A 98 4.6 should be using 5W/30, and nothing heavier. I have used Mobil 1 5W/30 since about 30k, and it still has a loud tap on cold mornings, or when the oil is not topped off. 100k and change right now. I'm not sure if he's tallking about piston slap, though.,,,,98

 

thank God i am not the only one with this problem, mine was doing it all last summer, when i was in the parking lot getting ready to leave school and started my truck, everyone else in the parking lot herd it , every day for months, luckly houston has very short winters. haven't herd it this winter yet, if it is an ac problem, i just replaced the compressor.

 

Well, don't run out and buy a '04 thinking that will take care of your problem. I did a "quiet" start (no radio or fan on) on mine this morning, it's rattling, clanking just like my '99 slapper did.

 

Houston has a winter? I only know that in Houston, they all kind of melt into one another.

Hotternhell Summer, cooler Summer, two months of drizzling rain and 40 degree temps. and Spring.

 

I know it has been laughed at here more than once. Mine shut up by adding another half quart of oil to the 6 Ford claims this motor takes.

I don't care to argue the point at all we each do what we think is right.

Secondly these motors are very open under the intake and any noise will be louder than the old motors with the cast iron intake soaking up the noise. Most engines of any make will click knock and clack on a cold start for a bit. IMHO yet another thing I expect plenty of comments on.

I have never heard my neighbors truck making noise in the morning because I mostly listen to mine.

It is an overhead cam engine and all the noisey stuff is a bit away from the oil pump. Instead of engine heaters maybe this engine needs someone to build an plug in oil pump that keeps oil circulating even when the engine is off. Or better yet it should run off the battery.


tom

 

yes this is true, i truly ment the week of winter we have

 

I have a tapping on cold mornings, and the top off trick seems to make it nonexistant also. I guess I'm a little low right now, since it has been noisy recently.,,,,98

What's the avg temp in Houston during the day right now? Cooler summer, or the 40 and rain? I've been in LA for a week, and I can't wait to leave

 

If the noise goes away in 1 second after startup, it is not piston slap!
My sons high mileage 4.6 (150000) would make a low rumble/rattle on cold startup, turned out to be main bearings. He switched to syn. oil and noise went away!

If it's a tinny rattling sound, I would think it is a heat shield rattle. Most engine noises last longer than 1 second.

Good luck!

 

superbru- sounds exactly what my 4.6 high milege does, ill have to try synthetic

98screamer- it was cold and rainny, now it is in the 70s and 50-60s at night, but this is from galveston (go to A&M gelveston) live in houston on weekends

 

uinthas,

I had the same problem on my 97 f150 4.6L. Come to find out it was just like "lees99150" said it was the starter drive hangin up in the flywheel. I had to pull the nosecone off of the starter and there was a bushing in the very front of the nosecone that was gone and allowing the the starter drive gear to travel too far forward and getting hung up in the flywheel. Any autoparts store should have the bushing. Also might be a good time to lube up actuator arm that the solenoid pushes the drive gear with.

Good luck mine sounded fine even in below freezing temps

 

I think we are confusing piston slap with cold multi metal engine with cold weather starter whine in this thread!!

I truly beleive some of us just write replies without really reading what the original poster wrote! We just pick up a few key words.

Anyway I beleive the original post was about the famouse ford cold weather starter whine wich happens right at the first cold sart up you get a loud 1-2 second whirring type whine.

I like the bushing idea. I will try that one myself.

 

Well, I tried to keep it on track Oh well,,,,98

 

My truck does the exact same thing. Right after I start it on cold mornings. I talked to a Ford dealership the other day about it and they had no idea what I was talking about. I think some of those guys are useless. I know the 4.6 has no lifters since it has single overhead cam so that rules out the lifters. I am just as in awe as the rest of you all.

 

Not yelling, just trying to get people to pay attention

THIS THREAD IS NOT ABOUT PISTON SLAP, LIFTER NOISE OR ANY RELATED TOPIC. I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S ABOUT A STARTER DRIVE MECHANICAL PROBLEM, OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT WOULD CAUSE A BRIEF RATTLE, ((NOT TAPPING OR KNOCKING)) AT START UP.

Hope this helps get the thread back on track? ,,,,98

 

I was having a rattle on initial start and when I turned off the engine. It turned out to be the heat shield on the CAT was rattling. It was pretty rusted up (95) and became loose.