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Not a good day for my cars

crustycurmudgeon

crustycurmudgeon

Well-Known Member
So my Taurus died on me again today, needed it towed home. It seems to be eating alternators. There must be something causing my alternator to die after several months. Then I drove the Mustang to my parents' house for dinner. I changed the oil and filter while there and while cleaning up I noticed a knocking that seems to be coming from the bottom end. It sounds like a diesel clatter rather than something rhythmic. The oil pressure is good. Could this be anything besides bearings? I should say also (with much embarrassment) that only a little more than a quart of oil drained from the pan (plus whatever was in the filter). I knew it was probably 1 to 2 quarts low but was surprised to see it was actually down about 3.

Frank
 
Typical diesel like clatter from the pan is rod bearings. Ask me how I know. Second would be loose wrist pins. Both will get less noticable after warm up.

Forged pistons can give the same sounds, but that would not be a new sound.
 
Franky,
Do we know what a dip stick is for? :stfu And you didn't hear this noise before yesterday's oil change? :wtf And of course I must ask, if this means it's a no show for this weekend? Do you realize how nice the weather is going to be? I don't want to be the only one having to deal with KBMWRS's shiiaatt !
 
"cmayna" said:
Franky,
Do we know what a dip stick is for? :stfu And you didn't hear this noise before yesterday's oil change? :wtf And of course I must ask, if this means it's a no show for this weekend? Do you realize how nice the weather is going to be? I don't want to be the only one having to deal with KBMWRS's shiiaatt !
Click to expand...

Sigh...yes, dad, I know how to use the dipstick. :roul I thought I knew my car well enough to know when it was 1 - 2 quarts low. The consumption must have gone up. As for noise, it didn't seem worse than normal.

I plan to have the Taurus running again by Friday. I have another junkyard alternator to swap in tonight after work. If that works ok, I'll have several more months until it gets killed as well. Of course, I plan on tracking down the problem before that happens again, if not this week.

Anybody local have a stock-ish 289 or 302 that they're upgrading from and want to get rid of?

Frank
 
Frank, if you can post up an audio clip at idle and with an increase to 1500 rpm or so while warm I can give you an opinion on the noise. The key is how the sound changes with rpm.

If it is a bearing going bad, some 50W and STP should hold it for awhile.

We've done Q&D rod bearing replacements with the engine in the car and it generally takes a half-day or so. Depends on the condition of the crank whether it's possible or not.

I would suggest not driving it until you figure out what the noise is. No sense in wiping the engine out.

You can always cut the oil filter open and see what's been trapped in there. The kind of particles should lend some clues.

Sorry about your issues.

Pat
 
Note that with higher viscosity oil, rod bearing sound will disappear after warm up. Before I knew better (hey, I was 16), I rebuilt a 200 straight six and put in std size rod bearings. Turns out, the crank was 10 under. So, I had 0.010 clearance on the rods. I ran straight 30 wt at the time, and it sounded like a diesel when you started it, and got quieter when warmed up (but still noticeable from under the car).
 
Interesting...I had been running 10W-30 and at this change went to 20W-50 Castrol High Mileage oil. That's when I noticed the diesel-like clatter. Not as loud as a diesel, but that kind of sound.

I'll try to get a sound clip of it in the next few weeks.

Frank
 
"cmayna" said:
Question I have Frank is did or does the sound disappear a few seconds after fire up?
Click to expand...

No, it didn't disappear. Now, I have for a long time been hearing the sound up top that disappears after a few seconds when oil gets pumped up to the heads.

Frank
 
Frank,
If you don't have a camera, I can come down and help video tape the motor after this weekend.
 
Franky man , shame on you , reading this topic.
You should have known better!!! :char

Don't drive the coupe till you know whats wrong.
 
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