tapping questions

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Nov 26, 2004 | 07:34 PM

bigdaddyII

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From: Southern Louisiana

tapping questions

just thought i would throw this out and see what you guys thought. when i purchased my 97 f150 with the 4.6 it had been almost 85k using 10w40. alot of people informed me that this was bad so i began using 5w20 (motorcraft w/motorcraft filter.) i noticed a light tapping noise at startup and intermittingly running when it was warm. i just brushed it off as light piston slap or just a noise that the truck makes. time before last i changed the oil wally world ran out off 5w20 so i put motorcraft 5w30 not seeing a problem as i live in a hot climate. the truck quit making the noise and today after i changed the oil again with 5w20 the tap is back. all dealerships and people ive talked to (including this site) have told me that even though the manuel reccomends 5w30 it is better to use 5w20. i was wondering if the oil has something to do with this and what is it. the truck now has 170k and runs excellant.

Nov 26, 2004 | 07:46 PM

cmlind

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With your mileage, I would definitely stick to the 5w30. When it is warm you could even use 10w30. Your problem could be lifters or piston slap. Doesn't sound too serious if it went away with 5w30. The new Motorcraft 5w30 is supposed to be built as tough as the 5w20.

Nov 26, 2004 | 07:57 PM

bigdaddyII

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From: Southern Louisiana

do you think that the tapping could be due to the wear on the engine? it has 170k and dosent smoke or burn a drop of oil. i just thought the 5w20 was to thin

Nov 26, 2004 | 10:26 PM

Flash

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The noise you are hearing most likely is from the valve train. The Tritons are not quiet. It will be similair to hearing an old solid lifter clicking. The 5w-20's are made of much better stuff than a regular Xw-30. If you can find any of the newer 929 rated oils in 5w-30, it is just as tough as the 153-H 5w-20 oils. You might consider running the 5w-20 thru the winter and switching to the 929 speced oil in 5w-30 later. It should be on the market shortly. I have not seen any of it yet. As a matter of fact, I was in a Pep Boys Wednesday looking over their stock and most of the oils on the shelf and stacked on pallets was SJ rated. That's a little old but still good oil. I have posted the criteria for the 153-H oils here if you want to do a search and find out the difference.

Dec 20, 2004 | 11:39 AM

tbln930

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Tapping with Motorcraft 5w-20

I just found this thread. I have a 2001 F-150 SuperCrew w/ Triton 5.4L and 55,000m that has a tapping noise (only during cold start up for 10 minutes and then it goes away for the day) with the Motorcraft 5W-20 blend. When we switch to Valvoline 5W-20 it goes away. We swapped back and forth during 4 consequtive oil/filter changes using the same filter with identical results. The mechanic that suggested that I try Valvoline said the Motorcraft 5W-20 is notorious for this - but not necessarily harmful. Any opinions?

Thanks,
Brant

Dec 20, 2004 | 12:40 PM

rusty70f100

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From: Iowa

Here's my $0.02:

Engine noise, be it clicking, tapping, knocking, whatever, is NEVER good. Let me repeat, it is NEVER GOOD!!! If you use an oil that eliminates the noise, it must be better in that particular engine than the oil that allowed the noise to occur. Therefore, I'd either use a 5w30 or 10w30. I'd lean toward the 10w30 in a hot climate and 5w30 in a cold climate.

JMHO.

Dec 20, 2004 | 04:53 PM

midlf

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It has always been my understanding that whatever oil weight you run, that is what you should continue to use. The thought is the engine "wears out" its clearances for the oil weight you are running. You can go heavier but you can not go back down. I believe the noises you are hearing are from lack of lubrication from the oil being too thin. Is this true? I don't know but it has an element of apparent logic to it. If it is not true, no harm is done following it. If it is true, lots of harm will come from going to a thinner oil after extensive use of a stiffer grade. I suspect someone at an oil company or engine mfr knows but this info is not out there for us everyday slobs to see.