On colder mornings, my engine makes a weird noise for the first couple minutes of driving. The best way I can describe it is a cross between a valve tap and an exhuast manifold leak, but it doesn't sound like either alone, if that makes any sense. The noise gets worse with acceleration, and it's most noticeable in 3rd gear. After about 2 minutes, it goes away and it won't come back until the truck sits for several hours. I searched this site for cold start up noises but found nothing quite like this. Does anyone else have this or ever heard of it? Otherwise, the truck runs fine so I'm not sure if it's something to worry about or not.

It's a 2000 F150 XLT 5.4L automatic with 58,000 miles.

 

most likely piston slap. a common happening in the older 5.4L. my 2000 F250SD use to do it too.

 

Yeah that sounds like PS to me as well.
It sounds bad, but thats about all it will do. So far there havent been any reports of engines failing because of PS.

So try not to worry about it.

 

Do plugs getting ready to Blow make a noise?

 

Update: I just took the truck in to my exhuast shop today to check for a possible leak at the manifolds. As I suspected, they found no leak. However, this was helpful as I am now able to rule out an exhuast leak completely. The mechanic did hear the noise I took it in for, and he thought it sounded like valve noise. He also noticed that the noise is coming from the driver side head which was replaced some time before I bought the truck. I wonder if the fact that the head was replaced would have anything to do with it?
Does piston slap sound like valve noise? Are either to worry about? Will using a different oil help with such noises, such as 0w-30 or even something thicker?

 

You will usually hear a tapping noise, but it would tap even after the engine warmed up.

 

I have the same type of problem on my 2000 f150 4.6L V8 has 97,000miles. It makes high pitched squeaking sound while accelerating, then goes away then comes back. I haven't driven it that far so I couldn't tell you if it goes away after driving it long distances. Sounds like it is coming from the rear end and it sounds its relative to the speed the the engine NOT the vechile speed. Sometimes I have heard it with out touching the accelerator in a parking lot, but that was after going 25 miles, having it sit for a couple hours and then driving another 25 miles. I thought it could be the fuel pump but the mechanic that looked at it said it is electric so it can't be that, or I thought it could be the u-joint but the mechanic said that he took I look at it and its fine. He couldn't hear the sound. He jacked it up and put it in drive and accelerated while looking underneath the truck couldn't find anything. Said to come back when it got louder. I just stared hearing this sound about two weeks ago. If anyone has any ideas of what this could be or any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance-AJS

 

Hey Thread Hijacker,

That's not the same problem I posted this thread about.