In the last week I have noticed that my ’02 Explorer – V6 makes a brief loud rattling noise during a cold start-up. When the engine is warm, it restarts normally.

I am wondering if the oil filter has an anti drain back valve, and that it has failed?

My other car has an ADV equipped filter and the valve in it failed a few months ago. The resulting noise was a light cam knock until the oil pumped back up into the engine. Replacing the filter fixed the problem.

The noise my Explorer makes is louder, but very brief, less than a second I would estimate.

The weather has turned colder, but I am not sure how that would affect the cause of this new noise. I use Shell Rotella T Syn, 5w-40 with a Purolator oil filter in this vehicle.

Since my wife and I are commuting to work together now, and both children are off in college, the Explorer mostly sits in the garage, except for some usage on the weekends. So, it is lightly used these days, making a new mechanical problem a surprise, since like I said, it mostly just sits in the garage.

Do any of you know if the filters on V6 Explorers have the ADV? That would make this problem easy to fix, so I hope that is the problem.

Thanks!

 

For $3 you can get another oil filter and see if that's it. Easy elimination there.

 

I agree, I'll change it tonight.

BTW, this was on the Purolator website:

http://www.pureoil.com/smartlink/?partnum=L24651


Specifications
Type of Filter: Spin-on
Threads: M22x1.5-6H
Thread Pitch: Special
Anti-Drain Back Valve: Yes

 

What brand of Oil Filter did you have on it when it makes the Noise???? I heard of Frams causing this problem and others on other web sites, but I have never had any problems with Frams.

 

Installing a new filter correct the problem. Yeah!!

 

I was told that Motorcraft and Wix filters have the anti drain back valve. I like my little 4.0 and the 2.9 in my BII. When I change oil I can fill the filter with new oil before I install it. The 4.9, 5.0 and 5.8 I had in my full size trucks I could not do that.

Does the filter on the SOHC 4.0 mount different than on the OHV 4.0? My filter goes in straight up from the bottom and can only drain back into itself. The 4.9 goes in almost sideways and really needs the ADV.

 

The SOHC 4.0 mounts from the bottom. Normally, when I change the filter I get a lot of used oil draining from the engine oil pathways (I guess) and it makes a real mess. When I changed out my old (and defective filter) this week, hardly any oil drained out to make a mess. Clean up was a breeze.

So I guess those ADV's really work and are needed.

 

I have a little bit that dribbles out of around the filter when I change the oil. Not a lot. Glad to know it was an easy fix. If it happend with the Purolator filter and happens again, you might try a Motorcraft or Wix filter.

 

Brad: can you tell us what type of filter failed?? thanks

 

Anti drain backs valves are very common these days with a lot of applications requiring them. Purolator has them too.

 

It was a Purolator Premium Plus. I also had one fail at about 7500 miles in my Cavalier this summer. Changing the filter corrected the problem, both times, both cars.

I will continue to use Purolator filters, and have been using them for years in my vehicles.

I suppose if this happens again I may need to reconsider my options.

 

Thanks... I'm glad to hear that is wasn't the type of filter, just the individual one. I use Puralator quite a bit, and haven't had any problems.