2002 Ford Focus 2.0 16V Zetec Engine Knocking at Idle when Cold. Should I be worried?

S

Scott

New member
I have just over 133,000 miles, and just started using Mobile 1 thinking that maybe it might "cure" or at least silence the issue. No luck. It is not coming from the valve train, but appears to be coming from behind the oil pan. It does go away (almost) when hot, but sounds like a little diesel running at idle when cold and warming up. It does NOT get louder while accelerating either. It's only heard while sitting. I'm not sure how long this has been there as I've just recently replaced the idler pulley and tensioner pulley as the bearings in both sounded like nails on a chalk board. Now that they are new and quieted, the engine runs like a sewing machine BUT the knocking is annoying me. I'm extremely handy, if it's the crank or bearings in the lower end, can they be removed/machined/replaced while the motor is still in the car by dropping the pan? The car is in great shape other than some rocker cancer, but I want to keep it for a while yet...
 
If it quiets down when warm, it could be piston slap from worn cylinder bore(s). This causes a knocking sound from the loose pistons until the engine warms up and the pistons expand a little.
 
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