Dry Starts

[Adam Hartman]

I'm sure this has probably been posted before. My "01" sport trac has dry starts, doesn't always do it I have seen some say its the anti drain back valve in the oil filter. I have tried different filters and they all do it. I find it hard to believe every filter has this problem. Has anyone really figured out the root of the problem. Or has Ford stated in any tech bulletins about it. I just don't want my engine failing with only 90k miles on it. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[David Ponder]

Adam,



I assume that you mean the rattle from the timing chain tensioners? I got my 01 with 89K on it, and it had this problem, at startup, and while driving I heard was sounded like HEAVY spark knock. The dealer performed the bulletin to fix the issue, replacing timing chain tensioner.. Well, after 20K more miles (I only had a 3K warranty when I bought it) it started doing it again, and has for the last 40K miles. Now has just short of 150K on it. Doesnt do it while driving anymore, but has the rattle at startup about every 5th start. (More so when it sits for a few days)



I am just living with mine for now, and keep the oil changes current.

 

[Scott Tanner]

mine's been doing that for 194,000 miles...:supercool: guess it's not as damaging as it is thought to be..

 

[EddieS'04]

Chain tensonors are worn. Or the oil pressure tensonors are lagging on start up. This was a big problem on the first couple of years on the sohc 4.0L. Many mechanics I have talked to, prefer the old pushrod 4.0L. They call them bullit proof.

You could try 10w/30 or 10/40 oil. It wont hurt with high milage. The anti drain back valve on oil filters is only nesecary. On motors that the filter is horizontal. Our filters are vertical. They stay full when motor is shut down..

 

[scott degroot]

The biggest problem is the t-chain rattle and if you have ever had one of the tensioners in your hand you would understand why. For some reason Ford didn't think it was necessary to make a tensioner that didn't collapse, most other hydraulic tensioners have some sort of lock mechanism on them that prevents the tensioner from collapsing, the tensioner in the 4.0 does not so after time it gets weak and rattles. As far as the drainback goes with the filter, the filter is mounted vertically with the open end pointing up....how do you get drain back??

 

[Adam Hartman]

Thanks everyone for the info, I see now that the t-chain tensonors are a problem with earlier 4.0L so i'm sure that's what it is. Someone told me it could be the oil filter i don't think he knew what he was talking about. I think i'm going to try Lucas oil treat met first to see if that helps before I tear it down.

 

[scott degroot]

Don't know how far you are going to tear it down but be aware that you need special tools to retime the engine if you disturb the cam timing...there is no way around it. If you are just going to replace the hydraulic chain tensioners then you don't need anything, just unscrew the old ones and screw the new ones in.