Tap at start
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 3
From: Houston, by way of every major city in America.
Mine rattles on the first startup, if the oil level is below the halfway point on the stick. As long as I keep it full, no noise. Cold seems to make it worse, if the oil is down. Using a Bosch filter now, a Mobil-1 before. The problem was the same on both filters.,,,,98
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 1
From: Nu Joizey
The 4.6 does have lifters/hydraulic lash adjusters, they are in a different location is all.
Back in the day ............. you would check the PVC valve by removing it from the engine when it is not running and shaking it. It was supposed to rattle, meaning it's not gummed up and stuck. It works kinda like a check valve that runs off engine vacume.
My 4.6 also makes various noises at start up but not always. I fixed the noises by installing a remote starter. Now I stay in the house while it warms up and I dont hear a thing!
Good luck.
Back in the day ............. you would check the PVC valve by removing it from the engine when it is not running and shaking it. It was supposed to rattle, meaning it's not gummed up and stuck. It works kinda like a check valve that runs off engine vacume.
My 4.6 also makes various noises at start up but not always. I fixed the noises by installing a remote starter. Now I stay in the house while it warms up and I dont hear a thing!
Good luck.
Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Shoreline, WA
My old 99 5.4L did the same thing. I live in a neighborhood on a slope and I have to drive uphill to get out of it in the mornings. The 99 used to make a slight tapping sound at idle and would get louder when under moderate load traveling uphill in the morning. I used 5W-30 Mobil 1 and a PureONE oil filter so I'm confident I got quick upper end lubrication.
Not sure the long-term effects because I traded it in after a couple of years.
Not sure the long-term effects because I traded it in after a couple of years.