I know this is a year later, hope a reply is OK. If not my apologies. In reference to removal of oil pump...does front chain cover need to come off? Im almost cetain mine is pump. I have the startup rattle due to low initial startup oil, have already done the chains/guides/tensioners. I have had the pan off...screen is clean. Also have Motorcraft oil filter and 5w20 Mobil 1. Symptom is noisy startup exactly like when changing oil filter. Pressure is slow to come up, but when it does, its quiet.

Thanks

 

I am having a similar issue and I believe contaminants from broken chain guides have either plugged the pick or the pump enough to restrict flow on initial start up. I've changed my tensioners 3 times and all timing components twice hoping I just got faulty parts. It's all ford parts in there now and still seems to starve for oil on start up, warm or cold does t matter. I've only put off dropping the pan now do to my lift because I can't just drop the crossmember out

 

I don't know if you ever got an answer to your question...

Not only do you have to pull the timing cover, you also have to pull the timing components because the oil-pump is behind the crankshaft timing sprocket (double-sprocket). I think you can also get to the bolt that connects the pick-up tube to the oil pump, but I would think you would also want to pull the oil pan so that the pick-up screen can be inspected and/or removed.

 

Ouch. Definitely need to pull that pan.

 

I have sludge in my oil....remedy?

 

Should have started a new thread, the last one here is from 2013.

Sludge is caused by not allowing your engine to warm up, usually from lots of very short trips. Drive for a minimum of 30 minutes a day will help slowly resolve the issue.