Long time no post but back again and need some advice.
Recent change in careers (not my doing) and finacial difficulties (from previous) the Rodeo was neglected. With so many other things on the mind tring to get by I ran low on oil (yes should had been checking it anyway) it took 2 quarts to get it back to full. But the knock that started didn't go away when the oil was added back. I can't tell if it's a lifter or the dreaded rod knock.
So is there an additive I can add to help when I change the oil or should I try a differant weight of oil. I need to keep this engine in there til I get a core and start a rebuild slowly rather than dropping the whole cost at once.

I appreciate any feed back

2 quarts low shouldnt blow the engine. Try to find out if it is the timing belt tensioner. Most 3.2's are noisy when they get up there in age except mine <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I would agree that getting that low is dangorous but shouldn't blow it. Mine as well made no noise prior to this other than when I tryed putting senthetic (ms?) in it and it made a tapping sound similar to this one. This one seems worse.
Where is that tensioner so I can check that out?
Also add this into the mix that at 2500 rpm's the noise goes away until it drops below that mark again. Does that noarrow it down to what it may be.

Thanks for the responce and looking for more.

Carl

That sounds exactly like mine did when the tensioner went. If you haven't replaced the timing belt, you're probably due.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />Andre

AGREE WITH THE OTHER GUYS , IF THAT NOISE GOES AWAY AT HI RPM AND STAYS AWAY UNTIL IT DROPS BACK IT ISN,T A ROD ,PULL THE FRT CVRS AND YOU WILL FIND THE TENSIONER AT THE RIGHT FRT END OF THE ENG , AND WHILE YOU ARE IN THER IF FINANCES ALLOW REPLACE THE T BELT, TENSIONER IS ABOUT 60-65 DOLLARS A ND THE BELT 50 OR SO JERRY

Is the tensioner easily replaceable without replacing the belt? I might have this problem also, and the timing belt is only about a year old, replaced when the water pump blew on a road trip. I am pretty sure they did not replace the tensioner at the time...long story.

HI STEVE, YES THE TENSIONER CAN BE REPLACED VERY EASILY ,WELL ALLMOST THE FRT CVRS HAVE TO COME OFF JUST LIKE IN REPLACING THE BELT, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DISTURBE THE BLT TIMING OR ANYTHING AFTER THE CVRS ARE OFF , ONLY TWO BOLTS HOLD THE TENSIONER IN PLACE AND THEN PULL THE PIN AND FIRE IT UP WITH THE CVRS OFF AND SEE IF THE NOISE IS GONE .. JERRY

Thanks everyone, man I'm crossing my fingers that is the problem. Cause I'm still sweating bullets <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> til I find out what it is. I'll have to get in to it tomorrow afternoon after work and see if that's it. I'll pass the info along afterwards to let every know what I've found. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thanks again,
Carl

Well I finally got in to it so I thought I would write a little something just for anyone else that would have the same problem later.

So first I found out that it was not the tension pulley, the belt was so loose it was slapping against the tension pulley which in turn was hitting the hydraulic pin houseing. So that's the noise I was hearing at idle and probably about two weeks away from the belt breaking and tearing the whole thing apart. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

Tearing down: I had one h$%% of a time trying to get the crank pulley bolt loose. But with the aid of 4x4 wire I found the trick of setting your pry bar against the frame and bumping the starter. It only take one hit and it came loose. It was way better than beating on it with the air hammer for 2 hours (what a waste of time, so don't waste your time!) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Going back together: The new belt is so tight it was a pain getting it back in place so I had to remove the little nail I put to hold the hydraulic pin back and put a socket to rotate it back even farther. I also had to use a screw driver to get it over the tension pulley. But I got it on!!

I hope it helps anyone in the future.

Cya and thanks to all that replied with information,

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Carl