I have a loud screeching engine noise that has nothing to do with the belt or pulleys ...
it makes the same noise with the belt off the van ..

very loud high-pitched annoying screech/squeal that increases and decreases with load and and in perfect time and unison with RPMs ..

it is not a steady long screech .. it's like thousands of short scraping bursts going off at the same speed of the RPMs

if I didn't know any better (and I probably don't) I would say it sounds exactly like piston rings scraping against the cylinder walls  in perfect time to the engine speed in an engine with no oil in it .

much , much louder under load and up hill


2005 E150 4.6 L

 

is the starter disengaging ? ( shot in the dark )

 

nope the starter functions just fine ..
but thanks for the idea

 

Might the damper be disintegrating? Or the flexplate?

Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 190K miles

 

it's been going on for over a month now so you would think if it was the flexplate it would've broken by now or the starter would hang up or stop working properly

could you briefly explain how the damper could or would make that kind of noise ...

 

have you actually done any sleuthing ?

 

dont worry sounds like the noise will go away once the motor blows

 

This could also be the water pump impeller rubbing against its housing.

If the serpentine belt is off try turning the water pump shaft by hand.

 

as I said .. makes the same noise with the serpentine belt off the van ..
when the belt is off the van the water pump is not turning ...therefore it cannot be the cause of the noise ...
it is not belt related ... 

 

LOL .. so true ..
I have no doubt that the post-mortem autopsy will reveal what the culprit was !

 

I can't seem to delete this post ..
where is the delete option hiding

 

Google "4.6L timing chain cassettes" to see if that describes the noise?

Also check "ford 4.6l torque converter screech".

Noises are a real trial to troubleshoot. Good luck!
jim

 

yes but no matter where I listen the noise seems to be the same ..
of course being a van .. it's hard to get the stethoscope in there ..
but using a long 1/2" PVC pipe and checking various places ..
I really couldn't discern a difference anywhere.
it's the kind of noise that reverberates equally throughout the engine ...
but if I had to pick an area I would say it might be a little bit more pronounced
towards the rear of the motor as opposed to the front ...
but then again I had to remove the engine cover on the inside of the van to listen there
so it would obviously seem louder inside the cab than outside ..whether it really was or not ..
and of course having to go inside the van under the van and outside the van ..
you lose your comparison perspective..

but as richter roxs just pointed out ...
it probably won't be long before I find out exactly what it is


 

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thanks for the info