• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


My 2020 ST started knocking 2 days ago on morning cold start.

Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
#1
Good evening, all, I had my Explorer ST for almost 2 years and loving it until a few days ago. I have a bad knock right off idle up to 3500rpm. Wont do it under load, seems to run perfect but dont want to drive it if its a rod knock. Trying to get the dealer to pickup and diagnose. What you guys think ?
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,582
Reactions
5,355
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#2
First things first…how much oil is in it.
Second things second…rod knock won’t go away as rpm goes up…it’ll get worse.
 

OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #3
First things first…how much oil is in it.
Second things second…rod knock won’t go away as rpm goes up…it’ll get worse.
Thank you thats what i thought, but it was a quart low when i checked, checked oil pressure with a obd scanner, it only 16.65 psi
 

OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #4
Okay started my truck this morning, to get ready for the dealership to pickup knock still there at idle, but not in gear and oil pressure 28.65 idling. Still going in for LH exhaust leak recall and hope they can figure out the knock
 

Cerberus

New Member
Messages
17
Reactions
7
Points
2
Location
Eastern Tennessee
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#5
First things first…how much oil is in it.
Second things second…rod knock won’t go away as rpm goes up…it’ll get worse.
not necessarily true.
If the oil pump makes enough pressure and volume to float a bearing with excessive clearance, it may silence a knock when the revs come up.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,582
Reactions
5,355
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#6
not necessarily true.
If the oil pump makes enough pressure and volume to float a bearing with excessive clearance, it may silence a knock when the revs come up.
40 years of building engines and I’ve never seen it happen. Seen other things quieten down as temps and pressures come up but never a straight rod knock. Anything is possible I suppose.
 

Last edited:
OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #7
40 years of building engines and I’ve never seen it happen. Seen other things quieten down as temps and pressures come up but never a straight rod knock. Anything is possible I suppose.
Well it happened, vehicle started for the last time yesterday. Warmed my ST to get it moved for tow truck and it started, ran very smooth and chirped, shut off, wont turn over or anything now, so on its way to the dealership.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,582
Reactions
5,355
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#8
Well it happened, vehicle started for the last time yesterday. Warmed my ST to get it moved for tow truck and it started, ran very smooth and chirped, shut off, wont turn over or anything now, so on its way to the dealership.
If it started quietly it wasn’t rod knock to start with…which could be a good thing. Post the updates as you get them.
 

OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #9
If it started quietly it wasn’t rod knock to start with…which could be a good thing. Post the updates as you get them.
Will do, first Ford engine if it is after 40 years of Fords
 

OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #10
So it does look like the engine needs replacement, they are offering to buy it back and give a discount on a new. But for the first time in my life feeling bad about a Ford vehicle. Not sure what to do yet, have mostly owned Ford all my life.
 

23 Explorer ST

Member
Firefighter/EMT
Messages
278
Reactions
156
Points
37
Location
NC
Vehicle
2023 Ford Explorer ST
#11
So it does look like the engine needs replacement, they are offering to buy it back and give a discount on a new. But for the first time in my life feeling bad about a Ford vehicle. Not sure what to do yet, have mostly owned Ford all my life.
Man that sucks. I feel your pain about that.
I had a brand new Dodge Durango with a 5.7 Hemi and that engine was replaced twice in the first 8,000 miles. Lost my confidence in Chrysler.
Reason I have an Explorer now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #12
Under pressure from my son, which left Ford to go with BMW and has stopped:unsure:
 

hbalek

Active Member
Messages
948
Reactions
530
Points
232
Location
Kensington, MD, USA
#13
Man that sucks. I feel your pain about that.
I had a brand new Dodge Durango with a 5.7 Hemi and that engine was replaced twice in the first 8,000 miles. Lost my confidence in Chrysler.
Reason I have an Explorer now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've had literally almost everything but my engine replaced on my 2020 with 55,000 miles. So far all under warranty and free of charge.
 

Cerberus

New Member
Messages
17
Reactions
7
Points
2
Location
Eastern Tennessee
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#14
interestingly, mine has started to have a soft knock on cool engine, low revs, gentle acceleration.
it has its best oil pressure at the point, but the tolerances are most loose too while cold..
I'm guessing an oil passage is too tight to flow the volume of oil needed to float the bearing in that condition.
I need to drop it off for the trans cooler soon, and I'll point out the knock when i do
we'll see what comes of it.
 

Messages
55
Reactions
26
Points
7
Location
Charlotte
Vehicle
2024 Explorer ST
#15
Well it happened, vehicle started for the last time yesterday. Warmed my ST to get it moved for tow truck and it started, ran very smooth and chirped, shut off, wont turn over or anything now, so on its way to the dealership.
What was the stated cause of the engine failure, aka what failed? Also what is your oil change intervals?
 

OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #16
The dealership thinks oil related, but they were changing it every 4000/4500 miles with Ford blend , even after asking for fully synthetic each time
 

OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #17
The dealership thinks oil related, but they were changing it every 4000/4500 miles with Ford blend , even after asking for fully synthetic each time
3 oil changes in less then 2 years
 

Messages
55
Reactions
26
Points
7
Location
Charlotte
Vehicle
2024 Explorer ST
#18
The dealership thinks oil related, but they were changing it every 4000/4500 miles with Ford blend , even after asking for fully synthetic each time
3 oil changes in less then 2 years
Intervals don't appear to be an issue 4500 is pretty decent even for a synth-blend and not pushing it too hard. Any details on what the actual failure was, you have a right to know it is your vehicle. Saying "oil related" is extremely vague. Either it ran low on oil, lost oil pressure, oil contamination, or maybe even LSPI.
 

OP
B
Messages
35
Reactions
14
Points
2
Location
MD
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #19
Well service department say, motor will need replacement, that it justed locked up. My extended warranty is reviewing it today. Quote so far is 10k for motor
 

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,620
Reactions
1,181
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#20
Well service department say, motor will need replacement, that it justed locked up. My extended warranty is reviewing it today. Quote so far is 10k for motor
Locked up is not an indication of something minor. Could have seized a bearing or two if it had an oiling problem. Could have metal flake throughout the engine if serious. If really serious you would have a puddle of oil on the ground and a crack or hole in your block.

Sorry to hear!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 



Top