Tapping noise on startup

89roadster · Nov 5, 2004

On startup, it sounds like the lifters and rockers don't have oil and 2 seconds after startup the tapping noise goes away....this is something recent and the oil level checks out okay.

Should I worry?

crazypete · Nov 5, 2004

You're probably running synthetic or something thin like 5w-20. I swapped to thinner oil and the car had that lifter ticking sound right away. Switched back to 10w-30 dino juice and much less noise. 10w-40 and no noise. The thin synthetic oil made the family brand new toyota sound like a diesel from all the ticking and rapping.

I think it means this is normal if it goes away after the car warms up.

luckyae · Nov 5, 2004

A lot of engine wear comes when first cranking up your engine. This is because it has very poor lubrication for the first few seconds. If you are running thin oil or synthetic then a great solution is to get something like LUCAS oil additive, it helps the oil stick to the vital engine parts so the next time you crank up the engine is primed or pre-lubed if you will. If it was the car in my driveway I would definately put in a Lucas oil additive.

89roadster · Nov 5, 2004

I've been running Mobil 1 Synthetic 10w-30 for the 11 years that I've owned the car. I've never heard this noise before, but I'm coming due for an oil change soon, maybe it's just thinned out more than normal.

Thanks for the assistance

dastang2 · Nov 5, 2004

what is your oil psi. sounds like your mains bearing are pooping. you may also be experienceing piston slap. 302's sometimes break the skirt off and then you will have slap when cold.

89roadster · Nov 5, 2004

dastang2 said:
what is your oil psi. sounds like your mains bearing are pooping. you may also be experienceing piston slap. 302's sometimes break the skirt off and then you will have slap when cold.

The only guage I have is what's on the dash which sits around the 1/4 from bottom to 1/2 depending on RPM and load (which it always)

I've been looking for a reason to rebuild the engine...maybe I've found it

dastang2 · Nov 5, 2004

you definately found a reason.

crunchie12268 · Nov 5, 2004

New Engine Idea:

Twin Turbo'd 502..... with ooohhhh maybe 200 shot of nitrous.

DMAN302 · Nov 5, 2004

Sounds like a tired lifter..you seem to have already come to terms with it, so all I can say is get your tools ready cause there's no time like the present to freshen things up.

Schlodes · Nov 6, 2004

What oil filter are you using?

I try to stick with the Motorcraft one. I used a Fram on my car once and had that happen. Some times the anti drain back valve in the filter is faulty or no good... or just a crummy quality filter and this can happen.

Ranchero5.0 · Nov 6, 2004

Ditto the anti drain back valve gets a chunk of junk or just plain stops sealing and the oil in the motor drains back into the pan around the oil pump when shut off. It takes about two seconds to pump back up when first started. Do a oil change and put a motorcraft filter on and it should go away.

Jamie

dvs bullet · Nov 6, 2004

DMAN302 said:
Sounds like a tired lifter..you seem to have already come to terms with it, so all I can say is get your tools ready cause there's no time like the present to freshen things up.

I'm with him on this I think it's a tired lifter as well.

89roadster · Nov 6, 2004

Schlodes said:
What oil filter are you using?

I try to stick with the Motorcraft one. I used a Fram on my car once and had that happen. Some times the anti drain back valve in the filter is faulty or no good... or just a crummy quality filter and this can happen.

I always use the Motorcraft fl1a(?)...EXCEPT LAST TIME!!!! Man, I hope thats it!

89roadster · Nov 6, 2004

dvs bullet said:
I'm with him on this I think it's a tired lifter as well.

Any way of testing this if it isn't the filter?

BTW: What's the worst that can happen with a tired lifter????

dastang2 · Nov 6, 2004

you said the oil fluxuated when hot, that usually point away from a bad lifter

DMAN302 · Nov 6, 2004

tired lifter gets may make a little more noise, may stop making noise..you need to watch that oil guage but no reason you can't keep driving, maybe try some lucas oil treatment, but consider a rebuild may be in the near future..could be 5000miles, could be 40,000, you just never know with these engines, they fight right to the end.

bgjohnson · Nov 7, 2004

if it's just a tired lifter, it will not hurt anything at all. it will just take longer to pump it up, then after it pumps up it will be fine. but when it starts ticking all the time it may not be keeping the tension on the rocker it needs to. and actually with a thinner oil such as 5w-30 it will lube things faster on startup and sythetic is waay better then dyno oil on moving parts and prolonged oil life. but sythetic will make gaskets leak a but easier. and also i would check what your actual pressure is at hot idle with a test gauge, it shouldn't be below 25psi.

dvs bullet · Nov 7, 2004

89roadster said:
Any way of testing this if it isn't the filter?

BTW: What's the worst that can happen with a tired lifter????

No way of testing this that I know of, but that is usually the source of of a ticking or clacking noise on start up. Just as long as it's not a knock. My brothers car did it for ever, he sold it like that. It's not hard or expensive to replace them though.

89roadster · Nov 10, 2004

And the winner is:

Well, it's hard to say, but thanks to everyone. I changed the Mobil 1 oil and filter (Bosch, not a cheap brand) for Valvoline Durablend and a Motorcraft FL1A and this morning everything sounded great on startup. It's the first time in the 11 years that I've owned the stang that I've had anything in the engine but Mobil 1.

I do have to say that the oil was pretty fuggin thin...that makes me worry a little bit that I've got other problems, but not to worry because I've already started down the road of building a new engine

bgjohnson · Nov 14, 2004

have you tried the 15W-50 mobil 1?

Tapping noise on startup

89roadster

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