Hey guys,

I changed the oil and diff today and discovered after starting the car to check for leaks and loose change that fell out of pocket , I heard a slight rattling noise coming from the oil pan. I almost started to cry . I tried to do a search on the main bearings, replace bearings etc and came up dry. Can you replace the rod and main bearings with the engine still in the car and is it recommended? I think there is room to pull the oil pan and do this. I thought DaveMac did this to his but did not find it. The van has 178,151 miles on the clock and still looks great, slider works great (thanks Krankshaft) and A/C works great even though I thought it was shot, but seems to keep plugging along, oh, and it gets 21 MPG average city/highway traveling.

I don't want to trade this van in on another car (Dodge Neon's on sale right now) but would like to keep it going as we still have 5 kids in the house

Have not checked compression but it has new (in last 2 years or so) plugs,wires, fuel filter, tranny fluid change, diff oil change (today), constant oil changes every 3,000 with fram filters for a while now Wix/Napa brand and recently changed the temp sending unit and probably need the engine control temp unit changed. Basically well maintained.

Thanks for any help in advance,

Aaron

1995 Ford Aerostar
3.0 L / auto
Shorty
2WD
Original Owners (fiance)

 

On a 4.0 the pan removes in 10 minutes. After the pan is down, bearings are EASY. I suspect you will find that rod bearings are worn and mains will look like they were installed yesterday and the engine wasn't yet started.

A rattle is not the sound these bearings make. Sounds more like timing chain. Actually harder than bearings in a 4.0. Engines make a heavy clunking that increases under throttle opening when bearings are worn.

You might warm up the engine thoroughly and if noise disappears, I wouldn't worry too much. There is a lot of junk bumpling around in the crankcase and clearances tighten when warm. Sure sounds like timing chain to me.

Ken

 

2nd Ken,
180k miles, timing chain and gears worn, get a kit and replace before the chain jumps or breaks, does more damage and leaves you stranded in Timbutu

about a 6 on the Aero beer chart and $60-$80

 

Hmmm, was going to try to explain what it sounds like better, kinda like the chain (did I say chain???? )on a kids bike after cleaning and lubing, you know the sound when you have the bike upside down and turning the crank and listening to the chain go through the motions? Then watch the boy ride off into the sunset and into the biggest mud puddle he can fine LOL.

You have me sold, gonna get a new chain, should I go Motorcraft? or go to my local Schmucks and get a chain, we also have Carquest (my favorite and the parts guy knows my voice on the phone I have a '64 Chevy pick up I work on regulary )

And...should I replace those rod bearings while I'm into the 6 on the beer factor? And....does the power steering rebuild kit from fordparts.com (or any kit) come with the o rings for the power side of the hose? My pump leaks from the power hose, replaced the o rings, little white plastic washer (stretched on a punch and carefully stretched over the threads, not tearing it up or anything) seems to be dripping out of the nut going into the pump and the nut that goes inside that one as well. makes a mess but...have good clean fluid all the time.

Thanks for the input guys, I will take it easy with her the next couple of weeks and do a replace on her, glad you took a load off of my mind with that one, thought the motor was shot .

L8R

Aaron
Nappers

 

Motorcraft if price is no limit, US made-outsourced FoMoCo makes few parts anymore, just an assembler-marketer

Schucks-AE Clevite and Hi-Tech are quality US made
or Carquest-carrys Cloyes- high quality US made, make many high performance parts
get set with gears, chain plus follower, gasket and guide=$150 approx
go with the cheap stuff if you are going to dump the van in 50k miles or less

you may have one of those Aeros that the Ford factory made a mistake and put in the million mile crank/rod bearings

most parts stores will open up a rebuild kit to let you see if all gaskets and special seals needed are included

 

I replaced bearings with engine in the van. Easily! But bolts and nuts of caps may be difficult to losen, becouse there is non enought room. And one advice: remove spark plugs before, it will not be so difficult to rotate your crankshaft by hand... Thats all.

 

I plan on keeping the van for a while, so...I will put a good brand in it. My Carquest takes good care of me and I'll probably get my parts there. My local stealership sucks. I could work in the parts department and get better results.

As far as the bearings go, I'll leave them alone, Dad says if it aint broke, don't fix it. I may put a new water pump on it for giggles after all 178,000+ spinning around may need it.

I might as well rebuild the power steering pump while I'm at it and the belt idler is sitting kind of pointing to starboard.

Thanks again you guys.

Aaron
Nappers

 

Certainly, there is nothing wrong with replacing bearings but they are completely separate and unrelated projects. A little like replacing water pump and rear axxle pinion bearing. Do the chain first and listen. Properly designed (sized and oiled) bearings can last forever. from what I hear, the 3.0 bearings are very good.

Ken

 

I can't disregard. But who can be sure, that 178K motor was lubricated ad served well all its very long life! 2 years ago our family had 2 big (20 metric tonn) Volvo trucks! About the first one: I replaced bearings at 1000000 km (600K miles!), but the other truck was noking at 350K! May be oil filter was not replaced in time, ore oil was not the best, may be fuel, oil pressure..... The other hypotesa! May be surface of crankshaft is not smooth and its requires grinding and polishing and using the next size of bearings. Look at the sufface carefully!

 

I'll do the timing chain, change the water pump while torn apart and rebuild/replace my leaking power steering pump. When done and hear no more noise, I'll leave the bearings alone for now. It has always been well maintained and I have had it with my fiance since '03 and have really kept an eye on it and with this site, owning the Aerostar has been nice.

My fiance just opened up a drive thru espresso and it's doing good just not as profitable as we like (it would be cool if she got paid ) so money is tight right now until it picks up, which I suspect it will, she makes more everyday seems.

So....If your in Grenada, CA and want a coffee or a mocha, stop by and mention your an Aerostar Freak and she will probably laugh her head off (she calls me one as I am on this site just as much) and probably give you a discount.

L8R

Aaron

 

I like coffe too! So I gonna drink it now! BTW some mechanics use medical stetoscope (ore how to call it right? I'm not a doctor!) to hear noises inside the motor. They looke like doctors, but not in whight! I tried to use this method, but I can hear a mix of nocking sounds, may be I can not understrend this music? OK. See you tommorow, I wanna drive home...

 

My Dad has used a 3ft piece of Garden Hose or a piece of Broom Handle to listen for Engine noise.

JaY

 

agree, 180,000 miles on a water pump and it's time to retire that bearing and shaft...
equals approx 70,000,000,000 revolutions with the water pump turning at approx 30% higher rpm than engine

a failed water pump bearing and fan going thru a radiator at 4,000 rpm is NOT a good thing