hello. altho mine is not a problem... it still cant be good. ever since it was new my truck has made a whining noise as if there is no oil in the engine at start-up during very cold starts. it only does it with temps of about 15F or less. the colder it is, the longer it does it. it was -7 one morning and it did it for about 7 seconds before it quieted down from the oil circulating. i have always used 5W-20 but have had full synthetic mobil1 extended performance oil and filter since 9k. before that was motorcraft of both. truck did this with both oils and filters. oil levels are fine every time i check. my last truck was an 04 heritage with a 4.2L and it didnt do the noise. and my brother's 03 4.2L doesnt do it. anyone else have this happen? i have no way of letting it warm up before i start it unless i want to leave work 4 hours late and go to work 4 hours early(work 10pm-7am). thanks

 

I was about to post this same question over on the 97-03 section... but mine sounds like its coming from the power steering pump area?

 

Most likely one of the belt driven accessories. Alternator, PS pump, fan clutch, idler/tensioner pullies.

 

Mine does it sometimes. However I haven't noticed it at all so far this winter.

 

Idler/tensioner pulleys whine like hell when the bearings are going and it is cold....I agree with glc..

 

Timmy, can you post a video? I wanna see if its the same sound mine made two winters ago before I moved to Florida.

Mine always did a short "ziiip" sound right after / during start up. Though, that was always when it was below 10 degrees and I've had a few vehicles that have done that.

 

https://www.f150online.com/forums/v6...-me-crazy.html

Check out the videos posted in this thread. Is that what the noise sounds like? I agree with what others have said, most likely a pulley.

 

it does sound a bit like the first vid in that post but it goes away. and if it is above 15 or so it wont do it at all. i cant take a video now tho, the weather is getting warmer. lows have been in the mid 20's the past few days. but next time it is cold i will try. also i have never done it with my hood up. i will have to try that. but for now all is well since it is warmer again.

 

Mine does that too. Only below 10 degrees and after it's been sitting for at least 24 hours.

 

Do you know what causes that? I've always been curious. It only happens during the first start of the day on the below 10 days.

I had posted about it a couple years back and no one had any clue what I was talking about. Dealer had also never heard of such a thing. I'm glad at least someone knows what I'm speaking of now.

 

Mine does this too. Always when it's <5 degrees, only after sitting overnight, always for 5-10 seconds, and I always thought it sounded like the PS pump

 

Thats what it sounds like on my truck, next time its cold here (wont be long its Wyoming lol) ill take a vid too. and see how thick the ps fluid is...

 

My truck makes that "zippp" sound when I start it when it is really cold out... It's going to be colder this week... I started it sitting out all night when it was -12F out and, man, what a "zipp" it made.

I once started it sitting all night when it was like -25F out, and that thing whined for like 30 seconds or so. It was very scary sounding.

I think it's the PS pump... which is totally normal.

 

I suppose you could use a turkey baster to suck out all the PS fluid you can and replace it with synthetic ATF. I've heard that this can quiet the pump down.

 

its happening again, it was about 15 this morning but it doesnt happen long enough for me to start it and get out to listen where it is from. today it did it for about 1 second. yesterday was about 17 degrees and it was a quick zipp