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zetec engine bearings going?

B

BrApple

No Life But CEG
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95 Mystique with zetec, 211k miles. timing belt changed at 104k and have been running 10w-40 for nearly if not 100k now.

the last few days back into the colder weather when I am first driving the car before it is completely up to temp I am getting a knocking/tapping sound that seems to follow engine rpm. not sure if it goes away or is being drowned out by other noises. once fully warmed up I can't hear the noise. it will do it when the engine is reved in neutral so to me that rules out anything but the engine.

changed the oil this afternoon. I was listening to the engine in the garage and when I bring the rpm up to 2,500,~3,000 rpm I believe I heard a rapid tapping noise.

drivability and power have not been effected.

right now I am fearing the worst as it sounds similar, although not as loud, as an svt engine I head with a spun bearing. but that engine was right at its end.

So I am not sure if it has something to do with the weather or the engine itself. my only other though is a spark plug is alittle loose and making noise until it warms up, but I don't see that being a cause as of this time.

from under the car I do believe it sounds louder then previously but I haven't listened in sometime. also when I shut the engine off it seems to stop spinning really fast, fast then before iirc.

when running down the road it doesn't seem to make any noise when accelerating at wot. but floor it in 4th and slowing down alittle and I believe I hear a tapping.

otherwise it sounds and acts like the zetec that it has always been.

should I be fearing the worst or am I over reacting?
 
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Brian you should listen to mine when it is cold. You will feel much better about your car after. I think you're just overreacting...
 
zorrex said:
Brian you should listen to mine when it is cold. You will feel much better about your car after. I think you're just overreacting...
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except it has never sounded like this before. its noticable different. in fact my father commented about hearing something funny over the weekend. however I need to speak with him about it as at the time I wrote it off as the cooling fan as it makes noise as it spins down.

like I said I know it makes noise when cold but it has never been this metallic tapping type of sound. it seriously reminds me of the SVT engine that was in rogers mystique when it let go. but that was louder at the time.
 
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Well I'll have you listen to mine. It's been going strong at 40k miles and the sound has always been atrocious. Like I said, it might make you feel better ;)
 
make a sound clip, you might just be hearing the lifters, my old 96 sounded like a damn diesel motor when it was cold.
 
You should hear my wifes before it warms up. That car is really sensitive to cold weather, after the warm weather we had a couple weeks ago, then the cold weather and ice storm it was just horrible. I think you are just hearing some sticky lifters, if drivability isnt effected then I wouldnt worry about them being bad. Bearings would usually cause a vibration in my experience.
 
when not moving if I bring the revs to 2,500~3,000 a slight vibration in from the engine starts and then when the revs stablize I can hear the noise. but then again the engine and trans mounts are original as is the front roll restrictor. rear roll restrictor was replaced years ago but it does need to be changed again.

it is possible that its because of the colder weather we have been having after it being in the 50s last friday ...

I dunno, what ever happens, happens .... but I am still concerned.


my father noted what to him sounded like a idler pulley making noise. however I would think if a pully was making noise it would be consistant. this is definately a tapping sound.
 
idler pully will make a tapping sound. Definate sign the bearing is out, but it wouldnt go away when the engine reaches operating temperature, so I wouldnt put my money on a bad idler.
 
BrApple, i would have to agree that it is probably just the lifters. get a 5W30 oil back in there and make sure to rev it above 4K while driving several times for a while.

FWIW, when i rebuilt the Zetec it made a lot of noise. i knew it was not the bearings as they were brand new and i had checked everything. i did, however, reuse the old lifters and even though it did sound like it was coming from the bottom i would put money that it was actually the lifters. when i tore that engine apart after blowing up a piston the bearings looked fine.
 
just turn up the radio

just turn up the radio

A 95 with 211 k miles. Just turn up the radio and ignore it. I don't know how attached you are to the car, but the $$ value is pretty low. Just drive it until it dies and then pull the plates off and call the junk yard.

I once spun a bearing on a 6 cyl chev on a road trip. Pulled over to the side of the road. pulled the pan sawed off the rod, shoved the piston to tdc, staked the piston into place and wrapped the journal with leather and a hose clamp. Pulled the pushrods for the valves and drove it home and for about another year when the piston finally loosened up and had an unfortunate meeting with the crankshaft.
 
striker2 said:
BrApple, i would have to agree that it is probably just the lifters. get a 5W30 oil back in there and make sure to rev it above 4K while driving several times for a while.

FWIW, when i rebuilt the Zetec it made a lot of noise. i knew it was not the bearings as they were brand new and i had checked everything. i did, however, reuse the old lifters and even though it did sound like it was coming from the bottom i would put money that it was actually the lifters. when i tore that engine apart after blowing up a piston the bearings looked fine.
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well I havn't used 5w-30 in years. I was going to today but I stayed with the 10w-40. reason i switched was/is the rear main seal has had a slow leak for a long time. oil didn't look bad while it was draining, but I plan to cleck again and cut the filter open to take a look.

I have been taking it above 4k while driving, just about daily :o
 
andreslobo said:
A 95 with 211 k miles. Just turn up the radio and ignore it. I don't know how attached you are to the car, but the $$ value is pretty low. Just drive it until it dies and then pull the plates off and call the junk yard.
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that is only so good .... I can't ignor this sound as its a metallic sound not just the normal sounds of a zetec.

yes I know it has little value, but if needed I can get ~100k 95 zetec for $300, add a new clutch and timing belt kit, that is a hell of alot better then buying something else or a car payment.

yes I am attached to the car, I often like driving it better then my SeVT-T and SVT ...
 
when i upped the viscosity in the mustang, the oil was too thick to go in between the rods and bearings. car made it from cleveland to buffalo and died in my driveway
 
Black 98 CSVT said:
when i upped the viscosity in the mustang, the oil was too thick to go in between the rods and bearings. car made it from cleveland to buffalo and died in my driveway
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don't see that being an issue as I have been using the 10w-40 for years now, since like 120k or something like that iirc. hell we ran straight 30 on the 92 tempo I had and it wasn't an issue. cold starting in winter was different ....


anyway I thinking from various input that it is most likely a lifter. going to check out the timing belt and pullies when the weather warms up in the next few days. I am also thinking about going to the motorcraft 5w-30 synthetic since that is what it is.

I took some video this morning. I have to listen to it when I get home and see if the noise can be heard. then I will post it.

also its worse in the morning on a cold start. it isn't as bad when i leave work and on a warm or hot start it isn't noticable.


did I mention its only noticalbe under load?
 
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