My 1998, 5.4 V8 with 146K miles takes about 20 to 30 seconds at start up first thing in the morning for all lifters to stop rattling and the idle to smooth out. I was thinking of installing an Accusump accumulator to charge the oil system before cranking to speed up the delivery of oil pressure to the top side of the engine. Has anyone tried this kind of mod or if you have the same problem, how did you fix it?

I had a Lincoln Mark 8 that had the same problem but the fix there was to replace the cam chain tensioner because the pressure leaked down after shutting it off.

 

Are you sure it's 'lifter' noise?? Check your exhaust manifold bolts and see if any are missing... Especially from the rear cylinders...

Mine 'ticks' on initial startup, but that's because I'm missing a couple of exhaust manifold studs on the rear most cylinders...

Just a thought...

Mitch

 

Along with checking the manifold studs I would suggest going to a motorcraft FL820S filter. My 97 F150 4.6 used to make some racket at cold starts but ever since I started using the MC filter my truck has been quite. Even when it got down to -15 the truck was still quite on a cold start.

 

Thanks to you both for your suggestions. I'll check the exhaust studs and after reading up on the MC filter, will switch it out soon.

 

These engines dont have lifters, so I wouldnt worry to much about that

 

That's right...Modulars aren't push rod motors so no lifters to worry about lol

Could you be hearing valves? It shouldn't take 30 seconds for the oil to get to the top of your motor. Does it ever rattle during acceleration like when it kicks down to a lower gear? Ever???

My truck did that on first cold start of the day when it was new but only for maybe 1 second until I switched to the Motorcraft oil filter as the earlier post stated. Honestly, if my truck rattled for that long I would have already had the valves adjusted. Like I said, it doesn't take oil 30 seconds to get to the top of your motor no matter what oil filter you use. Sounds like it's just time for an adjustment...If that is what it is. You have some good miles on the truck. I don't know how you do it, but have you changed your spark plugs, fuel fillter, and cleaned and/or replaced injectors, etc...??? I'm sure you have had to replace oxygen sensors by now. There's allot of things that need to be done between 70-150k miles that keep them running like new.

Just my 2 pennies and I'm far from a mechanic.

 

Thanks Grant, I bought this truck a month ago and after a total new brake job, front suspension and rear sway bar, getting into the engine is next. My Lincoln 4.6 had the same problem at startup and switching to 0w30 synthetic and a better oil filter somewhat solved the problem. Plugs and COP's are next on my list. If I go the route of an oil accumulator, I post what success came from it.

 

most welcome. Good luck with it.

 

OHC motors have lifters too.

 

There are lash adjusters and followers. The Follower is sitting on the lash adjuster, looks an awful lot like a lifter, at one end and the top of the valve at its other end. There is a roller somewhere in the middle and the cam lobe pushed on that. If the lash adjusters are that noisy I would suggest finding out why and fixing that. It doesn't take much to allow a follower to come off and foul up the works.

JMC

 

The first thing I'd do is make sure you are using an oil filter with an anti-drainback valve (the Motorcraft filter has one) *and* the recommended grade/weight oil - I believe that's 5W30 for that year.

 

sounds like the kanutzen valve

 

I used a Motorcraft oil filter and 5W20 synthetic and the rattle at start-up is gone. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

 

Did what you had on before happen to be a Fram?

 

Yes, it was a Fram.