My truck just started this noise a couple of days ago. Granted, it's been cold outside this time of year, but I have never had this lifter noise before, even in colder weather. A couple of nights ago, after the truck sat for 8-10 hours, I started it up and heard what sounded like a light lifter clack, or tapping. It lasted about 20 seconds, then faded out. Next night, it did the same thing, only it made noise for a couple of minutes, until I got it rolling. Now, this morning, after sitting all night in 20 degree temps, she started right up, no clicking at all. Drove 20 miles, shut it off, left it sit for three hours (temps in the high 30's), and when I started it up, click-click-click, for about 30 seconds. Really strange. The motor has been well cared for, never apart. Only had regular oil changes and air filters since new (114k miles). Oil is right up where it should be, pressure is exactly as it aways is on the gauge. Motorcraft filter and 5w30 installed a couple of months ago (as always, approx. every 5k miles).
Anyone know what this could be?
Thanks for any info.

 

Sounds like either the starter wires, starter, or possibly the battery going.

Or else it is your lifters..

Why are you using 5w30? It takes 5w20.

 

The truck turns over fine. By click-click-click, I was not referring to solenoid, I meant AFTER the motor starts, like lifter clack. The motor runs fine.
I've had old motors, with sludge, low flow, and subsequent lifter racket. This motor suddenly has that clack at startup (idle), but very mild. Or, maybe I should call it a 'tap-tap-tap', like a stuck lifter.
What I don't get, is, the way it does it intermittently. Again, this motor has been treated exceptionally well, never run hard, never towed anything, and always gets oil changes (by me), so I know it's as Ford built it, only with 114k miles and ten years of normal driving. I was just wondering if this is an inherent problem with the 4.2l, do they get noisy over 100k?

Also, 5w30 is what Ford recommended in 1999.

5W20 was a few years later (2001, 2002, I think).

Thanks.

 

Change your oil and filter, use Motorcraft 5W20 and a Motorcraft filter. Seriously.

Ford has back-speced 5W20 for all 1997 and newer trucks, and you may be having a drainback issue with the filter - or something happened and it's bypassing.

 

I was thinking the drainback valve, but, I would expect it to clear up in a few seconds, but maybe it drains back so much, that it takes a while to get that oil back in the lifters.
Didn't know about the 5w20 back spec. I remember the 5w30 back spec, for all gasoline vehicles pre 1997 (if I recall).
Will try the new filter this week, thanks again.
Tom

 

I changed the filter (FL400S), but still get the 'lifter' noise at startup. Not as bad as it was last week (it was colder), but still, not the way the truck usually sounds. Don't know what to make of it. Anyone have this trouble before?

To recap: it started last week, very suddenly, like a lifter not getting oil. Noise fades out over a minute or two. Didn't do it at all a few days ago, after sitting all night. Started it up three hours later, and it clicked again, like a lifter noise.


Thanks for any info!

 

Change the oil.

 

Thanks for the info, but what I'm wondering is, why, after almost 10 years of noise free start-up's, would the motor suddenly tick? Plus, it doesn't always do it, sometimes, it sounds normal at startup. If I need a lighter oil now, it tells me the oil flow is restricted by contaminants. Maybe it needs a flush?
But, I do appreciate the advice, and I will try different oil, it won't hurt to run 5w20.
Thanks again.

 

I think a Seafoam treatment in your oil might clear the gunk out of your engine, and possibly stop the lifter noise. Just be sure to change your oil and filter after you do the treatment. It's pretty easy to do. The directions are on the side of the can. Try doing a search on "Seafoam". There's alot of info on it in this v6 forum and the v8 forum. Hope that helps.

 

My '99 nor my '07 ever ticked...

Do you fill the oil filter up before attaching it to the engine?

 

This is the best and safest engine flush that I know of:

http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/aef.aspx

 

Well yes, i to do have the lifter tap....and it's even in my new engine that i just got last spring and it only has a hair over 16,000 miles...but it does the same exact noise that your describing, somedays it wont do it at all and somedays it will do it to me every time i start it up....i can start my truck and it will make the noise, fade away and come back in 30 seconds sometimes louder than others...it does seem to do it louder in the cold but it does it when the weathers warm to....so thank heavens it's under warranty.. i've tried all the different oil types...one thing you could try is Risoline...it's suppose to thin the oil up and get rid of any dirt or anything that could be blocking flow or go with the engine flush..

 

I've just started to have this issue on my 97. I've always heard the injector noise but this is louder.I had the oil changed and this started happening about a week later. Would switching from Castrol GTX High mileage to Royal Purple synth. be the cause?

 

mine does the x act same thing... it only does it when i start it up in the mornings though... and it last for about 3 seconds and is gone... and it has did it for about 2 years now... and i have changed the oil more then 10 times in them two years and havent noticed any diffrence once i changed it... so im going to say it aint the oil that will make a diffrence... the lifter noice never gets worse... but it has did it every morning i start it up... but in the day when its warm and i start it it dont do it... just inthe mornings... or after its been sittin a while... everymorning for 2 years thats about 750 ave turnovers and it still hasent gottin worse... so i havent been worrying about it... but now that you bring it up i mate as well read about it.

 

What exact oil and filter are you using, Guy?