• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Eek! My Mustangs engine sounds like a diesel!

  • Thread starter Thread starter XtorT'r
  • Start date Start date Aug 3, 2004

XtorT'r

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
381
0
0
Minnesota, YAAA
Aug 3, 2004
#1
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #1
The sound seems to be comming from the very top of the engine... I also notice a high pitched squeel under load.Is this what happens when the plastic lower intake plenum warps ? I hope not.. Well I take that back.. I hope its that easy to fix...
 
J

Jake795

New Member
May 19, 2004
110
0
0
Aug 3, 2004
#2
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #2
Yikes!!! Sounds like it could be a main cap bearing begging for mercy. I hope for your sake that it's the plastic intake!

Jake
 

XtorT'r

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
381
0
0
Minnesota, YAAA
Aug 3, 2004
#3
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #3
Jake795 said:
Yikes!!! Sounds like it could be a main cap bearing begging for mercy. I hope for your sake that it's the plastic intake!

Jake
Click to expand...

ah..........don't laugh, but wth is a main cap bearing? I think that sounds very expensive.

Something else... Two weeks ago I had some weird issue I thought was with my oil.
One day I went out to start my car after work and the car sounded like it was starting with no oil what so ever.. Scared the crap out of me. so I checked the oil level, it looks fine. when I was driving it all I could hear was chatter under the hood, so I scratch my head and add 1/3 quart. it goes away. About one week later It happens again, I pull over becasue I am getting very nervous and check the oil level, it looks fine. I add another 1/3 quart while the engine is running, I can hear all the chatter quite down and go away. I went home and changed my oil, the last time I changed it was 2500 miles ago. I use 10w30 Mobil1. It has been nice and quit with the chatter since then. untill two days ago. Now I got this mustang diesel sound commin out the front. WTF is goin on?
 

XtorT'r

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
381
0
0
Minnesota, YAAA
Aug 3, 2004
#4
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #4
bump..bump
 

XtorT'r

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
381
0
0
Minnesota, YAAA
Aug 4, 2004
#5
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #5
bump
 

trinity_gt

10 Year Member
Jan 31, 2003
3,125
81
99
Canada
Aug 4, 2004
#6
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #6
XtorT'r said:
ah..........don't laugh, but wth is a main cap bearing? I think that sounds very expensive.
Click to expand...

A main cap is one of the "C"-shaped metal clamps used to secure the crankshaft to the bottom of the engine. The modular engine has 5 of them, one between each pair of cylinders. The main caps carry the main bearings.

You're right...repairing a bad main bearing will be very expensive.

Something else... Two weeks ago I had some weird issue I thought was with my oil.
One day I went out to start my car after work and the car sounded like it was starting with no oil what so ever.. Scared the crap out of me. so I checked the oil level, it looks fine. when I was driving it all I could hear was chatter under the hood, so I scratch my head and add 1/3 quart. it goes away. About one week later It happens again, I pull over becasue I am getting very nervous and check the oil level, it looks fine. I add another 1/3 quart while the engine is running, I can hear all the chatter quite down and go away. I went home and changed my oil, the last time I changed it was 2500 miles ago. I use 10w30 Mobil1. It has been nice and quit with the chatter since then. untill two days ago. Now I got this mustang diesel sound commin out the front. WTF is goin on?
Click to expand...

You need to have the engine oil pressure checked out. It's possible the oil pump gears, which are driven directly from the crankshaft, have broken. Not a common occurence on a stock car but the oil pump gears are known to be breakable. It certainly sounds as if the engine has been suffering some sort of oil starvation. It may already be badly damaged if that's the case... I hope that this sound you're hearing is not a dry-running cam journal.
 

XtorT'r

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
381
0
0
Minnesota, YAAA
Aug 4, 2004
#7
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #7
No, the sound that is commin out of it right now is definatly not comming from the cams. I do wonder if its the plastic manefold becasue wouldn't that make alot of noise with all the air escaping.. or sucking in?
I was thinking about picking up one of the engines from www.Karkraft.com has anyone ever gotton one of these, how much does it tend to cost to fix the berrings or rings or pistons? round abouts? and where the heck do I have something like that done?.. or do you think having something like a main berring fixed is worth keeping my engiene with the down time?
 

XtorT'r

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
381
0
0
Minnesota, YAAA
Aug 5, 2004
#8
  • Aug 5, 2004
  • #8
OK! I took some more time to sniff around my engine, and good for me the problem has gotten louder. I started my car on ramps and got under it, none of the sound was comming out of the oil pan .. thats good right ? I put my head right over the heads.. I can tell they sound quiet... When I rev the engine I can hear the noise comming from the rear drivers side really loudly. it still sounds like a mechanical chatter but it is comming from one side and one spot really badly. Right in between the lower intake and the drivers side head. but the head is quiet....weird. you guys think the gasket is bad or the whole lower manifold?... I prolly have to tear it down to find out.....
although it is alot cheeper than a new engine or shortblock.. I was lookin forward to having an excuse for the wife why I had to get the DOHC 5.4 ...


lol, I am almost the only one that ever replys to my posts.. I think I am gonna change my name to "thread death kiss" if that fits...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ford truck engine swap issues
  • keel
  • Jul 7, 2026
  • Other Auto Tech
Replies
17
Views
229
Other Auto Tech Monday at 1:17 PM
General karthief
A
2001 Mustang GT, scorched metal smell and noise from trans/diff?
  • AndyE2255
  • Dec 1, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
454
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Dec 28, 2025
gkomo
Mustang II 4 cyl gear hunting and possibly messed up vacuum system
  • oesterreicher
  • May 31, 2026
  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech
Replies
11
Views
271
1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech Jun 14, 2026
manicmechanic007
U
8 Years of Vibration leading to engine knock?
  • UpgradeXP
  • Apr 14, 2025
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
454
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Apr 14, 2025
Noobz347
B
90Gt squeal/chirp when hot
  • Bvoss59
  • Jun 12, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
23
Views
667
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jul 14, 2025
General karthief
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?