2000 Windstar engine knock

[oldvette]

2000 windstar 3.8 62,000 km. Well maintenanced, garage kept and babied. Engine knocks usually when cold. Sound is coming from the plastic intake runner but I think it may be echoing up from inside the motor. Knock increases with engine rpm and loudest at 1800 rpm. It almost sounds like a bad hydraulic lifter but I am used to older cars not newer ones. After engine is at operating temp. about 15 min. of driving knock is gone. Pulled front 3 spark plugs they are worn but show no evidence of antifreeze being burned in cylinder. How is best way to pull the back 3 plugs? ( under the car? ). What could be making the knock? Should I get this knock fixed asap or should I leave it alone? ( don't fix what ain't broke ) Thanks for any help.

[Yngbld]

Mine does the same thing in the same area. I am not sure what to do either. Any ideas anyone?

Thanx
Dave

[mark v]

Here is how to remove the rear plugs.
http://www.ford-forums.com/ford-wind...html#post15725

I dont know what 62,000km is in miles so I cant judge if this may be normal at the amount of miles,km you have.

[GallagherPreach]

Our van had the same knocking sound occassionally last year. In November of last year I began running full synthetic oil and the problem quit. I also had a spark plug change around the same time.

Just my two cents....

[mike8855]

Hi
I have a 2000 Windstar as well and have what sounds like valve chatter coming from the inkate manifold. When I took it to a mechanic he said the noise seems to be coming from a vibration itself in the manifold. And as he pulled on the manifold you could hear the noise change or go away?
I figured it was too much lifter clearance that tends to go away or reduce itself once it warms up.
Did you get any answers from this web site and did your noise go away or did it get worse or did you find out what it really was.
I am new to this site and not sure how to look for the reply's that shows answers.
mike

[mark v]

I dont know why people still say lifters make noise. Modern day lifters are hydraulic and are somewhat filled with oil so they are pretty silent. Rocker arms however will make noise. The modern engines also dont have adjustible valves so there isnt too much lifter clearance.

Remember the intake on the Windstar is plastic and it transmits noise like crazy. Pulling on it will naturally change the noise or stop the noise.

Back in the old days lifters were solid and did make noise.

It is kinda like saying your engine is a motor and that is wrong. Motors use energy, Engines produce energy. Motors work off stuff like electricity, vacuum, air, fluid. Engines burn fuel and then produce energy.

Sorry for the rant.

[drzoidberg]

Sorry for the late post, but the engineer in me can't resist...

An electric motor and a car "engine" are both properly referred to as motors due to the fact that they both convert energy into motive force (and could also properly be called transducers, for that matter...maybe I'll start calling my engine a hydrocarbon transducer...sounds catchy). The car motor converts stored chemical energy into mechanical motion, and other types of motors (electric, etc.) simply convert different types of energy into motion. I will give you that conventionally, heat operated motors are referred to as engines.

Sorry for the counter-rant.

[mark v]

So then all Engines are Motors then.

[GraybeardAv]

Hydraulic lifters do indeed make noise if they don't pump up immediately, after being collapsed by valve spring pressure when the engine is stationary. They may be slow to fill up if the oil level is low or the oil is dirty or too thick. What viscosity oil do you use, and how often do you change it? Regardless, lifter to rocker arm clacking is not inherently bad for the engine, but a good reminder to do proper maintenance.

62K km / 40K miles in 8 years means the car has sat a lot. I put lots more miles than that on my Model T. Oil changes should be at least twice a year, regardless of miles driven. Short trips are worse, especially if the engine does not get thoroughly warmed to evaporate the moisture out of the sump.

GB

[Flatliner]

hello all ....

My 98 Windstar did the same thing

When you start the engine it sounded like the motor was not pumping oil to the top of the engine. It would do this from any where from 10 secs. to maybe even a couple mins. It sounded like really bad valve cladder, so we just went and bought a new Ford. After a few weeks we had the engine looked at and it ended up being a camshaft position sensor. How funny a $30 part with a installation cost of $300 ( not at the dealership )

We loved the van and never gave any problems untill around 125,000, then all hell broke lose. At time the lights stay on and the open door bell dings, other times the reverse lights dont work, other times the passenger side windows do not roll up or down.

I love the van but I sold mine yesterday good luck to you all !