Engine knock

hi
has it ever run low on engine oil while you have had it
the knock you descibe sounds like big end bearings are on the way out it may have run low on oil prior to you buying it
which could account for the bearings going at its current km's even having to have the gearbox rebuilt at that amount of km's doesnt auger well perhaps the previous owner gave it a real flogging
sorry but thats the best i can suggest without hearing it
i suggest that you should let a mechanic take it for a test drive and listen to it if it is the big end bearings it will fail in the very near future so dont expect to go anywhere during xmas except local short runs
cheers and merry xmas

Get 2-3 mechanics to have a listen but let them think they are the only ones having a look and compare the results.

One symptom of worn big ends is oil pressure dropping rapidly as the engine warms up.
A mechanic can temporarily fit a pressure gauge on most engines to determine this.

It maybe more cost efficient to have a fully reconditioned engine fitted rather than have it pulled to pieces just to replace the big ends(if that is indeed the problem).
Mechanics love pulling an engine to pieces ,lots of hours and difficult to check on whats been done
The other option maybe to scrap the vehicle altogether and sell it off as it is.

PS. Google 2002 Ford Explorer Problems re Engine Knocking .

Hi, I've got a VW with a similar problem at 210,000km on the clock. The first thing I did was try using a slightly heavier oil and thickeners to see if the noise went away. I'ts still being driven by my son and has 260,000km on the clock, damn the noise.

Oh
if it is the timing chain...the reason it gets worse when hot is...the timing chain get longer when hot and the oil gtes a bit thinner...the tensioner is both spring tensioned and oil preasure driven.

When its all near its limits it cant cope and rattles.....do the adjustment and all is good.

cheers

With Explorers the Timing Chain is at the back of the motor.

You have to remove the motor to gain access.

Trust FORD.

Hard to say without hearing it but Piston slap will reduce in intensity when the engine warms up.

Sorry, didn't read the whole thread, agree with the others, get a mechanic to listen to it, don't drive it.

Bringing an engine over from the US may appear to be a cheaper solution,but you will still have the engine removal and installation costs.
On top of that you will have to pay for all the external bits and pieces like the manifolds,fuel injection,alternator,starter motor,waterpump,thermostat and numerous other parts to be fitted to the new engine.
Generally,new engines are sold as "bare long motors" which means you dont get all those external bits above that I mentioned,so you reuse the ones off your old engine.

Ill take a guess and say it would be about $1500 to ship an engine here and would take a month at least.
It might be cheaper if you could buy one off an engine importer locally who brings engines in by the container,this is much cheaper than shipping an individual engine which has its own customs inspection and packaging costs on top of the freight