Hi - looking for a little help I have a '95 automatic with 104,000 miles on it. The car runs great, no troubles except I went to get it appraised for possible trade-in when a non-Ford dealer told me I have a lower engine tap. He showed me that if I take the engine to 2000 rpm in park and feather the gas pedal so the tach drifts from 1500-2000 rpm you can hear a rattle in the middle of the motor. (mostly when warmed up). This guy tells me its the crankshaft bearings and I could throw a rod thru and out the bottom of the engine at any time. He said its a common problem with 3.8 engines - the rods are hitting the oil pan. Is this true??? How do I get it checked with out a teardown? If it is the crankshaft bearings - how difficult and is it worth it?? The car has now been sitting for like 4 months because I don't want to blow the engine. Any advice?? Any other ideas of what the rattle could be? Thanks!!
Change to a thicker oil. It's the cheapest and easiest thing to try out first. And no the rods ain't hitting the oilpan, if they do you will see it if you look under the car.
LOL. Hitting the oil pan? never heard that one before and the only way they could is if the pan is bent up. I doubt if it's a rod knocking if it's making a tapping sound. Probably a slight exhaust leak. The 3.8 has been around a while and has a very good reputation.
