2007 Sport Trac 4.0 death rattle

[sb69mustang]

I've had my truck for 7 years and has ran great, but recently it started to have a rattle sound. It has 173000 miles. Had my mechanic look at it and the timing chains are the issue. To do both chains you have to pull engine and have special tools. I've found out you just can't change the chains, there is an issue with camshafts and heads when rattle starts. My mechanic won't touch it. Talked to a friend, also a mechanic, he said get a used or reman engine. Re-manufactured engines cost over $4000 for a 2007 4.0 V6 "K" engine. plus another 4 grand for labor and additional parts. I love the truck, getting a loan to fix. Even the local Ford dealership said at least 5 to 6 grand to repair current engine. I guess these are notorious for timing chain issues. Looked at used engines and they would be at least $2000, and no guarantee no timing issues.

 

[brentbaldwin]

I had an '07 4x4 with the same miles and the same issue, except it also misfired frequently. My "cheap" mechanic said it was internal, so I took it to a mechanic in Watertown (TN) who is a former Ford mechanic. He diagnosed it as a burned valve from a misaligned plug. He recommended that I change out the chains while he had the top end open. He charged me $4K to fix the head and valve and to replace the timing chains. It ran great for another 30K miles but then the tranny went out (the truck was rough and rusty and had many other nagging issues, so I sold it and just got an '05 with few miles). So, if you find the right mechanic, I say fixing it is the way to go if the rest of the vehicle is sound.

 

[sb69mustang]

I just put down $5000 for my mechanic to order a reman engine. When its down I'll be on another 4 grand. Rest of truck in great shape. Still cheaper then a new used truck. I know what I have in this one, so I'll keep it.

 

[brentbaldwin]

There's great value in "knowing" a vehicle. I've bought a dud before and had to learn all its idiosyncrasies and deep-set flaws over time. If you have one with good bones, it's worth the investment.

 

[sb69mustang]

Well I did it. Re-manufactured motor installed, first one had an issue and didn't pump oil to one head. My mechanic got hold of Napa warranty and got another one shipped and now it's installed and runs great. Final cost $9340.00.

 

[cadman777]

Well I did it. Re-manufactured motor installed, first one had an issue and didn't pump oil to one head. My mechanic got hold of Napa warranty and got another one shipped and now it's installed and runs great. Final cost $9340.00.

Wow!
Quite an expense!
I sure hope NAPPY paid for the 2nd OUT & IN!
I use a local shop to do the rebuilds (United Speedway).
They did an engine for me a few years back and when I checked the journals and bearings, it was +/- .001"
That's about as good as it gets short of a racing engine!
Cost about $4500 to rebuild.
I did the install.
I can remember back in the 80's when I got a V6 rebuilt and it cost $875!
Up in NJ, and a family business that was as good as it gets.
He did a lot of racing engines.
You should've seen his machine shop!

 

[Todd Z]

FYI you can NOT do the rear chains at all without removing the engine or trans and its a pain.
Glad your back on the road.

 

[Fuelishness]

Not saying that anyone didn't change their oil regularly and that the failures were caused by a lack of changing. But this engine requires regular oil changes. Use the good stuff, its cheaper in the long run. Not saying mine won't break tomorrow, but I'm less than 500 miles from hitting 200k on the clock and she purrs like a kitten. Knock on wood....

 

[Todd Z]

2010 4.0 120K exactly on the clock, every 4,000 full Valvoline syn motorcraft filter, ( sent changes to blackstone) Puked the front chain guide.... Luckily I did the work in the truck, and sold it... I still see it registered yearly... I should, run the Vin again.

 

[Larry Holmes]

Not saying that anyone didn't change their oil regularly and that the failures were caused by a lack of changing. But this engine requires regular oil changes. Use the good stuff, its cheaper in the long run. Not saying mine won't break tomorrow, but I'm less than 500 miles from hitting 200k on the clock and she purrs like a kitten. Knock on wood...

You are absolutely correct on oil quality and change frequencies, yet if you don't have eyes-on the high-mileage timing chain cassette guides integrity you might as well say your (you in general not specifically) ST 4L SOHC will bomb out tomorrow for that reason. My ST was running extremely strong at 163K miles without a rattle and I drove it 10 miles a day 5 days a week at highway speeds until I dropped the lower oil pan for a gasket change only to find both guides disintegrated there. The tensioners kept the chains riding against the stud and washer so there was no rattle. I would recommend inspecting the guides by changing the oil pan gasket and both valve cover gaskets to everyone with this engine above 150K miles, no matter what the maintenance history. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

 

[Fuelishness]

You are absolutely correct on oil quality and change frequencies, yet if you don't have eyes-on the high-mileage timing chain cassette guides integrity you might as well say your (you in general not specifically) ST 4L SOHC will bomb out tomorrow for that reason. My ST was running extremely strong at 163K miles without a rattle and I drove it 10 miles a day 5 days a week at highway speeds until I dropped the lower oil pan for a gasket change only to find both guides disintegrated there. The tensioners kept the chains riding against the stud and washer so there was no rattle. I would recommend inspecting the guides by changing the oil pan gasket and both valve cover gaskets to everyone with this engine above 150K miles, no matter what the maintenance history. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Good advice. And since you mentioned valve cover gaskets, I'd like to know if anyone is experiencing gasket failure as I am. I replaced them, once, myself, but the right one is such a pain and the repair only lasted a few years, I had it done professionally the 2nd and 3rd times. Now it looks like they're beginning to leak oil again. So this will be the 4th set when I do it and the engine almost has 200k miles on it. I will ask for an estimate on the pan gasket when I do.