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Topic: Scary stuff happening........ (Read 11473 times) previous topic - next topic

Scary stuff happening........

I had a bad oil leak and found oil leaking badly from behind the lower intake.

The engine has been making a ticking sound, maybe a lifter, maybe worse. I did an engine flush to clean it out using the engine flush and oil and the noise got louder after that. maybe it cleaned everything so the rod could knock louder. Who knows?

I removed the intake today, and as I was cleaning up under the valve covers (everything looked to be in order), I wiped up the valley area of the little bit of water that got in there from the lower intake, and found gray stuff. Like maybe something mixed with the oil. Not sludge, and the rockers and inside of the top of the heads looked O.K., although there was a mild amount of the gray stuff in there as well. By looking at it, it looked clean, not noticeable until I wiped it up.

The rockers and all looked good and tight, and I installed the new gaskets and buttoned up the car, drained the oil and changed it, swapped the oil filter out.

I added coolant and water, started the car, and immediately, there was a knocking sound. The idle is fine, but that sound wasn't. I gave the car a little gas, and it was blowing smoke from the back but not at idle.

Any ideas?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #1 –
like a bottom end knock or valvetrain noise?

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #2 –
Hard to tell. I've never had a car with a rod knock. SO, I'm guessing not a lifter.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #3 –
Well normally a rod knock is audible every revolution. A main knock is every other revolution and much more dull. But the best way to isolate a rod knock is with a cylinder cancel test. While revving the engine at APP 1400 RPM cancel cylinders in progression. When you get to the bad cylinder when canceling it the knock should stop. But you just might have an exhaust leak. So check that carefully. And good luck my friend. Also those rear and front manifold leaks are a bitch. That is why i do not use the gaskets. I use silicone and trash the gaskets. Good Luck and i hope your engine is OK.

Also you just might have gotten coolant in the cylinders when you removed the intake. The smoke just may end after it burns off. Just a hunch.
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #4 –
To me, it sounds like every revolution. As far as water, after three minutes of running, the water, if any, should have been gone shouldn't it?

The idle sounds good.

What do you mean by cancel cylinders.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #5 –
plug wire off, and then if the sound disappears or lessens, that's the bad one. Definitely use a plug wire plier to remove the wire and not zap the hell out of yourself, lol.

(on a side note, I'll have a shipping quote for you on those axle shafts in the next day or so. Would have done it today but I had a gun safety class and with that and work I was swamped.)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #6 –
You know short them out to ground. I use the cylinder scope. But you can install short lengths of vacuum hose in the cap and in between the wires. Then use a wire with 2 alligator clips. One to the screw driver and the other on a good ground. And make sure the wire is connected GOOD. Other wise you are going to get hammered with spark energy. With the engine running hit the bare portion of the vacuum hose with the screw driver connected to a good ground. This kills the spark and if you have a rod knock you can isolate the noise to that cylinder. When the spark is killed the noise will go away identifying the bad cylinders rod bearing. Good luck
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #7 –
Thanks Beau. No hurry. Have a huge issue taking my time right now, and thanks for the info. I never have had to do that before.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #8 –
Tom, I'll have to re-read that. I never have done that, and don't have alligator clips. I'm expecting the worst. Never made this noise before...in any engine I've had. I'm wondering if a bearing went bad and that's where the gray came from. No idea,though.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #9 –
Well years ago leaded fuels used to do that. Here is something to try. Cut open the old oil filter. Then see what is in it. Once again good luck. That is a pain in the BUTT.
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #10 –
I'm a little confused about Tom's suggestion, but it is the same principle of Beau's. It's a good way to isolate a cylinder. May I suggest a stethescope? You can also use a long tool and hold it to your ear to use like a stethescope. I would like to see what you find when you open up the oil filter. Hate to see you having troubles again. At least you have an engine swap in your future plans! Good luck.

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #11 –
The 5.8 is not happening any time soon. That's for another time. Right now, gotta get a 5.0 together and ready to rawk.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Chrome;401031
I'm a little confused about Tom's suggestion, but it is the same principle of Beau's. It's a good way to isolate a cylinder. May I suggest a stethescope? You can also use a long tool and hold it to your ear to use like a stethescope. I would like to see what you find when you open up the oil filter. Hate to see you having troubles again. At least you have an engine swap in your future plans! Good luck.


Chrome with all due respect and also Beaus. NEVER REMOVE A PLUG WIRE FROM A RUNNING CAR. Especially a TFI system. Never let a plug wire fire in air. Especially a TFI one. As it will smoke the TFI faster than you can spit. Just a thought!!! If in fact he has a rod knock it really makes no difference. Shorting out plugs will pin point it to a specific cylinder. I does not change the fact the engine has to be yanked out. Just a thought!! Good luck Vinny!!:hick::hick:
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Scary stuff happening........

Reply #14 –
Quote from: TOM Renzo;401036
Chrome with all due respect and also Beaus. NEVER REMOVE A PLUG WIRE FROM A RUNNING CAR. Especially a TFI system. Never let a plug wire fire in air. Especially a TFI one. As it will smoke the TFI faster than you can spit. Just a thought!!! If in fact he has a rod knock it really makes no difference. Shorting out plugs will pin point it to a specific cylinder. I does not change the fact the engine has to be yanked out. Just a thought!! Good luck Vinny!!:hick::hick:

No argument here. You are right.