i have a 2008 xlt expy that has 140000 miles on it. There is a tapping noise in the engine. I’m trying to figure out if it’s the lifters/rockers or cam phaser. Oil pressure is good, have 5w20 oil in it with appropriate oil filter.
2008 Expy tapping.. lifter or cam phasers?
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Sgt Darkness
Full Access Members
Could be a lifter.....do you change ur oil every 5k? Sometimes dirt or a small peice of whatever will cause a lifter to tick and normally after an oil change it cleans the crap out and no more lifter noise. Is the Expy showing any codes? I have heard that the cam phasers have caused problems in the past. The process of Direct Injection will make a ticking sound also. Search for cam phaser problems here in the forum. Good luck.
5w20 oil is NOT appropriate, it's some emissions tomfoolery
Put in full synthetic 5w40 or maybe, according to some others, 5w30
stamp11127
Full Access Members
From the Ford owners manual for the 2008 Expedition :
"To protect your engine’s warranty use Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 or an equivalent SAE 5W-20 oil meeting Ford specification WSS-M2C930-A. SAE 5W-20 oil provides optimum fuel economy and durability performance meeting all requirements for your vehicle’s engine."
They've built an engine or two so I would have to say they know more about lubrication than the consumer.
Now, some of their designs are a subject for another thread.
"To protect your engine’s warranty use Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 or an equivalent SAE 5W-20 oil meeting Ford specification WSS-M2C930-A. SAE 5W-20 oil provides optimum fuel economy and durability performance meeting all requirements for your vehicle’s engine."
They've built an engine or two so I would have to say they know more about lubrication than the consumer.
Now, some of their designs are a subject for another thread.
I have 215k+ miles on my 07. I've always run the Motorcraft 5w20 and changed at 5k intervals. The engine still runs like a top. I'd say Ford engineers knew what they were talking about....
To the OP: I'm a car guy. I've built engines. Most recently a BBC 454 and a Ford 4.6L in my sons Mustang. An accurate diagnosis based on your description of your engine tapping is not possible. Anyone here would be guessing at best. Your description of tapping might be a tick to someone with a technical ear. Could be a hanging lifter, could be loud rockers, or could simply be louder fuel injectors which is pretty normal. Most noises need to be diagnosed on site.
To diagnose yourself, sometimes you can use a long ratchet extension to pinpoint where a noise is coming from. Touch it to different places on the engine while holding it to your ear. I have a special stethoscope that I use. They're cheap.
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Kenomni
Member
My 07, with about 150K miles started a ticking noise a few months ago. R/H side (passenger side), which is where things usually start to wear out. It could be many things but in my case it was the #2 cylinder; one of the rollers on the follower seized up and wore the roller flat. Sounded like a typical lifter tap tap. The remaining rollers on the R/H side seemed ok so I just replaced those 3 rollers on that cylinder. They're about 8 bucks apiece at the dealer. Valve cover gasket was not so cheap. You can find a good link to narrow down the source of the ticking at utube; FordTechMakuloco
Good luck.
Good luck.
This is an over head cam engine. There are no lifters or rockers. It does have cam followers and lash adjusters. They can fall off if engine is over revved or if wrong oil is used(20w50). Engine oil additives that 'thicken' the oil are bad for these motors. You would have engine light, if this was the case. Watch some Youtube videos on 'timing chain rattle'. My 4.6l ticking was a broken exhaust manifold stud. It was worse when cold.
I was speaking in general terms. Not specifically to his motor although re-reading my post it does look like I'm saying he has rockers and lifters. I'm the one that built my sons 4.6L (crank bearings, pistons, rings etc.) so I definitely know what is going on inside of them. Point was, internet diagnostics of a described sound rarely works.
What you said about the wrong oil or oil thickening is right on the money. We rebuilt my sons motor because the person we bought it from ruined three bearings and both cams. It look like someone smeared grease all around inside the motor and time chain areas.
Maybe 20w-50 but On the 2v you can get by with about anything else. I ran 15w-50 Mobil 1 (albeit full syn) for 6 years in one even in cold temps and never a problem.
Friend has a 94 now he pours 15w-50 rotella as it leaks out and uses it.
My preference is a 10w-30 full syn in these unless the temps are going to be below 10F.
There are mechanics that say a 40 viscosity 5w-40, 15w-40 is best for Ford modulars.
Friend has a 94 now he pours 15w-50 rotella as it leaks out and uses it.
My preference is a 10w-30 full syn in these unless the temps are going to be below 10F.
There are mechanics that say a 40 viscosity 5w-40, 15w-40 is best for Ford modulars.
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