Noise/Oil light

[ILLSHOU]

I am pretty much at a loss...maybe someone has some input. Ill give you a little history as well as my problem. I just recently bought a 95 SHO ATX. I have replaced my water pump and thermostat so far. I also had the tranny fluid flushed out and changed, was brown but free of any metal shavings or debree. My oil light was coming on and i had a noise that sounds somewhere between a ticking and a clacking, but it is not a knock. I changed the oil, which seemed to be rather thin. I replaced it with 10-30 weight. Someone i had consulted about it seemed to think it may have been a lifter due to the thin oil. The noise isnt constant. It usually takes me tachin' it up to like 6k, pretty hard accel to make it start. After it starts, i can shut the car off, and immediately restart and the noise is gone. It is very sporadic and most of the time there is no light on, the oil light was on constant but went out after the oil was changed. Now the light has started to flicker a little bit in conjunction with the noise. Any ideas on what this could be?

 

[SHOtimer]

I'm not as knowledgeable as some of the other members on this forum, which will prolly be able to help you on this problem. But, what I have learned is when you have a problem of such as yours DO NOT drive your car at all untill you have discovered the problem, you may have already done fatal engine damage, and don't want to risk anymore.
Doug

 

[SolidState]

Rod bearings, dude.....PARK IT!

Do not even think of turning that key to start...

You might have already done the damage....try replacing your bearings...

 

[Mike Kopstain]

ILLSHOU:
I am pretty much at a loss...maybe someone has some input. Ill give you a little history as well as my problem. I just recently bought a 95 SHO ATX. I have replaced my water pump and thermostat so far. I also had the tranny fluid flushed out and changed, was brown but free of any metal shavings or debree. My oil light was coming on and i had a noise that sounds somewhere between a ticking and a clacking, but it is not a knock. I changed the oil, which seemed to be rather thin. I replaced it with 10-30 weight. Someone i had consulted about it seemed to think it may have been a lifter due to the thin oil. The noise isnt constant. It usually takes me tachin' it up to like 6k, pretty hard accel to make it start. After it starts, i can shut the car off, and immediately restart and the noise is gone. It is very sporadic and most of the time there is no light on, the oil light was on constant but went out after the oil was changed. Now the light has started to flicker a little bit in conjunction with the noise. Any ideas on what this could be?

The SHO has solid tappets. The sound most likely is not coming from them. The person who told you it was the lifters may have thought the car had hydraulic lifters, which can collapse, and tick if there isn't sufficient lubrication/ pressure to "pump them up".

What you want to do is get a long screw driver, about a foot in length is preferable, and anything longer is only better. You want to touch the end to the valve covers with the engine running. Stick your ear to the handle and listen to see if the noise is coming from the valve covers. Since you have an oil light in conjunction with this, I don't think this is your problem, but it's worth a look. IFthe sound is coming from the valve covers (it will be easy to tell through the screw driver) then you may have a shim that was ejected from the lash cap or just a valve that is really out of spec. I don't think this is your problem.

Park the car, get an oil pressure gauge and prepare to change the rod bearings. Personally I think that is your problem. frown

<small>[ December 22, 2002, 02:14 AM: Message edited by: Mikeys_Taurus ]</small>

 

[ILLSHOU]

thats not good news at all...i will listen with the screwdriver, and i will park it. I certainly hope that replacing them will take care of it and that i havent done any damage....

 

[ILLSHOU]

In regards to the fact that i changed the oil to 10-30 weight, is this ok? What does Ford actually call for in the SHO. The oil just seemed ultra thin, and 10-30 is, and has been a good oil for almost every car in the climate here in PA with the cold winters and all. Ive never had a problem with it, and dont see why i would really, but some people in the forums seem very much against it.

 

[DavidT]

nah, from all the heated discussions I have read, the argument is "using too thick oil is not good due to small oil passages internally".
I got scolded wink for using 20w50.
Oh, and use Castrol. Stay away from synthetic.
Some guys who have used synthetic have had worn rod bearings at 75,000 miles eek!

<small>[ December 22, 2002, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: dkautumna ]</small>

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

Your oil light coming on is indicative of low oil pressure. Your pump could be bad, your bearings could be bad, or the sending unit could be bad. The fact that it is clicking says bearings and they need to be replaced. The thicker oil helped the pressure a bit, but is not the cure. How many miles on it?

 

[twr]

dkautumna:
nah, from all the heated discussions I have read, the argument is "using too thick oil is not good due to small oil passages internally".
I got scolded wink for using 20w50.
Oh, and use Castrol. Stay away from synthetic.
Some guys who have used synthetic have had worn rod bearings at 75,000 miles eek!

Funny - I know a guy running 20W-50 Synthetic oil in his blown SHO.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

I run 5w30 in winter, and 10w30 in summer.

 

[ILLSHOU]

67,000 miles...
I just dropped it off with my mechanic, he should have a verdict in a few days...Ill keep yas posted on what it turns out to be. As far as the oil debate goes, it seems everyone has their preference, but noone has solid evidence of what is bad or good for the engine...Ill prob stick with the 10-30, i dont think it will hurt it. What does the engine call for though. What is recommended by manufacturer?

 

[Mike Kopstain]

I'm one of the people that recomends against the thicker oil. I'm not against it because it's thick. I'm against it because people use it to cover up noises they hear. Fixing the symptom rather than the problem always costs more.

 

[DavidT]

Ya know. Honestly, it probably doesn't matter which type of oil you use if you change it every 3,000 miles

 

[NOTAURIUS]

I dont know for sure but i say 5w30 only. If it burns too much with 530 it probably needs work. I started running 10w30 in my 90 and it blew up shortly thereafter. Related or not , the 92 gets 530 only

 

[ASSMAN300]

well my opinion would be to have it checked out, and see what the mechanic says. but whatever he says, if your car runs well, regardless of the little faint ticking,, i would just drive it,,, and keep on top of the oil level, and regular changes. the sho is a dual over head cam engine, and therefore the ticking of the valves is a little noticable,,,, i also have a 2003 Grand prix gtp, and it isnt a DOHC, and there as absloutly no ticking there,,, but at the same time my bro has a 91 Grand am Quad 4, and believe me that engine makes ticking noises that u can hear from inside the car with the windows up. ;-) and he is coming up to 400 000 km. further he burnes very little oil, and other than that the car is a rock,,,, the idea that you should park it, in my opinion is a little extreme,,, my SHO ticks verry little also,, and it has done that for the last 68 000 km i have owned her,,, and she still runs strong and well.....

 

[Mike Kopstain]

ASSMAN300:
well my opinion would be to have it checked out, and see what the mechanic says. but whatever he says, if your car runs well, regardless of the little faint ticking,, i would just drive it,,, and keep on top of the oil level, and regular changes. the sho is a dual over head cam engine, and therefore the ticking of the valves is a little noticable,,,, i also have a 2003 Grand prix gtp, and it isnt a DOHC, and there as absloutly no ticking there,,, but at the same time my bro has a 91 Grand am Quad 4, and believe me that engine makes ticking noises that u can hear from inside the car with the windows up. ;-) and he is coming up to 400 000 km. further he burnes very little oil, and other than that the car is a rock,,,, the idea that you should park it, in my opinion is a little extreme,,, my SHO ticks verry little also,, and it has done that for the last 68 000 km i have owned her,,, and she still runs strong and well.....

Bad advice. If the engine is making sounds it doesn't always make that is bad. Do not keep driving the car. Also, oil consumption and bad bearings are two different things. Keep an eye on the oil level all you want, but that won't tell you if the bearing is about to spin.