Like a lot of 4.7's, mine has a little tapping/clacking noise on cold startups that lasts about a minute. Has anyone used any particular brand or type of oil that maybe quiets it down a little? I actually don't recall hearing it until a couple months into the first OCI on the truck. I've been using valvoline maxlife 5w-30. Changed to 5w-20 and that seemed to make it a little better. Maybe I should go back to conventional?
Just wondering if anyone has tried anything that improves the noises or if I should just not think into it. Previous owner was meticulous about oil changes.
I have to agree with RalphP. I had this problem before when I bought cheap filter without the oil bypass valve. I use Mobil one M1-301 oil filter with 5w-30 Castrol titanium. Even in the dead of cold it starts up without "tapping/clacking" noise.
Minor correction - not the oil bypass, but the anti drain back valve.
There's a wide range from "Da whut?" to "Highest grade silicon" *grins*
I know my 3.9 (a 1988 with over 300,000 miles!) has some lifter clatter when cold on a cheap Fram filter (no, I don't use Fram - "Friends don't let Friends use Fram!", but the PO used'em) but doesn't with the Motorcraft or Wix filters (I've switched to Motorcraft FL-300 - it's a FL-1A that's an inch shorter, and JUST clears the frame to install ... and holds almost a whole quart! I use that on both the Dakota and the Cougar, since they can use identical filters.)
I use Mopar or Purolator Pureone filters. I hate Fram!! Oddly enough, when the motor has a load on it ( AirCon/Defroster ) it lasts like 20 seconds tops. Without a load, a minute. So I just start it with the compressor and efan running and I hardly hear it! If I revved it to maybe 1700 for a few seconds, let off the pedal, it goes away too. Maybe I should use a quart of Marvel oil on my next change. Can't hurt, motor doesnt burn or leak a drop of oil right now though. Oil pressure dummy gauge is just under H on cold idle, right at the line above L on hot idle, and is just under H going down the road.
Just changed the oil today..valvoline maxlife 5w -30, motorcraft fl-1a and tried a quart of lucas, and it sounds like a POS. Shouldn't have used that lucas snot. Gotta change the oil AGAIN. I guess the lucas thickens the oil too much.
And, my noise is coming from the bottom of the motor..not the top. Sounds like piston slap, makes no noise when warm. Is that bad?
i have some wicked bad clatter on start up. evens out real quick with some bottom end rattle but smooths right out to nice and tight in less than two minutes. will try a filter and oil change asap. would love to hear from others in regards to how comon or best fixes.
loving my dak. needs more low end. removing clutch fan and ac.
need input in regards to ac bypass.
towing 75% of the time and need torque.
also input as to throttle response. any fixes to quicker deceleration.
To fix throttle response and help low speed acceleration, get a bigger throttle body. A 70mm made a nice change in driveability for me.
My engine was quietest on startup with pennzoil conventional 5w-30 w/ motorcraft fl1A. I tried this stuff called liqui moly mos2..pretty much molybdenum in a can. Can be found on ebay. I had minor bottom end noise when warm w/ little vibrations that are now gone. That combo there improves things but doesn't fix the tap.
I'm putting cams in and will be changing all 16 lash adjusters. I got a stethoscope and hear tapping in the valve covers
The drain back valve helps with cold starts but in my experience the only way to really beat it is to change the adjusters out. I re-used mine when we did the HO overhaul and wished I would have just replaced them. When work allows me to I will be swapping the rockers and adjusters out with new ones.
As for the oil I don't know if o would run 5-20 in a 4.7. It is a truck motor and at operating temps it's probably like water. I personally run 5-40 syhntetic in mine.
I've always used 5w30, which is what the 4.7 calls for and haven't had any problems from it. From what I read, these engines have small oiling passages that require thinner oil so parts get oiled quicker. But with some mileage, I'm sure 5w40 has benefits. Do you use Rotella? That's the only oil I've seen in a 5w40.
Yeah, I would definitely want to only do the job once! The valve covers seem like a pain in the ass themselves just to get off, and once the cam is out the adjusters just pull out. It's too easy at that point not to do it.
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