My recently boughtf250 has 120,000 mi on it and I'm the third owner. I bought it back in Oct and around March it started making this noise about 30-45 seconds after cold start. The best way to describe the noise is cassinetts clacking for about 15 seconds and it wouldn't do it again until the next day. I took it to a dealer and they said itwas the lifter/lash adjusters. I've heardthem clatter before on other vehicles and didn't think that was the noise, so I took it to an independent mechanic. He said it is the timing chain banging inside the TC cover. I could see that, so I had him replace the TC,guides and tensioners. It still made the noise. No charge! He than asked to keep it because he can't sleep knowing that he can't figure it out. He then replace the lash adjusters.No change in the noise and again; no charge.
After three weeksin two diffrent shops I want my truck back.
My question is this.Any ideas what the noise may be?
And
I was going to try some OTC engine flush. What's the thought on Flushing the5.4L. Thedirections read to remove the oil pan and clean thepump screen. I understand the reasoning for this, but really don't want to go through all that.

 

Just some thoughts:

1. Are you running the same brand/weight oil as you were from Oct-Feb?
2.Same type/brand oil filter? Does it have an anti-drain back valve? Some have poorly designed anti-drain back valves
3. What it the outside "START-UP" temperature when this occurs?
4. thought aboutremovingthe oil pressure sender and install a mechanical oil pressure guage to see what the oil pressure is doing during the "CLATTER" period?

 

I recentl switched to a blend oil. It wasn't my choice, but I'm ok with it. I had the dealer change it while they had it and tha's what they put in it.. The noise didn't change.
I didn't know there was a anti-drain valve.
The ambient temp has changed some over the past few months in Texas.
I haven't checked the pressure either. I haven't done anything personally. I took it to a couple of shops.
What's your thinking.
I noticed something yesterday. Everyone agrees that the starter is releasing late. It may not have anything to do with it, but when it starts to make the noise I turn off the engine andimmediately start it back up and the noise is gone.
Thanks

 

Is this on cold starts only? Or also on warm starts? I suspect possibly that the oil is draining back out of the oil filter due to a bad sealing anti-drain back valve in the oil filter. So on start up, the noise is presenty as no oil is getting to the hydraulic tensioners as the filter has to get filled up first. Then by the time you shut the engine down, the filter is full and oil is starting to get to the components. Then when you re-start the engine, the filter is full and you have oil pressure and oil being pumped immediately to the tensioners.

What weight oil is in the engine? I would run a quality 10W-30 in the engine. It will not hurt it. I would recomment AMSOIL oil and filter. But if you prefer not to, then at least use a WIX orPurlator oil filter filter along with a quality oil.

 

That all makes sense(common sense LOL), but my filter sits up right attached to an oil cooler. My oil and filter are Motorcraft and the wt is 5-20 wich is what the manual calls for.
It has recently started making the noise after only sitting and hour or two where as it had been doing it only on cold starts.
What about instead of changing the oil and filter on a hope, add some STP type of addative. That should stick to whatever is making the noise if it is a lubrication problem that is. Then, if that fixes the problem I'll go to heavier oil.
Thought?

 

You could try Lucas or STP oil honey. Or you could stay away from the additives and just go for an oil change and try the 10W-30. I'm not a fan of the 5W-20 oils. These came about for the MFG's to meet their "GREEN" and "CAFE" requirements.

What does the noise sound like? Deep and hollow?

Also, what year is your vehicle? Was going to ask the last time but forgot to.

 

I don't like addatives either. I was only trying STP to rule out the not getting oil theory. If that doesn't work, I'll get the addative out of there. If it does work,I'll go with a heavier oil. At $2 it's a cheap diagnosis tool.
My truck is a 2000 and the sound is an irregularclacking noise that starts about 30 seconds after engine start. It has perplexed every mechanic in two diffrent shops, because it only does it for a few seconds and after the engine has cooled.
I went out this morning to record it on my MP3 and it didn't do it as pronounced as it had been. We are having an unusually cool morning at 71 deg. If it were oil pressure, I would think that a cool morning would make it worse.
I'll try to get this WMA uploaded to photobucket, but am having real trouble. I may have to find another host.
Any thoughts?

 

Ignore the first 6 seconds of footage. The only way I could convert the sound to WMV was to attach some file footage.
Anyway the sound that I'm talking about is 31 seconds in. It usually has a faster tempo and last a little longer.
Thought?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3hP0yflFj8

 

Sounds like piston slap on one or more cylinders. This is actually a common issue on the 4.6 and 5.4 modulars. It's more of an irritant than anything else.

 

Piston slap against what?
The STP goop quietened it to just two small clacks. Hardly noticable actually.
If heavier wt oil will take care of the problem , then I'm for that. I'll go with 10w-30 with the next change.
So, engine flush would probably not help then?
The good side isthat I got new timing chains,gears, tensioners and lash adjusters for free.
Thanks for all of your input.