Lucas Oil Stabilzer the sh*t out of it!

 

So, today i went back to work on the engine. I dropped the old oil and did not show signs of shavings. I used a very clean white container drop some oil, and Like a gold miner look for the gold shine. There was none there. I filled it with 5w-20, New Motorcraft filter, took fuel pump fuse out, cranked the engine over for 10 seconds at a time 6 times with a couple seconds of rest for the starter.
I placed the fuse back in, started it for 5 seconds (did this twice) and knock was there right away! I'm at a loss, what do you guys think?

 

Right, - these engines shouldn't sit more than 3 months without working the internals. However, oil won't go bad in these engines for a very long time since these engines have a sealed system and are sealed very well...oxygen free.

To store a vehicle/engine and to prevent internal damage in doing so, the engine should be ran up to operating temp every 3 months. That will provide total internal lubrication. On top of that and IF the climate your storing it in is below 40*, you have to run them up to 2000 rpms for the correct amount of time to burn off residual blow-by or moisture contamination. You'll never have to change the oil during storage IF you know how to store it correctly.

One that is stored without any lubrication period, - well who knows what all will be damaged. You could cause it to wear 100,000 miles right after turning the key. Specially with this gens tighter tolerances.

 

Maybe when you heard engine run it had heavy oil additive in it...to hide knock

 

Something didn't get oiled correctly upon first start up and I am sure it has to do with the engine sitting with out oil and expanding and contracting.

You may have a bearing that has spun. I haven't heard the knock so it also could be lifters that are gummed up. Bottom line, its time to tear into it. There isn't a liquid snake oil that will fix this. Sorry Man

 

Check your PCV valve first, since they can mimic a knock. Those things can make ANY sound in the book, - a knock is definitely one of them.

 

This is a good one. I had one in an expedition that the customer brought in. I swore it was a bad lifter knock. Opened the hood and sure enough the PCV was shot and rattling like 2 rocks were in the crank case.

Good point sir!

 

Where does the noise sound come from top end? Bottom end?
Bottom end with be the same as rpm
Too end will be at 1/2 rpms

 

First, I would like to thank all of you who have responded to the post. Your suggestions have been extremely helpful and greatly appreciated, at least it is keeping me from going insane.

Second, got to work on the truck again. Unplugged one wire at a time, and no one cylinder sounded "quieter".

Third, I finally bit the bullet and decided to remove the oil pan. But before this i started the truck and using a long screwdriver as a stethoscope, got under the truck and placed it underneath several places on the block, pan and bell housing. At least I wanted to narrow down on where the knock was coming from. And the knock was by far the loudest almost underneath the harmonic balancer on the oil pan. No other place on the pan appeared to be as loud, also listened through the cross bolts of the mains and sounded normal.

I took the oil pan down, removed the oil pick up tube ( which after removal appeared like the oil pick up tube oring got "pinched" towards one side on install) then started looking at the rod bearings.

Bearings showed some wear, some scratching. Plasti-gauged the first 4 cylinders closest to the front (since the noise sounded towardsthe front) rod brgs, all between .001-.002 clearance.

Hypothetically speaking, i believe that perhaps the oil pick up (due to oring) tube may have either started stucking air, causing it to cavitate... or, was not holding pressure unlike advertised.

I will install new brgs, rod bolts. (Then smear a healthy dose of assembly lube).... Anything else i should peek at while under there?