of it and off you go. Right now everything is speculation and alot of the stuff being mentioned at this point is expecting the worst. Tiff take it to the parts store if you have one close and have them pull the codes. If anyone has a XCAL2 that lives around ya they can pull the codes for ya as well.

 

I really hope its nothing major. I still LUB my LIL truckster! *sniff sniff*

Im going to see if I can get someone to come test it. I am NOT driving it anywhere, it sounds like its dying at idle!

PS- I know it would take alot of time and money to do a V8 swap thats why I am NOT going to do that, just a simple bigger V6 hehe. This is like the absolute LAST thing I want to do/can afford right now. Just going to take it one thing at a time. If she does end up going to the shop for a fix that would be good for me....that means regearing (finally), some fluid change, a diff cover change, basically all the things Im too scared or too lazy to do, AND now I can get daddy to pay for it hehehe!

 

Hey Tiff how long has your truck been sitting and how much fuel is in it???? Is the engine misfiring or running rough at all??? Sometimes a misfire if it running lean or too rich can cause a misfire for one but also a knocking sound from the engine.

 

it was only sitting for 2 days before this happened with a half tank of gas. it doesnt run funny or shake. it just makes this aweful knocking noise.

im considering buying one of those if i cant get my hands on one for free for a few hours!

 

have u let it sit n idle n warm up? come sometimes when a car sits and then u crank it up it will knock but as the engine gets the oil moved around in it....the knock will go away

 

Tiff I know this maybe dumb but did you check your oil???? Mine did the same thing and it was caused by low oil??? It also may be miss firing on dirty injectors, bad fuel filter, ect......If you want ya can call and Maybe I could here it? But to me that sounds like the problem....A dry piston

 

Ehh. I checked my oil time and time again HOPING thats what it is. But its not. I have enough oil and its clean. I think this weekend, Im going to change my oil and drop the pan, if somethings really wrong with my engine I should have shavings of metal in my oil pan right???

Ray, everyone keeps saying that but like I said my truck never sat for more than 2 days. It shouldnt be all dried up after 2 days and it wasnt even 2 full days, I drove it on a Tuesday and by Thursday evening it was doing this. :(

 

dropping your pan will be a job....if i am not mistaken, you have to raise the engine up a few inches to get it off.....that is what has to happen to the 4.0 OHV anyway......

 

really? that much work for something so small? damn it, I cant win today!

 

dont hold me to it but i believe so.....


















btw....that is hot that a girl changes her own oil and can drop an oil pan......lol....espically since she is a cheerleader!

 

My brother mentioned maybe having to replace some seal or gasket or something, but if its that much work then F it I will just tow it to a shop.

anyone wanna by a broke ranger?! JUST KIDDING

 

yea if you take off the oil pan you WILL have to replace the gasket on it.......you can't just drop it and then reinstall it like nothing was done....

 

I might do a lil research and then decide whether or not I wanna attempt it. I dont want to mess with anything Im not familiar with or that I cant get put back together in a days time.

PS Maurice- everything you see done to my truck, I DID. My baby has NEVER been to a shop. Of course I ask for help if its something I cant do myself but my hands have been in everything on this truck! Thats part of the reason I love it so much. So much time and effort and money into it so far. Oil changes done regularly and Shane can tell you I change my own fluids lol.

 

Do you know what the check engine light is on for yet???? I wouldnt remove anything until you know what the check engine light is on for. You are going to possibly do alot more work then you need to.