2000 Ford Explorer Multiple symptoms

JHBRECH

MEMBER
2000 FORD EXPLORER
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
68,000 MILES

All vitals appear good at start-up but engine is

1) slow to warm up (shows TOTALLY cold for 2-3 miles and then starts to rise)

2) no heat from heater when indicators shows engine to be warm

3)shortly after that valves start to ping when accelerating (sounds like a diesel)

Stop engine, open hood and

1)smell antifreeze but no leaks, no steam and resevoir is full,

2)smell hot oil - fresh, not combusted (like spilling on hot manifold) and see faint whiff of white smoke rising from side of block (oil level fine, oil is new)

Engine does not "feel" overheated and dash indicator shows normal.

All of this happens after about 5 miles or 10 minutes of city driving.

What's up?

5 Replies

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

I need to know which 6 cyl you have the ohv (overhead valve) or the ohc (overhead cam) 4.0. Thanks

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Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 AT 10:42 AM

JHBRECH

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3 POSTS

The cover reads ' 4.0 EFI ' so I believe that is the OHV version.

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Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 AT 11:05 PM

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Ok the slow to warm may be the thermostat not working correctly. Now the other problem with the ticking noise this is a common problem with the OHV engine which I am guessing that is what you have as long as it dont say SOHC on the engine or emission sticker then it is the OHV. Back to the noise what happens here is the head develops cracks (very small ones) this allows steam into the valve train and in turn causes damage to the rocker arm assembly and makes it tick very loudly. Now the rocker arm problem can happen without the heads developing cracks so a chemical test on the radiator is needed to determine this. Now if the chemical test passes then I would replace the rocker arm assemblies with the updated ones that Delta Cam's sell there number is 800-829-2014 (if I remember correctly) you can look them up online to be sure. Let me know how it goes.

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Thursday, June 24th, 2010 AT 9:46 AM

JHBRECH

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks for you response. I'll look into chemical test. Ticking is not "ticking" - it's the noise of valves pounding into head. Like the sound of a diesel.

The most puzzling thing is that this all started at once - lust like that. No gradual symptoms, e.G. Thermostat, heater core, etc.

I'm thinking it is electronic. A friend said he had exact same symptoms on 2001 Taurus and had to have igniters replaced. Never heard of that but I guess I'll have to look into.

Sounds like I may have to retire this piece of junk. With only 68k miles.

Thanks again.

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Thursday, June 24th, 2010 AT 11:45 AM

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Yes the noise can get very loud. If the chemical test comes out ok then it is worth fixing. Now what I would also like you to do is take a long screwdriver or bar or? And put it on the valve covers (one at a time) and cup the other end with hand and put it up to ear and with the truck running listen to the rockers, now put it on the intake runners and note the sound difference. If it is really loud at the valve covers and quiets as you move away then rocker arm shafts it is.