I took a good listen under my truck after i started it cold today. I got a "rat a tat a tat" coming from the back of the oil pan. What it sounded like to me was the oil pickup tube hitting something... after a while the sound went away? Would this make sense if the oil pickup tube was loose and hitting?

Also, has anybody had experience wiht pulling the oil pan without pulling the engine? Clearance?

thanks,
sal

 

HI!... SSANTO : I don't think it would be a loose pick-up tube. If it was loose enough to rattle then your oil preasure would drop BIG-TIME and then your low oil preasure light would come on. I've had a 5.4 oil pan off but it was done on a engine stand, not in the truck. The 5.4's use a FULL PAN windage tray with a hole just big enough for the pick-up tube to pass through. What you are probably hearing is the 5.4's dreaded "COLD START-UP KNOCK" or also known as piston slap. Hope this helps you out.