2.3L timing chain rattle - take it in or leave it alone?

[ccasanova22]

My 2.3 EcoBoost has developed a timing chain rattle on startup. This is a mostly highway driven vehicle, which does 400 mile state to state trips regularly, and doesn’t see much (if at all) city driving.

I run Amsoil, use the best WIX filters, and always keep my oil level up to max (truck tends to burn some oil in the mountains, but only 1/2 a quart every change).

Should I take it in or keep the truck as-is (hoping the dealer doesn’t make the issue worse)?

I only have approx. 15k so there’s still plenty of powertrain warranty (4+ years and 45k miles) left.

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[fusseli]

The little 4cyl makes plenty of noises much less flattering than a V8 or even V6. It's probably normal.

 

[Msfitoy]

How did you identify the sound as timing chain?

 

[ccasanova22]

Sounded just like every other car or truck with a timing chain failure. Not low pitched like cam phasers, but a nice chain rattle sound similar to the Ford 3.5 EcoBoost noises and GM 2.4L timing chain noises.

 

[dtech]

Could be a tensioner issue, I'd take it in .

 

[airline tech]

With only 15k , I would pinpoint deeper to be sure.
Now the Ranger has a noisy HP fuel pump that rattles at start up and settles down not long after start. (1 minute or so)
This is normal, and it’s the fuel rail pressure that you hear equalizing out.
Now for a chain sound a possible source is the alternator pulley , might be coupling and de- coupling. The 2.3 uses a (OAD) type pulley.
Another possible is the fan clutch being noisy at start up.
Now if it is the timing chain, the issue would be the tensioner relaxing with engine off, and it will only get worse till it eats the guides then eventually jump the gears.

 

[Frenchy]

Just a few things I will note,

For starters you are waisting your.money using Amsoil. Oil that cost more than $20 a quart and can only be bought from a special dealer is pointless especially on a daily driver. Ford did their testing with the Motocraft oil and it does just fine. If not mistaken it's simply re badged Mobil Oil.

Second is the oil filter. Don't get me wrong, I know that Wix does make good filters(they might be the manufacturer for Motocraft). That said I have found with many different vehicles that if you do not use the OEM Oil Filter you can have extra noise on startup.

Last but not least, if you are in your warranty period and you suspect a problem like that you should always get the vehicle scheduled to be looked at. Worst case you are correct and there is a major problem. Best case it's nothing to sweat.

There is a member on here(can't remember who) who had a Nissan Altima that was having a problem with the throttle position sensor during his warranty period. He never took it in to the dealer to get it resolved in the warranty period. After the warranty was up he finally took it in and was not so happy when he was told he would have to pay since the warranty was up. He claimed it was supposed to be a recall when it wasn't. Morel of the story, if it's under warranty take it in to get fixed under warranty.

 

[Wang.S]

I'm questioning the oil consumption
I've never had to add oil to a vehicle since 2002 between oil changes.
To me its a red flag if I have to.

 

[ccasanova22]

I'm questioning the oil consumption
I've never had to add oil to a vehicle since 2002 between oil changes.
To me its a red flag if I have to.

Are you a city driver? Regular short trips of under 35 highway miles at a time?

Everything I own, from 4 cylinders to V6’s to large displacement V8s will keep the oil level the same (or slightly increase) if trips are <35 miles and oil temp isn’t up to 212F regularly.

On my GMC 6.2L that’s usually the point where oil temp passes 212, and it stops “making” the level rise.

Long trips, like NY to California, thru big mountain passes like Vail Pass in CO or going through Death Valley will burn oil in everything I owned.

I’d say it’s more usage than anything (at least in the vehicles I’ve owned). My Ranger also “rises” in oil level if I just do short trips only, which I avoid.

 

[Grandaccess]

even in my 4.0 Explorer I have never had to add a drop of oil even though it had 150k on it
I have always run Mobie One (I have used for decades!) and Fram Ultra, But for grins in the new truck (less than 19k on it now) I am going to go with Amsoil and their higher end filter, those are the only two oils I would think to use even in my Lawn Mower!

 

[Frenchy]

Are you a city driver? Regular short trips of under 35 highway miles at a time?

Everything I own, from 4 cylinders to V6’s to large displacement V8s will keep the oil level the same (or slightly increase) if trips are <35 miles and oil temp isn’t up to 212F regularly.

On my GMC 6.2L that’s usually the point where oil temp passes 212, and it stops “making” the level rise.

Long trips, like NY to California, thru big mountain passes like Vail Pass in CO or going through Death Valley will burn oil in everything I owned.

I’d say it’s more usage than anything (at least in the vehicles I’ve owned). My Ranger also “rises” in oil level if I just do short trips only, which I avoid.

I have lived in Colorado for 4 years now. Only two of my vehicles I have had to watch the oil level while driving around. Why exactly? Because of a rear main leak and the transmission is not a fun thing to pull......

My Ranger(2019) and my Frontier (2016) never had any oil consumption at all and I drove them through the Rockies of Colorado and New Mexico and Arizona. The Ranger also got to see a trip to the East Coast (more like mid west) and I still never had said issue.

 

[RAYJAY]

My 2.3 EcoBoost has developed a timing chain rattle on startup. This is a mostly highway driven vehicle, which does 400 mile state to state trips regularly, and doesn’t see much (if at all) city driving.

I run Amsoil, use the best WIX filters, and always keep my oil level up to max (truck tends to burn some oil in the mountains, but only 1/2 a quart every change).

Should I take it in or keep the truck as-is (hoping the dealer doesn’t make the issue worse)?

I only have approx. 15k so there’s still plenty of powertrain warranty (4+ years and 45k miles) left.

one question how often do you change your oil ?

 

[got3fords]

even in my 4.0 Explorer I have never had to add a drop of oil even though it had 150k on it
I have always run Mobie One (I have used for decades!) and Fram Ultra, But for grins in the new truck (less than 19k on it now) I am going to go with Amsoil and their higher end filter, those are the only two oils I would think to use even in my Lawn Mower!

Mobie one kanobie?

 

[SigOris]

My 2.3 EcoBoost has developed a timing chain rattle on startup. This is a mostly highway driven vehicle, which does 400 mile state to state trips regularly, and doesn’t see much (if at all) city driving.

I run Amsoil, use the best WIX filters, and always keep my oil level up to max (truck tends to burn some oil in the mountains, but only 1/2 a quart every change).

Should I take it in or keep the truck as-is (hoping the dealer doesn’t make the issue worse)?

I only have approx. 15k so there’s still plenty of powertrain warranty (4+ years and 45k miles) left.

I have the mindset that if it’s still under warranty take it in and get it documented.

it fails just outside of warranty you have it documented they said it was nothing.

 

[Wang.S]

Are you a city driver? Regular short trips of under 35 highway miles at a time?

Everything I own, from 4 cylinders to V6’s to large displacement V8s will keep the oil level the same (or slightly increase) if trips are <35 miles and oil temp isn’t up to 212F regularly.

On my GMC 6.2L that’s usually the point where oil temp passes 212, and it stops “making” the level rise.

Long trips, like NY to California, thru big mountain passes like Vail Pass in CO or going through Death Valley will burn oil in everything I owned.

I’d say it’s more usage than anything (at least in the vehicles I’ve owned). My Ranger also “rises” in oil level if I just do short trips only, which I avoid.

I'm the "all dressed" of the driving world. A little bit of everything all the time

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