My truck seems to be a little noisey for a little bit (maybe a couple minutes)while it warms up. its sound like light knocking are clattering. Other that that truck sounds good when warm. I have 96k on the truck. I used 5w30 castrol and a bottle of lucas oil with a fram filter on the last oil change. Thanks

 

Yep, it's common.

I think the consensus is it is the fuel injectors. They just seem to do it for a few minutes on cold start. Does not seem to cause any problems.

 

Get rid of that Fram filter and put a Motorcraft on it. The correct oil grade is 5W20, Ford changed the specs and backdated them to include your 97. Do NOT put that Lucas additive in there, it actually has potentially harmful chemicals in it.

Walmart has Motorcraft 5W20 and filters, they are as cheap as anything that's any good.

The only noise my engine makes on a cold start is the clutch fan moaning for a bit till it kicks out.

 

So then why does the manual say 5w30 oil? Whats wrong with Fram Filters?

 

1. In 97, that was the spec. Like I said, Ford changed the spec after the fact. It's not as critical as it is in the OHC V8's, but it's still the RIGHT oil for the V6.

2. Fram filters are cheaply made with inadequate anti-drainback valves, which can cause dry starts. LOTS of posts about Fram filters in the V8 forum. Change just the filter and add 1/2 quart of oil if necessary and see if the startup noises go away.

 

The first manuals say 5W-30 but later ford republished them in 99 I beleive saying 5W-20 is better. I switched to 5W-20 synthetic last oil change and technically the thinner oil is less resistance on the parts, so better mileage, but nothing noticeable.

and Frams are cheapos. without the anti-drainback valve the oil seeps back down and when you first start it it runs without oil for 2-3 seconds.

 

since i switched to efans thats one noise i miss. when you drive around in first gear it sounds like a semi

 

Raptor, so you haven't noticed your engine making any more engine noise using the 5w20? Have you noticed any oil burning using this? I'm a little scared to use 5w20 because i have 96k on the engine. but i have recently put head gaskets and intake manifold gaskets on the truck so i didn't have to worry about the whole hydro lock issue. I also had the machine shop rebuild the heads. I guess maybe i would be alright using 5w20.

 

I dont see how a marginally thinner oil is going to affect noise. my truck sounds like it always has. and my engine is still fairly new. its probably knocking on the 50K mile range right about now. not a drop of oil missing. thats what synthetic does, it seats the o-rings on the pistons better than conventional dino oil

 

I have 114k on mine and still use 5W20. It burns a quart about every 6k.

 

i try the mc 5w20 and the fl400s once and see how it goes...

 

are you running conventional or synthetic?

 

i switch to the mc 5 20 syn blend like 10k or so ago (im at 115k right now)
no issues from that

but mine has a pretty good tick around 55mph

 

I've noticed that with mine too especially in the morning... it sounds like a small amount of valve lash... I'm going to bring it by the service shop soon and have them take the valve covers off and measure and see if they are still 0 lash atTDC and BDC for both the intake and exhaust valves. It sounds like it is coming from the passenger side though...

Then I'm thinking it could be something wrong with the timing chain as well. But you've gotta start somewhere.

 

Is it just me or are the NBS's having more problems with the 4.2L than the OBS?