I've got it too. It's worse when it's cold outside and I've already switched to synthetic oil. Mobil1 5W-30

 

Any ford techs care to chip in?

 

Mine has done it occasionally since it was new. I think it is piston slap. I've had it on many cars (I have even replaced good rod bearings because I was worried about the noise). I had it pretty bad on a couple of 2.8 GM v6 engines (one in a Buick and the other in a Jeep) and I had it in a 3.8 Buick engine that is still going strong at 180,000+. If it immediately stops, it should never give any problem. Some of the GM pickups since 1999 had severe piston slap and GM wouldn't do anything about it.

 

What are the potential problems of this?

 

I think its my cam phasers becuase I am embarrassed to go through a drive thru. Does any tech know if this would be warrantied on my truck if I have the certifed limited powertrain warranty?

 

My Cam Phaser rattle is so bad it sounds like a small diesel. It gets on my nerves, but again my dealer says it is normal. I just can't see how that is normal.

 

Nothing unless it is really bad. Did you ever listen to the piston slap on a diesel at cold startup?

When the Chevy engines were redone for the 99 model year and the short skirts caused piston slap, they fixed them for a while until they found out how many were out there. They then offered a 100,000 mile warranty on the engines and then just refused to do anything It's normal). I'm not aware of any failures due to the piston slap and some of them did it really bad. I think they were trying to reduce the friction to improve efficiency with the short skirts on the pistons.

 

Are you sure it's not just an idler pully making some noise at startup?

 

Are you sure its not just the injectors? They're loud on these trucks, I was even surprised.

 

its just ticking because the lifters bled off. once you start the truck it takes a little while for them to pump up then all is good. dont worry about it.

 

Since it's after sitting and you are using a Ford oil filter I'd say it's probably the timing chain tensioner.

It's not possible for it to be the cam phasers as they are locked in position by a pin until the engine reaches approx 100F. They will only make noise at idle (up to approx 1400RPM) when the engine is warm.

 

<sigh...>

From TSB 06-19-08:

 

The reason they rattle at hot idle is usually because the roll pins that lock the phaser in place shear off, allowing the assembly to kinda flop around. If that's the case, they can make noise whenever they feel like it, hot or cold.

 

My 5.4 Liter has been ticking sense before 18 k miles on it. Have 28k on it now and it still ticks at startup specially when pointed up hill a little.
I also have had the cam phasers replaced for the long term ticking (drive thru's etc etc)
Go watch this video and it should answer all of your questions about the startup ticking. Can have a lot to do with the oil your running. But mostly the filter that has been installed on the vehicle. (according to the video anyways)

Dial up connection link
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mms://multimedia.ford.com/seopts/Tech22_56k.wmv

High speed link
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mms://multimedia.ford.com/seopts/Tech22_250k.wmv


Before I have them change my cam phasers again, I will just run it until it blows up. And they can replace even more of my engine if not all of it. Thats what I told them at the dealership and believe it or not, they agreed.

Hey, Im not claiming to be an expert or nuttin, just thought the video would help most understand, and the guys on here are experts. It was posted to me by someone else here. Now Im not so worried about mine.

Complete web site link (has a lot of good vids in it) (Watch the one on spark plugs for those who havent been there before)
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http://flatratetech.com/index.php?categoryid=12&

Hope it helps.

 

Sorry to disappoint you but maybe should click on the link that ezridr posted episode 22 (thanks ezrdr) where they clearly state that it is most likely the timing chain tensioner (if not the type of oil and filter) causing noise at initial start up and that it can not be the cam phaser.