Here is a video I took this morning that shows the truck running from cold start to operating temperature.

During this video you can hear the engine go from quiet while cold to noisy when warm.

also i disconnect the belt to show how the noise goes away and comes back once I reinstall it.

Common sense tells me the problem should be one of the few items I havenot replaced yet, which is the power steering pump, the AC compressor Clutch bearing, or the Harmonic balancer. yet I have to wonder if the timing chain or connecting rods would act different without a load from the serpentine belt


I have watched this video fast forwarding to the point where I have the belt off then back on and I will say the noise is much different or noticeable in person than watching on my iPad or PC.

I think the noise when it came back after reinstalling the belt did not seem as loud as it was when I just let it run until it was warmed up.

This being said makes me think there may be debris or oil sludge in the pan getting sucked up in the oil pick up tube. once it gets shut off the debris falls back to the bottom of the pan.

I guess it is another reason to go ahead and install a real oil pressure test gauge.

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2002 Ford Ranger 2 Dr Standard cab 2.3 5 SPD 7.5 373 gears

Does the sound change if you turn the A/C comp on and off? How about when the P/S is under load by turning wheels back and forth?

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1995 Ranger XLT 3.0L OBDII
Trans: A4LD (E) 2WD
Rear: 7.5 / 3.45 NL LHD
Tires:GY P235 75/R15 (orig 225 70/R14)
Long Bed, 20 Gal Tank
Up to 229,900 miles

The AC does not seem to effect the noise, I did not try and load the engine down with the PS but I have thought about it.

Perhaps tomorrow that is what I will check next

When going around the engine using along screw drive trying to pin point the noise I didn't think the noise was coming from the Power steering pump area. It sounds much lower but who know anything is worth checking at this point.

Thanks for the thought and reminder to recheck the PS pump.

I was almost willing just to install a new pump if only to cross it off the list.

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2002 Ford Ranger 2 Dr Standard cab 2.3 5 SPD 7.5 373 gears

I think a piece of vacuum line would work better than a long screwdriver. Seems to me with the screwdriver, touching the 'whatever', I would also get telegraphed vibration noise from other things. Using a piece of vacuum tubing held to my ear, I was better able to filter out other things' noise, and only listen locally.
Did you get an oil pressure gauge hooked up? Again, what is the oil viscosity in the crankcase? Do you have the movable intake flappers? I have heard they can make noise. Disconnecting the vacuum line & plugging it is the Dx process I have heard used.
tom

Yeah I need to get a mechanics stethoscope to be more accurate, however I was able to pin point the noises from each bad part using the screwdriver.

Yeas the intake has swirl flaps in in, however the intake is new and just installed and verified the new flaps have zero play in them.

When listening for noises I get no noise from the intake, it seems to be loudest at the block and or timing cover.

This morning I did run the truck and waited for the noise to appear and turned the wheel all the way each direction and the noise did not change at all.

I am confident the Power steering pump is working properly and is not making any noise other than what it should make when the pressure is loaded up at full lock.

My back has not felt good enough to jack the truck up to remove the old sending unit to see what thread it is.

The engine has Motorcraft semi synthetic 5w20 with a K&n filter

I was looking at Alldata this morning to double check the TSB in hopes of
Confirming I was using the correct oil.

However I really didn't find the information on the 2002 2.3 Duratec covered in the TSB specifically.

My neck and back has been hurting pretty bad today so When I feel better I will try and look into what oil for sure should be in this engine.

For some reason when I purchased the oil I used I am pretty sure I found documentation stating to use this oil but now I am doubting myself and need to double check.

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2002 Ford Ranger 2 Dr Standard cab 2.3 5 SPD 7.5 373 gears

Try running it up to normal operating temp put in one cup of atf in your oil.go for a drive 15 to 20 miles. Then change your oil. But this is only good for valve noise

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2000 ford ranger xlt 2.5l regular cab manual transmission 330,000+mil

thanks for the idea, however I am positive the engine noise is not present in the top half of the engine.

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2002 Ford Ranger 2 Dr Standard cab 2.3 5 SPD 7.5 373 gears