I just bought an '04 F150 from a friend. It has 250K miles on it. When I got the truck there were no tapping noises coming from the engine. Now that I changed the oil, at start up till about 5 miles down the road, I hear the tapping noise. I put Castrol high mileage 5W-20 in it. Could it just be the oil I'm using or something more expensive?

 

What kind of oil filter did you use?

 

I believe they used a frame filter. I provided the oil.

 

That's your problem right there, you need to use a better filter. Motorcraft or wix. The frams tend to break up and clogg the screens. Frams are garbage it's all over these sites not to use those filters on these f150's. I would change immediately.

 

It could be your Fram filter. They have a really cheap drain-back prevention valve that will let the oil drain back into the crankcase, so you get a dry start until the filter refills.

Another possibility is that, where it has 250k on it, your friend may have been running a heavier oil that would have made the engine run quieter.

 

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the input.

 

I'll change the filter and hope that's the problem. It didn't make the noise until about a week after I took the truck. Meanwhile I'll find out what oil was used in it. Thanks

 

So many of the " Engine Noises" on the 3v 5.4's are attributed to several things.
1. People not using the proper viscosity engine oil. 5W-20 only!
2. People not using a MotorCraft FL-820-S FIlter only!
3. People not changing the oil frequently enough causing sludge issues!

I own two Modular engines in my 2008 F-150 5.4 3v, & my 2011 Crown Victoria 4.6
I use only Ford Motorcraft filters FL-820-S & a quality Synthetic oil, I use Amsoil & these two motors have 42K & 44K miles each & have run quiet & very strong!

 

You didn't say which engine you have. 5.4 or 4.6?

 

Fram oil filters are not all bad but the cheap orange one is.