Ok, several months back I bought my Ranger and I must say I love it.

Now, here is the problem. The truck had been serviced just before I bought it. Oil change due in 3000 mi. Well I finally got to the 3000 point and changed my oil last weekend. (4.0 ohv) Well upon startup I noticed a knocking/rattle type sound. It quits when you give it the gas but, will return at idle. I know the sohc 4.0s have a problem with this. Could this be the same deal?
Well after some research I discovered the oil filter threads and changed back to a MotorCraft oil filter. However, the engine still does this. It has never made this noise before, I pay very close attention to my engine sounds. lol

I also read somewhere that some 99s have a wrist pin problem that ford will not fix. Is this true? Is there any thing I can do to get my truck back to sounding like a gas engine instead of a diseal at idle??? Could the dealers service dept have put something in the engine to keep it quite? I checked for STP and CD2, as the oil is usually has a different feel when that stuff is added.

I use motorcraft 5w 30 as my oil of choice, what ford recommends. Should I use maybe 10w 30 instead??? Any help would be appreciated.

Rockledge have you any noise in your 98 Ranger????

 

Hmmmn.......how many miles on your truck? I don't really have an answer but this is odd.

 

I smell a case of using a heavier oil to cover up valve train noise... Definately not the first one, either... If it popped up right after an oil change (The FIRST oil change, as in you had no idea what kind of oil was in there before). I wouldn't be surprised if that truck had 15w-40 or something like that in it to quiet the valvetrain noise...

 

It has 68,000 miles on it now. I put just over 3,000 mi on it.

 

Its OHVs that are well known to rattle at idle, apparently its not significant, mine has done it since day1 and Im at 98K

 

Well I do not like it, lol. There has to be something that can be done to fix this. They are not supposed to rattle.

 

I agree. I have a 390 that is quiet as a mouse.

 

Yep, this was quite before the change. lol

Hey anyone use anything other than 5w 30 motorcraft? I was thinking about trying the 10w 30 synthetic high milage stuff.

 

That is the exact same truck as mine except mine is dark platinum.
It does sound like a diesel at idle. I thought it was normal. I mean it isnt loud, at least not on mine. Mine has 66k on it. And i have only changed the oil once (when i first got it, but it is almost time for another). If you get it fixed let me know.

 

Will do bud.

 

i was told by my dealer to use 15w40 as its basically the same properties as 5w30 but better for the motor here int he north east

 

Good luck. My 98 does it, and come to think of it, it was probably after the first oil change (bought it with 50k), and I HATE it. It comes and goes now. I will start it and it will run smooth and quiet, drive around and it's quiet. Next time I start sounds like I have a diesel, pull into a parking lot and people's heads start turning... I run 10w30 now, and it seems like maybe it helps a little, hard to tell. I know it didn't help at first, and always makes the most noise with fresh oil (thinner). I asked the dealership if there was anything that might quiet it down, and of course they said no. Sometimes if you have it on a/c or defrest (when the compressor is engaged) it will quiet it down, because the engine is under more of a load. I sure wish I could fix it.
BTW, nice looking truck.

 

Well I am just not sure what to do at this point. I guess my next step will be to change to a heavier oil. I was thinking 10w 30 synthetic for high milage vehicles. They state it is for use with vehicles that have 75,000 mi and up. I know I only have 68,000 but, maybe it would still benefit my truck as well. I just don't want to hurt my truck with too thick of an oil. Have you guys noticed any adverse effects while running the heavier oil???


BTW, Thanks Brian, yours is nice too. I like the interior of the leer top.

 

Sometimes I will experience a little bit of "marbling" when I first start my truck in the morning, but it seems to come and go, just like in Brian's case. It isn't anything I worry about. I've read several posts at TRS and some other forums in which guys who have 200K+ on their 4.0Ls have described the same problem. And you know what their advice is?.....Learn to live with it.

P.S. Just my own opinion, but I think 15W oil is a little too thick for the 4.0L OHV engine. I know here in CT, my Ranger would be wincing in pain every winter morning that I started it with that kind of oil in it.

 

In all my old iron I just run 30 weight. Temps don't get below freezing very often.