Lenn

So I have been noticing over the last few days that when I start my truck first thing in the morning, it sounds like it is a diesel. It has a high end tick and also a rather unidentifyable low pitched knocking sound. It usually only lasts 5-10 seconds after I start it up.

I certainly hope this is not rod knock. I have not noticed any oil usage or smoke so I can only assume from here. Could it have anything to do with me running 10W-30 instead of 5W20? I noticed that I used 10W30 a couple weeks after I changed my oil. I guess old habits will die hard.

I think if I do in fact have rod knock, I'm going to trade it in for an Avalanche.

white99

5.4?

Lenn

Sorry, my bad. 4.6L

white99

sounds like the oil pump,

Lenn

I don't recall this being a common occurance or theme around here on the boards... what makes you think that? Not saying its not possible but I don't know that I have ever read someone having an oil pump go bad.

westtnfx4

It's a very common issue....if you don't use a motorcraft filter it will do it really bad...what kind of filter you use Lenn?

AZFX4

If I remember correctly it's the oil your using and it being started on a cold morning..

I remember a thread a while back about this and there was some good info on it.

JJ1983

Lenn, I have the 5.4L in the same truck you have. On cold mornings, with any grade oil, it has a dry start. All of my Ford trucks have done this. My wife's Hyundai even does the same thing from time to time.

I used the same weight of oil you do (10W-30 valvoline high mileage syn blend) , the 5W-20 made my motor sound like a diesel when idling. I hope I am hearing the same noise you are. If you are adamant about it being a rod bearing, I am not going to second guess you.

Might want to have it checked out if you aren't sure, if so.....trade it in if you don't want to mess with a motor later on. If mine gets worse, I am going to trade my truck in for another one (probably a Nissan Titan). I hope it is just a case of Ford's infamous dry starting.

david350

Mine sounded like that real bad this morning. Scary as hell... It does it quite often for a couple minutes in the morning. I run a MC filter and semi syn. 5w30. Last change was 6 months ago, but only about 1500 miles on it since.

Lenn

I used cheap-o Autozone oil and a Fram filter. What? Don't judge me! Haha.

I will be using Motorcraft 5w20 and a Motorcraft filter next time and see if it helps at all.

I dont know for sure that its a rod bearing but I am natural born pescimist. Its one of my many flaws. If it is just a matter of the standard "dry start", is this detrimental to the engine or is it just some little quirk that most of these do and is considered normal among the F-series?