Petrol/gas engine rattle on late 2.0 litre van

[Two Transit Dave]

Re: MPG on LPG
Just did a check for the last six months and it works out at 19 MPG using lpg which is a bit dearer recently as I pay on average 48p a litre. But as I said the air-con is on most of the time and the van does go and its a job to keep it under 80 have you checked the colour of your oil does it look like new?

[bortaf]

true but were do you think all that fuel is going? into your chambers, so over a long period bore wash and contaminated oil, thats a drastic case scenario type thing but its quite possible

If you hold the throttle wide open and crank the engine the managment system thinks you trying to start a flooded engine and shuts the injectors

[WINDSCREENGUY]

so i was right its best to start with the accelerator all the way down, think i heard this on the scorpio site.

[Two Transit Dave]

Thanks for all the advice I now know not to panic about it and how best to start it after long periods of being parked up

[GrahamT]

Sorry this reply is a little late but I hope it helps.
The rattle is almost definitely the timing chain due to the tensioner loosing it's pessure over time (eg overnight).
It can be compensated for by starting using the WOT method (wide open throttle) and this does turn the injectors off. It will not start for as long as you hold down the accelerator peddle, this gives time for the oil pressure to build back up.
You can also help by blipping the throttle before stopping the engine and some say park facing down hill although I have not tried this myself.
It is essential that 10W-30 oil is used in the DOHC engine, it has to be a thin oil to pump up not only the tensioner but also the hydraulic cam followers. I have also learned that the Ford oil filter contains a non return valve which some pattern filters don't have (althouh I haven't taken one apart to prove it!).
If the rattle starts to get excessive (more than a few seconds) then the tensioner should be replaced. The timing chain guides are made of plastic and are easily broken by a rattling chain. This is not a difficult job (easily done in a day) and although it is really only the tensioner that needs replacing if there is no other damage (eg to the chain or pulleys) it's worth replacing all the plastic guides as they are cheap and the lower cover has an integral oil seal so that should be replaced also.
If you find broken chain guides then it's worth dropping the sump (can be done if you unbolt the steering rack although it is a hell of a fiddle!) and removing the bits of broken guide from the strainer!! (ask me how I know!).
More info about this job can be found here http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/timingchain20.htm
(the 8v and 16v timing chains are identical)
Yes, the FordScorpio site has lots of useful info about the transit DOHC engine, the EECV and OBD2 too!!!

Hope this helps!
All the best,
GrahamT

[madmark]

every 2ltr dohc i have ever herd sounds rattly when on first start up! most do shut up after a wile unless high miles on the engine!

[WINDSCREENGUY]

that will be the site i saw it on

[Two Transit Dave]

I have been using the Transit every day now and there is never a rattle on start up. When I do leave the vehicle for over a week and not use it I will note the sound I think it sounds like something hydraulic filling up rather than a chain. As far as oil goes I use Silkolene PRO S ester based synthetic as I run a number of high performance cars and I buy it in bulk as it works out cheaper than Mobil 1 although I did run it for a time on the thicker Mobil 1