i know this is a explorer question,but you guy's give quicker responses in here.I have a 98 explorer sport,ohv engine that has developed a tapping noise on initial start up,almost sounds like a diesel?.after driving to work about 25 miles you can barely notice it.does it sound like the hydraulic lifters,or maybe a valve,or valve spring?I just had the timing chain replaced about 4 months ago so i know it's not that.the truck runs fine for 106,000 miles on the ticker.i just wanted to get some of your opinions first.
thanks,
Steve.

 

Do a search for "marbling" and read through a few threads, see if it describes your problem.

 

I agree with Rockledge, kinda sounds like it could be carbon deposits causing CCDI (Combustion Chamber Deposit Interferince) & Ford has a "decarbon" procedure that might help. It's listed in the "Technical Info" thread atop this forum.

I have a 99 4.0 thats sensitive to the sequence used, when I change the oil & filter, or it will "marble" for days upon startup, before going away, so have you just changed the oil & filter, or maybe changed the sequence or poceedure in which you did it, or maybe used a different brand oil filter????

 

Ken00 had a very similar problem on his 2000 when they pulled the timing cover to fix an antifreeze leak. He developed a tapping noise also, and the theory right now, the mechanic was sloppy removing old gasket material, getting it into the oil pan, which was sucked up into the oil pump screen.
On a cold start, the oil filter bypass opens up, allowing this gasket debris to get into the lifter passages, which keep them from pumping up with oil....

Whoever replaced your timing chain probably did the same thing!

 

pawpaw, the marbling sound on the '98-'00 4.0L is something that has been determined to be unrelated to upper engine carbon deposits and pinging. The two concerns - marbling and pinging - are not the same thing.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...19&postcount=4

And now that Bob mentions it, the current complaint does sound similar to what happened with Ken's 3.0L.

 

Yup Rockledge, had that problem with the factory engine in my then new 99 4.0L, the Delership/Ford pulled the engine at one month & replaced it.

The Dealers lead Tech said it sounded like wrist pins to him, the Service Manager said he & the factory engners were divided between wrist pins & piston skirts, which had been shortened so much, that the pistons would "rattle" in the bore, at the bottom of the stroke.

The replacement engine developed the same sort of sound, after a short while & by that time, the Dealer & Ford pointed to that TSB, saying the sound was normal & they would no longer replace engines, because of it.

Well my replacement engine developed a very slow coolant use problem & in the process of running it down, the heads were pulled & the servce Manager & I had a chance to have a good look deep into the cylinder bores & sure enough, with jst the right light & view angle, you could see faint signs of cylinder wall scuffing from the piston wobble.

Turned out one of my "marbling noise" sounding problems on this engine, was CCDI, caused by not enough room in the "squish" zone, by too close mechanical tolerancing at the top of the pistons up stroke, such that any carbon build up on the piston, or combustion chamber, would cause contact, through the deposits, until the engine warmed up some & things expanded enough for it to hush!!!!

While they had the heads off trying to run down the coolant loss problem, we had them decarbon the pistons & head.
That stoped the "marbling" or 'diesel" sound, for 18 months, then it returned after I used 3 tanks of Shell gasoline.

By immediately switching back to Chevron or Texaco/Chevron, it was slowly, completely gone in about 3 months.
So now I'm persnickety about the gasoline I use in this 4.0L & switch between brands with different gasoline add packs every 6 months, to keep the CCDI at bay.

So in my experience with this 99 4.0L, several things can cause what fits the description of "marbling".

Wrist pins, piston wobble in the bore, because of a short skirt desgn change, CCDI, because of a combination of combustion chamber carbon build up, engine design & poor factory control over engine part tolerance buildup & something to do with the sequence in which the oil & filter is changed.

I know that lat one sounds strange, but it's been there since I did the first oil cange.

It seems to me, maybe a air lock, or air bubble gets trapped somewhere & takes a few days to work itself out.

If I pull the filter first, or don't completely fill the new filter, it'll marble & I don't mean the brief noise one gets on startup, with installing an empty filter.

If I quickly drain & refill the oil sump first, then quickly pull the old filter & screw on the new, competely filled, filter & prime the lube system by cranking the engine, without starting it, no "marbling"!!!!! LOL

SO, just some thoughts to ponder, in my recounting the expierences I've had with the "marbling" or "diesel" sounds, my 99 4.0L has made, or makes & what I've done to quiet it down.

Let us know what you find 05ranger.

 

thanks for all the advice.the truck runs great,just sounds like hell for the first 25 or 30 miles,then quiets down?

 

Interesting stuff. It has to follow then that Ford isn't totally correct in saying that "cleaning carbon from the combustion chamber will have no effect on the Marble Noise condition." Apparantly in some cases, it will have an effect.

Thanks for sharing your experience in detail.

 

Well 05 Ranger, seeng as how your problem came about over time & seems to go away after a 25 mile drive so the engine is fully warmed up & blown out good, I'd suspect CCDI might be a worthy suspect.

SO, I'd begin by trying the "Decarbon" proceedure, with three cans of Fords PM-3, listed in the "Technical Information" thread, atop this forum, then follow up with running Chevron or Chevron/Texaco gas in it & see if it responds favorably & remains quiet.

If so, then suspect CCDI is the root cause or your "marbling" & then you'll want to find a second go to gasoine, who's detergent add pack, says it will also clean the combustion chamber. Not all will. !!!!!

Ford recommends BP gasoline, but I've not used it in years, so I have no idea how it'll do now.

But I'm going to have to find a second "go to" gas, as Texaco & Chevron now use the same "Techron" detergent add pack in their fuel & Shell/Texaco, with Texaco's origional "Clean System-3 add pack, will go away in July, so I'll need another, "go to" brand with a different combustion chamber cleaning add pack pack, to keep my CCDI at bay.

As it takes about 5 tanks or 1000 miles of driving, for one fuels detergents, to clean up the others deposits, I switch brands at least twice a year to keep my CCDI in check!!!!

Let us know how it goes.

 

thanks for the advice,I will give that a try today...