Hello every one. I have an 05 with roughly 185k on the motor. The timing chains have had a slight rattle for a while now. Besides that it runs strong. I've done both the tensioners for now just to get through the winter. I plan on either pulling the motor and doing a full timing chain kit and gaskets kit or trying to find motor with under 75k. My question is what would be more practical for the long term reliablity and money wise. I recently put a new transmission in and the body is rust free so I plan on keeping it for as long as I can. Thank you.

 

Welcome to the forum

Rare occurrence on 2004 and up 4.0l SOHCs, but any engines with 4 timing chains are more likely to have a timing chain problem, lol

Once you hear a rattle the damage to the guides is done, so no external fix for that
New Motorcraft tensioners might help but it will get worse over time

So yes, you would need to pull the engine
At that time you need to price out the parts and labor for the repair and down time

A used engine might be more cost effective but........................no history, and it may also need at least new motorcraft tensioners

I stress the Motorcraft tensioners for a reason................for alot of parts 3rd party are fine, and good to use to save money
For these parts Motorcraft is worth the extra money, I feel the same way about Fuel pumps, lol

 

I have the means of doing all the labor my self. I'm just not sure if putting money in to a motor with 185k will be worth it. I've read on here that they will go forever if maintain but I do not know the history of the motor and I'm assuming it was poorly taken care of because the chains are going.

 

Yes, its a roll of the dice if you don't have the history of EITHER engine

You don't need to pull the heads to do the chains, and I wouldn't say forever but 400k miles wouldn't be unreasonable on the 4.0l OHV or 4.0l SOHC as far as bottom end
You can put in a new oil pump
And should put in new main seals

You could do a compression test before pulling the engine, maybe that would make deciding easier
4.0l SOHC uses 9.7:1 ratio, times 18 = expected compression at sea level, so 175psi would be expected
But compression gauges are rarely calibrated so 160-175psi would be fine

I am for "the devil you know" as the better gamble, lol, but I have no crystal ball

 

Tomorrow I'll do a compression test on the motor. I've been looking for a good timing chain kit and I'm not sure which is my best bet. The more I look in to it in my area finding a good low mileage motor would be $1000+. So I think replacing my chains and doing the seals and gaskets like you said would be a safer bet. If the the compression test is good.

 

The OEM(Motorcraft) timing chain sets/kits with tensioners run $500

The tensioner do need to be OEM, in my opinion, not sure on the cassettes(chain and guides)
If you already got new tensioners and they are OEM then I would reuse them

The chains and guides were not the problem with these engines, just the tensioners, their springs broke or got weak, which would allow the long chains to beat on the guides during start up, until oil pressure could take over, which, over time, caused a guide to break and THEN you get the rattle

 

I've been looking it to the Cloyes timing chain kit for around $300 and it seems to have very good feed back. It does come with tensioners but I would get brand new OEM ones to be on the safe side. I don't know if you know anything about those kits. As of the research I've done i will most likely be pulling my motor and doing the chain kit. After thinking what you previously said about " the devil you know" makes the most sense. The motor feels like it's running very strong and since I've owned it I've been very good about doing maintenance

 

I have never done one myself so don't have an opinion on Cloyes kits, but reviews and users posts are usually good info
No one posts a review unless they are extremely happy or mildly disappointed, lol.

 

As I read this thread I'm wondering about my 2005 V6 Ranger. It has 175,000 and I have not changed the tensioners should I worry and figure changing ASAP. Is it a difficult project or needs to go to the shop. You talk about a rattle is this a loud noise or soft.

 

One is easy to change, the back one, passenger side

The other is fairly easy but you have to take off the throttle body

Yes, rattle is noticeable but its too late when you do hear it

If you can afford the Motorcraft tensioners then I would get them and put it on the "to do list" just for piece of mind, like any service work
Prime them in oil before installing

 

By to late you mean the complete timing chain and gear kit. Or new engine.

 

New guides, but most also do new chains at the same time, and of course tensioners

If a chain breaks then you "may" get bent valves, not always, so heads need to be serviced

 

Great, just bought a 03 Ranger with 4.0L that looked like it was a good deal cause it had a bad MAF and injector wasn't firing. So i figured it was an easy fix. Buuut I was really hoping in the back of my mind it wasn't near a timing chain interval... mines at 181,000... *sigh* no rattle that I can hear, but then there's a belt tensioner that's got a failing bearing that's squalling so im not sure I'd even hear it if it was there...

 

There is no timing chain interval for the 4.0l SOHC?

I suggest to people to change the 2 Long Chain tensioners every 100k miles or so, or if you buy a 4.0l SOHC and don't have a history then maybe do it just because

Just take the fan belt off the crank pulley when engine is STONE COLD, then start it up, you can run an engine without water pump for a minute or so, with no fan noise or squeaking pulley, you can easily hear a rattle if its there
Remember, SHUT OFF the engine as soon as practical, after listening
Battery Light will be on with no fan belt

 

Hello I'm in Washington St. any idea cost for changing the long tensioners along with the 2 screw in one's. So when I ask a shop I can feel OK with the cost. Is it a complicated project or can the average back yard mechanic tackle it.

 

The one on the passenger side rear is very easy, if you can change a spark plug you can replace that one, maybe 30min shop time for mechanic

The front drivers side requires you to remove the throttle body from the upper intake, 90 min shop time

So 2 hours shop time, some may charge 3 hours, gotta fit a coffee break in there somewhere, lol

The tensioners need to be FORD ONLY parts, no 3rd party tensioners, they are way way cheaper but..............if they break, fixing the damage would Start at $2,500 and go up from there
Ford tensioners cost about $120-$170 online