Hi.

08 Ranger fx4. 4.0L Sohc 80,000Km

History to this point.

Monday morning was a cold one here...-20 So I went out and started the truck to let her warm up. When I came back out it wasn't running.

Restarted it......oil light on and rattle (not even an accurate word) like you would not believe.

Check oil pressure 60psi idle cold. New oil press switch solved the light issue but my god the noise. Did some research.....a lot of talk about chains and tensioners so I pulled the valve covers and front cover. The primary tensioner looked fine....6 leaves like it should be. I cant see any thing wrong with the cassettes. Have oil coming out of all lash adjusters.

I ordered and replaced the left and right tensioners....changed the primary since I was right there anyway.

Reassmble....no change in the death rattle at all....maybe even worse.

So my question.... aside from anyone want to buy a dead ranger..

There are no keys anywhere to locate cams on this engine and only the tension of the bolts hold the cam gears and jackshaft gear in place as I understand it so is t possible that one of these as spun and thus she is dead?
I don't have access to the special holders required to time this thing to check. Concerned she may be pooched.

I guess I am just looking for confirmation that maybe someone has seen this sort of thing before.

Thanks

 

I couldn't stand being without a vehicle any longer so I got a new (to me) engine from a wrecker today fo $750 (Canadian). Its out of a 2010 with less Km's so I will hopefully get some time out of it. I know what I am doing for Christmas.

Once she is up and running I will tear down the old heart and see what I find. Will take pics along the way and share my findings if I can figure out how to get them up.

 

Could that still be under drive train warranty? 80000km seems low. I know by years you could be out.

 

Unfortunately she is out of warranty....warranty was up at 60K. I foolishly said no to extended warrany, but then I wasn't expecting a major engine failure.
I was joking at work today saying that my engine must have been built on a friday and the builder wss rushing to get out for the weekend. I checked. ..built 10aug07....that was a friday......lol.

 

Powertrain warranty is 5 years 100k km. The build date means nothing. Warranty starts on the in service date

 

Unfortunately that still puts me out of warranty I took possession of truck October 2007.

 

Damn that's unfortunate, best of luck with the new engine. Let us know what you find when you tear apart the old one

 

The chain problems were 01 trucks. I don't think it would be those. I'm interested to see what the cause was. Please update this thread with numerous pics. I have an 08 and am sitting at 100k. If mine went I'd just buy a cheap daily and look into doing a 4.6L

 

Its alive!

Ok she has a new heart.

Its funny (but not really).....I was talking about some of the new trucks coming out and that I would consider a new dodge with the v6 diesel...I think she heard me...got depressed and commited suicide...

Ok....I will be the first to admit that I do not own the tools to time the cams so I have no idea if anything moved but I do not see anything wrong with the chains or guides.



But this looks odd....



Strange swirl or valve tapping on Lt side (Bank1)...no dents or noticeable damage but no similar marks on the right side.

Now to the obvious problem I found...



The center two cam bearing/mounts on the RT were definitely not getting enough oil but I found no debris in the ports that would indicate a blockage.

So now the questions....It started fine that fateful morning but for some reason it quit ...did I lose oil pressure? Is that why it quit? Was the loose of oil pressure enough to allow slack for the chain(s) to jump? Did the left cam sprocket slip? If I lost oil pressure ...why? and why when I checked it at the shop did I have 60 cold? why was there no oil only to the middle two cam bearings in the Rt head?

More questions than answers unfortunately....but at least I am mobile again.

I know that the engine should last longer than it did....the mileage on some of your guys trucks proves it.

Thanks for the interest. I would say that I hope this helps someone else but I still do not have an answer to the big question.....why did this happen?

 

Looks like the Valves touched the pistons, I agree. Is it all 3 cylinders? If not it might have happened on disassembly if the cam or crank turned independently of the other. Can I ask what kind of oil filter was on it?

 

Look at the valves, have them checked for being balanced or running true on a lathe. That'll tell if you can't from just a visual. As for checking the timing and if it was in the right location, it's too late now since its torn down.

 

I changed my oil and filter regularly. Got my filters from Carquest ..made by wix.
The marks were all three cylinders. I will pull the valves when I get a chance.

 

If you didn't, I'd also replace the computer. Could be something in it that's causing a bad timing or something. It's a long shot but it offers piece of mind.

 

Sorry guys...no definative proof. I don't have a valve spring compressor that seems to fit these heads. Can't seem to get an old school thumbscrew type to fit and the one I have for the 3v 5.4L doesn't work.

That being said from the marks on the pistons and the way it was easy...hard...easy...hard to roll over by hand with the plugs out (new one was easy 360º) I am convinced that it was just hitting valves on the left head.