Even though I use 5-30 and a motorcraft oil filter, I almost always hear a lifter tapping noise for the first 10 seconds at the morning startup.
The truck has 9k on it, and I am concerned.
Should this been checked at the dealer, or just lived with?
Sounds kind of trashy.

 

Use a motorcraft filter. search other threads, this issue has been researched by others. motorcraft has backflow valve that has solved problem for about 9 out of 10 with this prob..

 

You almost never hear about lifter noise... it's always piston slap....

 

Thats what I thought my noise was... UNTIL I FOUND OUT ABOUT PISTON SLAP!!!!!!!!

I had the 5.4 replaced at 49K FREE OF CHARGE!

Might want to have that checked!

 

With only 9K miles on it..I would have your dealer look at it. It can't hurt.

Many of us experienced valve chatter at start up when a FRAM filter was used (I used a FRAM one time). I have never had any kind of valve chatter like you have described in either the 98 5.4L F-150 I had or my new truck.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

Is start up the only time you hear this chatter? Do you hear it during acceleration or going down the road???

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

Howdy Nelson,

My 2000 F-150 makes a racket also when it starts up. Sounds just like valve train noise. Once the engine warms up the noise ceases. It seems to last for a couple of miniutes. I have 4,300 miles on mine and it has done it from day one. I just had the oil changed, and was hopping that I got a hold of a defective Motorcraft filter, no luck. Ive used Motorcraft filters and 5W-30 exclusively. What year is your truck?...

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2000 F-150 Lariat, Flareside, Black, SC, FOxFO, 5.4L, 3.55, Garmin Street Pilot Color GPS

 

My 99 f150 4.6 is a romeo- and I have heard a rattle the marbles-like ticking valvetrain chatter since new.

It only happens in the morning, but it has not been below freezing here all winter.
If I back up , I hear a (piston slap?) slight knocking . This will stop within a few minutes.

Always used the 5-30w oil, Motorcraft filter. I tried the Fram - it ran noisier still.
Its almost like hearing a mechanical fuel pump tapping like crazy against an eccentric, but I suppose it might be a defective hydraulic lifter?
Anyone know of a good (online) cutaway of the vaunted Triton?

 

Nelson,

I don't think these engines have any lifters, they are of the overhead cam design.

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2000 F-150 Lariat, Flareside, Black, SC, FOxFO, 5.4L, 3.55, Garmin Street Pilot Color GPS

 

I thought I had lifter noise also, wrong!!! I had the slap.

 

I have the lifter noise, I probably would not even notice it, except that I'm worried about piston slap.

When I was running 5w30 it would last around 5 seconds.

I now run 0w30 and it will last 2-3 seconds.

I don't think that its piston slap, because my understanding is that piston slap will last 30 seconds or longer. I now have 20k on the truck and it still does it.


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Lube-Direct

 

Ok guys, yall had me worried. I went out to check for noise this morning inside and outside of cab. Absolutely no noise inside of cab and a slight valvetrain noise outside with the hood up. I did experince alot more noise under hood @ 12k to 15k, but it has quiet drastically.

I have 39k at this time and using 5w-30 oil and Wix oil filter. Change oil and filter every 6k.

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www.synerlec.com

[This message has been edited by TripleD (edited 03-09-2000).]

 

I think the Triton may use hydraulic lifters-
since I know Nissan did on their OHC six at one point.
The sound reminds me of a slant six I owned that needed to pump up the hydraulic lifter before it quieted down.