3.2 Banging after oil change

[EAP]

Has anyone experienced a banging noise that seems to come from the timing chain housing???

For the second time, just after an oil change, I have a rhytmic bang from what I believe is the timing chains. The sound goes away and does not come back after about 30-60 minutes of engine idling. After that I can start the car on any given day and the noise does not return. It only seems to be there after I drain the oil and then idle it to allow the fresh oil to circulate.

I have a '84 3.2 Carrera and am considering the possibility of having streached timing chains or a bad hydraulic tensioner.

Anyone have any suggestions or comments??

[robhamster]

I have an '84 that did that a few times, not necessarily after an oil change. I did not know what the sound was, but it happened the last time last winter after I drove to a Pelican gathering in Colorado and Grady Clay heard the sound and said it was the chain tensioner. The sound went away on the way home as I believe Grady put the fear on it and it has yet to return.

[EAP]

Sounds reasonable. Is there a real potential for the tensioner to fail and cause terrible things that I don't even want to think about?

[al lkosmal]

I've never heard of a failed tensioner that resulted in a banging noise, just the dragging/rrattling chain sound. Grady, are you there? Tell me more.

regards,

al

[ZOA NOM]

Sounds reasonable. Is there a real potential for the tensioner to fail and cause terrible things that I don't even want to think about?


Yes.

[axvel]

what if they didn't put enough oil, maybe 1 or 2 quarts less?

[Super_Dave_D]

Originally Posted by EAP

The sound goes away and does not come back after about 30-60 minutes of engine idling.

You let it idle for 60 minutes????

[GH85Carrera]

I suspect that is 30-60 SECONDS.

[dshepp806]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I suspect that is 30-60 SECONDS.

Sure hope so......................

Best,

Doyle

[EAP]

I let the engine idle (and the engine oil was verified to be properly serviced by checking the dip stick) for about 5 minutes at a time. After about the fifth time the knocking or banging noise goes away.

I would like to hear more about the possibility of a tensioner failure or perhaps a bad tensioner seal. Has anyone actually had a 3.2 Carrera tensioner not hold hydraulic pressure and allow the timing chain to "slap" around in the housing? The noise seems to be closer to the crank pulley versus being on either end of the heads, near the cams. I used my automotive stethoscope to try to pinpoint the location of the rhytmic banging.

I am really concerned about the tensioner failing or the chain letting go.
Thanks for any comments. By the way, the engine has 85,000 miles on it and I just brought it home after a flawless trip from Minnesota through the western part of the U.S., putting 8,500 miles on it. It's still running great and the noise has not returned, it only seems to occur after the oil has been drained and reserviced.

[flmont]

Well I would change them both out ,..or consider the stationary type that does not require the oil pressure,..seems like it sticks and man that can be disastrous..if it fails at the wrong time...FM

[FenderGuy]

eap

Is it this sound
Tapping on the passenger engine side????

[EAP]

Thanks for the sound bite Frank.

I would say that is close to how it sounds. The quality is difficult but the rythm seems to be the same and the intensity seems to be right...

I'm anxious to find out what the cause of your sound was??????

Was it the tensioners? If so, what did you do??

[FenderGuy]

Eap

I sent ot over to my mechanic so he could hear it...He told me since they did a leakdown test just 2 weeks ago, it might be my sparkplug connectors leaking or the plugs themselves...I have jacobs wires and they look replaced within the past 2 years...other things he said it could be were a lose valve or rocker....He said he was ok for me to drive it over to the shop, I dont have the room or time to do the work myself at the moment, so i wont know untill they get in there

[EAP]

Thanks again Frank,
Please let me know what they find. Is your noise continuous? Mine has gone away for now but I would sleep a lot better if I knew what the problem is. I'm planning on a 1,500 mile trip over the 4th weekend.

My wires are one year old and are Clewett's. I would not rule out a grounding wire as when I was feeling around the engine compartment, with the engine running, I was feeling a light spark from the wires (they were wet because my oil funnel dumped a half quart of oil and I had to wash it off).

As for a rocker or valve being the culprit, I'm pretty confident that the valve train is tight. I adjusted valves last year. While I was listening to them with the stethoscope, everything was ticking along nicely.

Thanks again, I hope your mech can find your problem and perhaps we have a common "banging". But, that would be too easy wouldn't it.....

[ChrisBennet]

Resurrecting post from June 2008:
What did the banging turn out to be?
-Chris