My 04 32v 5.4 navigator has a huge ticking for about 4 seconds at startup and it sounds like a loud crackling. I have the extended warranty but the jerks at the dealer are saying its normal. It sounds like oil starvation to me at startup and I use mobile 1 full syth and a motorcraft filter. I even went from the 5w 20 they say to use to a 5w30 to see if it would help with no luck.

The dealer wont budge on figuring it out for me and this thing has already had a new head put on due to a bad valve but the crackling problem has always been there since I bought it. I just want to figure it out before its out of warranty so any help would be great!

Thanks Guys!

 

Usually any noise at start up is attributed to the anti drain back valve in the oil filter. If you've always had the noise and not just this run of oil, I'd be more inclined to suspect the Mobil One. Try a blend next time like Motorcraft, Havoline, Pennzoil, etc. If this is your first run of M1, you are having something in the lube system bleeding down. While it may cause some wear, I highly doubt you'll know the difference over the life of the engine.

 

I have tried valvoline and M1 with no change...and its been doing it for a year now.

 

Are 06 Navigator blew up up at 21,000 after Ford replaced the engine it had the same thing we took it back they found nothing. So one day i decided to put it on the lift to find out that when they replaced the motor the heat extractor was missing a bolt replaced it and noise went away, not saying this is your noise but i would check heat guard on the manifold
I found it strange that after it warmed up it would stop good luck man