I took a page from 1BADTRK's book and switched to a heavier weight oil, in an attempt to reduce the morninig knocking. Last night, I performed a normal oil change, adding 5.5 quarts of Redline 10w30 Synthetic, and a K&N 2010 filter. My truck now has 40k miles, and I always go to slightly heavier oil as my vehicles age.

This morning I performed a cold start, and the knocking was definitely reduced. It was still noticable, but only lasted for 10-15 seconds, instead of the normal 30 plus seconds. It was much quieter also.

Maybe Ford ships the trucks with a heavier weight oil from the factory. The first time the oil is change to the recommended (and maybe lighter) 5w30 or 5w20, the knock becomes noticable.

I've been told, that the cold start knock gets louder as the oil gets dirty and breaks down. Those of us who use the high end synthetics, know that this stuff will not break down between normal oil changes. You could run it 25,000 miles if you sent it out to have it professionally filtered.

Has anyone else had the same experience with the heavier oil?

 

It's been my experience that as the oil gets dirtery the less morning marble sound i get , mine sounds more like a can of marbles than a knock. I changed my oil two weeks ago @ 9000. Today @ 10,000 its makes less noise but its still there.

FRITZ, Stock Silver 2001 "L"

 

Jay,

Confirmed. I used Motocraft 10-30 Premimum (non-synth) for the recent oil change because I haven't put 10K miles on this engine yet and I want break-in to be as near complete as possible before I go synthetic. On my old engine I went synth at the 3K mark with Mobil 5-30 and got the "diesel sound" With the Motocraft 10-30 I have had no such problems.

 

I called SVT on this matter and they say to stick with the 5w20 for warranty issues and that they marble sound is common. They couldnt answer the question of why it is heard on some and not others. I have the marble noise and it is not that noticable. I dont understand why SVT doesnt sanction going with the heavier oil if it gets rid of the noise. It is a very confusing issue.

 

MoP, when you go to synthetic what weight are you going to use ?

 

I'm gonna post this and then I'm goin' home(I'm at work.).

I changed my oil at 1,000 miles--put in Motorcraft 5W20-used a K&N Gold filter. No 'knock', slap, marbles, etc.

At 4,000 miles, I changed to Royal Purple #11 Racing oil(their 5W20)--new K&N Gold filter. No 'knock', etc.

Have been using RP and K&N--every 3-4,000 miles. This is no 'trailor queen' either--17,500 miles on her since May 8, 2001.

I don't know if I'm just 'lucky' or if RP makes a difference??? Costs $8/qt.--about the same as Redline--which I have used in my track Z281LE.

Dan

 

Dan, I'm with you. You can't beat the high end Synthetics. I use Redline in all my street vehicles, running 10-15k mi. between oil changes. I change filters about every 3000 mi. to keep the oil clean.

I've been doing this for about 8 years now, and I have NEVER had to take an engine down for any repairs. This stuff flat works.

 

More than likely the 10-30. I work in the petrochem industry, and I took a sample of the stock oil to our engineers for a molecular weight analysis. Turns out the oil was a SF 10-30 standard "fossil" motor oil. My sample was contaminated with glycol, byproducts of combustion, metal and gasoline, which is consistant with a sample taken from a new engine. My factory engine replacement (2002 L engine) which was replaced at 5,900 mi also had the exact same type and weight oil in it.


So with that, looks like 10-30 may be optimal, standard or synthetic.

 

Then why does Ford\SVT recommend 5W20, evne though the trucks come from the factory with 10w30? Doesnt make much such, does it?

 

Seeings how SVT is nothing more than a marketing group for Ford and read from a Ford spec manual I would say they don't know their hole from a but in the ground. Any one who has ever competed in serious drag racing and engine building knows "5w" anything ain't to bright and that synthetic if by far superior. Your truck came with Goodyear F1's on it so don't use anything else, like BF Goodrich TA's cause you will get to much traction and they won't last as long either???????????
OH Well? Rattle on with your SC 5.4L Ford motor, I like mine nice and quiet, fast, and tire smoking mean.