Name that tune… Engine noise

[Texasknowhow]

Guys, listen to this short video of my motor after coming home from work. Nice easy drive at highway speed and then through the neighborhood, but this time I got out to check the engine over while still running and heard a weird sort of pinging sound. At first I thought it was the fan clutch, but after crawling under the front of the truck, it now seems to be coming from inside the front portion of the oil pan. Could this be the oil pump? If so, and I think this is a relatively recent sound to develop, do you guys think it's about to give out on me? Let me know your thoughts.

click here to see/hear on Youtube -

Couldn't get a video to upload directly to mud. Thx, Clay

 

[Kernal]

Says "This video is private" when clicked.

 

[ekberger]

Sorry, but I can't get any sound out of the "video". Note comes up that says: "This video is private", but that's about it.

 

[Texasknowhow]

okay, thanks for the note… try now. Not my normal way to upload videos… Clay

 

[WarWagon]

Does sound like some sort of pump; very erratic too.

 

[Texasknowhow]

The power steering pump is leaking a little (but fluid level is good) and I'm already planning to rebuild it soon. Could it make a sound that would seem to emanate from the pan area?

 

[WarWagon]

The one on my '95 isn't leaking right now so I'm not too sure. But my '93 leaked PS pretty good and I never heard anything like that. Real mystery for sure. I'll be following this for sure.

 

[blkprj80]

Sounds like it could be a chunked belt?

If you have the time, you might pull all the belts and see if the noise persists. Sometimes noise travels through stuff making you think it is coming from somewhere else. It could be a timing chain maybe? Or a wore out slipper letting it flop around?

 

[Texasknowhow]

Sounds like it could be a chunked belt?

If you have the time, you might pull all the belts and see if the noise persists. Sometimes noise travels through stuff making you think it is coming from somewhere else. It could be a timing chain maybe? Or a wore out slipper letting it flop around?

I know what you mean about the sounds. Sometimes they can travel like you say. That's why I was wondering if the power steering pump could echo through the front part of the engine and sound like it was the front part of the pan. But your idea of the timing chain or slipper makes even more sense. i guess I may be making a Head Gasket, PHH, timing chain and slipper replacement video soon….

 

[Texasknowhow]

Oh, I'll check the belts this weekend first…

 

[ekberger]

i guess I may be making a Head Gasket, PHH, timing chain and slipper replacement video soon….

No offense to IdahoDoug who made a great video on the HG change, however, you did such an outstanding job with the video on the oil pump cover, etc. I'd be standing in line to watch the HG show. However, having said that, I do hope you can put your fingers on an easier fix.

 

[Proven]

Mine makes this sound. I cared about finding it for a minute but it has been doing it off and on for about 2 years now. I found it did it more when I switched to thinner base oils like 5w-30 from 10w-30 or -40.

I've also found it did it more when the truck was a little lower on oil. Mine burns some oil and I have to add some from time to time. At least, that's what I think. I've just not had much interest in tearing apart the truck to chase a demon that might be in my head. =)

 

[Texasknowhow]

Mine makes this sound. I cared about finding it for a minute but it has been doing it off and on for about 2 years now. I found it did it more when I switched to thinner base oils like 5w-30 from 10w-30 or -40.

I've also found it did it more when the truck was a little lower on oil. Mine burns some oil and I have to add some from time to time. At least, that's what I think. I've just not had much interest in tearing apart the truck to chase a demon that might be in my head. =)

Okay, now you've just mentioned some things that relate to my truck as well…. I've switched to full synthetic Mobile 1 5w30, it is a half quart low right now (mine also burns a little). hmmmm, wonder if it's just a sound it's going to make at this mileage with those conditions… I swear it sounds like something in the front part of that pan...

 

[Texasknowhow]

No offense to IdahoDoug who made a great video on the HG change, however, you did such an outstanding job with the video on the oil pump cover, etc. I'd be standing in line to watch the HG show. However, having said that, I do hope you can put your fingers on an easier fix.

Nice complement and thanks for not wishing it on me too quick… haha

 

[CaliTLC]

Hi there;
Thanks for posting a great video of that interesting engine noise. My '96 makes the same noise and I just finished up doing the HG a couple of months ago.
Did you finally diagnose the problem?

 

[CaliTLC]

And thanks for posting a few of the great vids on YouTube for diagnosing and fixing your TLC. Very well done and informative.

 

[Texasknowhow]

Hi there;
Thanks for posting a great video of that interesting engine noise. My '96 makes the same noise and I just finished up doing the HG a couple of months ago.
Did you finally diagnose the problem?

I have not got this one figured out yet, but it is def louder if I'm a little low on oil (1/2 - 1 quart). I will post up here if I make any more progress.

And thanks for posting a few of the great vids on YouTube for diagnosing and fixing your TLC. Very well done and informative.

You are welcome. Love to contribute back to this great group as I've bennifited so much from them.

 

[CaliTLC]

Did you try to remove the belts? I just did, starting with the AC belt and I could swear that it went away when I started it without just the AC belt. I checked the idler bearing and it seemed more or less tight but there was was some slack (wobble) on the pulley of the AC pump. I put the belt back on with a little more slack and it seemed quieter. I will order a new bearing (cheaper option) for the idler pulley and if it reoccurs, then look at the AC pump closer. The AC pump is directly attached to the oil pan and it might be resonating the sound of the pulley into it which makes it sound like the source is behind the front of the pan.

At first I found the sound concerning, especially just after putting a lot of time into the HG rebuild. But now that I have not heard it without the AC connected, I feel a little better about the situation.

 

[Texasknowhow]

I haven't yet tried the belts; that could be it. Thanks for reporting out on what you tried and heard as a result. I want to make sure the vehicle is warmed up and just back from a trip to town or something because that is when I notice it the most. I do know that when I hear it, the AC clutch is not engaged (AC off), but the pulley/shaft of the AC could be the culprit. This week is shaping up to be very busy each night as well, so I probably won't address this until next weekend at the soonest.

 

[Young Bull]

To me it does sound like a pump or bearing in a "wobble", that being said. I think you are on the right track with the idler bearing.