I've got a 99 F150 5.4 with 90000 miles on her & recently she's started tapping when I start her & it continues until the oil pressure has built up sufficiently. Is anyone else having this problem? And, I guess more importantly, how do I fix it?

 

The 4.6 in my '94 Crown Vic does this sometimes.
On my car, the noise is actually the timing chain. Its b/c the tensioners have not pressured up yet.
In my case, its nothing to worry about. Not sure if this is your problem or not...

 

Could be the oil filter. You should be using one with an anti-drainback valve so the oil in the upper part of the block don't drain back into the oil pan. Forget the plain orange #1.99 Fram, that don't have the valve, which is one reason why it only costs a couple of bucks...

Go with Motorcraft, Purolator Pure 1, K&N, Mobil 1, etc... I use the Motorcraft since it's a lot less expensive than the K&N and Mobil 1. The Pure 1 is about a buck or so more than the Motorcraft and I've used them as well.

 

I am using the Motorcraft oil filter. This started about the same time the weather turned cold, could temp have anything to do with the rattle?

 

Yes, the oil gets thicker when cold so it takes longer to get to the internal parts of the engine even if you have an oil filter with an anti-drain valve. When it's cold you're probably going to get a little ticking at startup. Mine does for about 2 or 3 seconds when it's really cold, like, say, below about 35-40 degrees.

 

How bad is the sound? I had the same tick/tap on start-up ever since I bought the truck used (86K). Last night at about 55* I expereinced at very loud tapping noise that did not go away untill I drove the truck and it was at full operating temp. Since then it has not done this again even now at 28*. Read a lot more at my thread "Bad nosies from my 4.6"

 

My truck makes a split second rattle/tap sound on the passenger side only at start up. It is rare that I hear it, however, this does happen from time to time after it has sat for several days or longer. I tried different oil filters..Mobil 1 to Motorcraft. The sound eventually occured with all of them. I tried different brands of fuel. I am already burning Premium fuel (with my Superchip)..so it isn't bad fuel. And I can drive it the rest of the day and never hear the sound again. It is only with the very first start after sitting for a long time.

I am now looking into the possibility that it is the PCV valve rattling on my truck when the engine first REVS up in the morning. Sometimes it ROARS way up...and that is when I hear the noise.

I'm not concerned anymore...infact..I have not heard the noise for almost 2 months. It isn't Piston slap..as the sound never last longer than a split second.

 

Funny you should mention the PCV. I noticed/found out mine really rattles too. I had a stethoscope out listening and happen to put it on the PCV, OMG. Take the ear pieces out and once I know what it sounds like I can hear it just by listening close. I just replaced mine about 3K ago with a Purolator brand. Figure it must be defective so I slap my old one back in and it still does it. That's how I figured it has always rattled and is no big deal and not the loud tapping I heard last night.

 

Howdy, Ford will replace the PCV valve when your truck hits 60,000 miles for free.

 

I think I have always heard that tap on start up whenever it is cold, I figure it is the thick oil with the contracted cold parts and the timing chain tensioners, I have 110k on my 99' 5.4, after 3-5 minuts it goes away, and it never does it when it is warm out, I just use the Autostart on those cold mornings and dont drive off till the engine is warm, I would never want to hurt my motor, after all I am on a quest to see how long th 5.4's last with every bit of maintenance performed....so far so good...I am hoping for 175k at least, I have no oil leaks and it uses hardly any oil, and I drive it like I stole it....well see....so tkegumby I would not worry too much, mine always made that noise in the cold since I bought her at 39k...but if it bothers you I would take it to the dealer.... thats my .02 cents

5.4

 

I think pcv valves are supposed to rattle...I have heard that if they dont that is when you know they need replaced

 

I have heard very few cars that the PCV would rattle so loud you could hear it over other things. On mine is you stick your head under the passenger side of the hood you can sometimes faintly make out the sound but you gotta know what to listen for. They are supposed to rattle though. Not a big deal at this point that I know of. I know both the old one and new one rattle the same out of the truck and are very clean.

 

I tuned up the truck yesterday. I figured that with 90k on her, it was time. So I started her this morning & guess what? The tapping was significantly reduced!! I heard a slight tap that lasted about 3 or 4 seconds & then nothing. Not that I'm complaining, but other than new plugs, nothing has changed. So what the he double hockey sticks is going on??

 

If it helps, I checked with my local small-town dealer about it. He said there was no regular problem with 98 sixes doing this at a certain mileage (mine's 72k). He, too, suggested the filter might be a problem (I use wix) or that a lifter just isn't filling up with oil after sitting all night.

 

Well, I just realized th 4.6 is OHC, isn't it. So forget the lifter idea and the notion that small town dealer mechanics know any more than the rest of us.

I'm not much on the PCV since this sound is in rhythm with the engine firing order, not each stroke.