engine ticking/ knock when cold?

[orygunbou71]

What would cause a light ticking/ knock sound when I start the engine when it is cold. It goes away once the engine comes up to temp. It's a ford racing crate 302 engine with full roller rockers and less than 1000 miles on it?

 

[77BRONKOTN]

Check the simple things first, like exhaust leak.

 

[broncnaz]

A collasped or weak lifter can do it. But since t goes away Id 2nd the possible exhuast leak.

 

[savage]

My 460 ticks on first start up, then goes away, it ended up being one of my lifter, and the grade of oil I was using. The lifter would bleed down over night, but it only tick in cold weather. Change the viscosity of the oil in colder weather and it went away.

 

[ENDLIFE]

Another question: Are your lifters solid or hydraulic? If it is not an exhaust leak or a busted lifter, you may have a rocker arm out of adjustment. Simple fix . . .

 

[Bronco Junkie]

X2 on either exhaust leak or rocker arm out of adjustment.

 

[DuctTape]

Does sound like a rocker issue but sticky valve/lifter also possible.

When you pull the valve covers to do the rockers check the inside of the valve covers. I had a tick that I just could not find. Went thru rocker adjustment twice before it occurred to me that arms might be rubbing the valve covers...

Turned out to be a rocker clearance issue (on a crate engine...). A quick grind of the inside of valve covers and bam problem solved.

I'd suggest using a mech stethoscope or the dowel rod to ear method to isolate where the sound is coming from. Could be a big help in figuring out if it's rockers or exhaust leak.

 

[welndmn]

-exhaust leak (flanges swell when warm to seal it off)
-lifter tick (as was said)
-piston slap (common with thin oils and cold areas)

 

[lonesouth]

RE: What would cause a light ticking/ knock sound when I start the engine when it is cold?

At seriously cold temperatures, aluminum pistons have a modest, measurable size change. Factor in modern, light weight engine oils and your can easily hear the piston slap at start up. Such has been a big issue with the Ford, modular motor. Engineers designed the iron block with highly advance FEA to be no stronger then necessary to save weight. Complaints of piston slap on start up forced a redesign to add mass to acoustically dampen the noise.

My 4Runner V8 has piston slap first start. Reported to not be a real problem and many engines have seen 200k+

 

[PaveBronco]

I though I'd found my ticking noise. have new..new to the engine, 20 years in a box new lifters..wonder if I should get new..new ones...hate to pull the intake again..

 

[orygunbou71]

thanks guys. i will check those out tomorrow. they are hydraulic lifters. and i am running 10w30 oil. is that too thin??

 

[Pa PITT]

.. Take the Fram Filter off it.
.. If not then lifter or exhaust.

 

[orygunbou71]

.. Take the Fram Filter off it.
.. If not then lifter or exhaust.

No fram filter. I have a k&n oil filter and air filter

 

[broncnaz]

I though I'd found my ticking noise. have new..new to the engine, 20 years in a box new lifters..wonder if I should get new..new ones...hate to pull the intake again..

You may have a valve thats sticky. Weak lifters wouldnt cause a bent pushrod. New old lifters shouldnt be a issue they really just sit in the box all that time. As long as the plunger will move they are fine. If the plungers are stuck they it could cause a bent pushrod. Id run some marvel mystery oil in the engine for awhile it should free up anything that may be sticking.

 

[PaveBronco]

You may have a valve thats sticky. Weak lifters wouldnt cause a bent pushrod. New old lifters shouldnt be a issue they really just sit in the box all that time. As long as the plunger will move they are fine. If the plungers are stuck they it could cause a bent pushrod. Id run some marvel mystery oil in the engine for awhile it should free up anything that may be sticking.

Will run some through the engine couldn’t hurt, the bent prob happened when I threw on some new heads (rebuilt) that had adjustable stud’s, stupid me didn’t notice it....until I tried to rotate the motor...

 

[Mikey]

That's funny, I was going to comment on the Orange Fram PH-08A filter....spin off and chunk into nearest garbage bin! You guys beat me to it!

 

[Blue Bastard]

im going to hijack here.....where did the fram filter come from? and what is so wrong with those?
No one has commented on his question as to what oil wieght he should run?

 

[savage]

The weight all depends on where you live extreme cold, extreme hot ,or some where in between. When I did my break in I used straight 30 weight, now I'm running 10w30 that is just for older hotrod, so it comes with all the good stuff, that you don't have in the oils to day. The brand is Lucas hot rod & classic oil. I'm not sure what's up with the Fram oil filter, I use Wix.orygunbou71,is a roller cam so he can use pretty much any brand of oil.

 

[blubuckaroo]

I had that happen to mine. For some reason I might have set the rockers a little loose when I assembled the motor. I went back and readjusted the valves while running. It's a messy method but it works.

 

[Mikey]

An extensive oil filter study was done a few years back by an engineer who objectively tried and cut apart a lot of filters for his 5.0L engine....it's kinda hard to find now as I imagine certain companies are trying to stamp it out. This link has a summary that appears to be from that study. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.p...tudy-and-Info-What-to-use-and-what-not-to-use

Personally, my 68 Cougar always had a slight tick on start up. I always bought the orange Fram until I read that article. Switched to NAPA (WIX) and tick was gone. Something to do with the Fram cheap drainback valve, I believe. I also had one of the orange Frams balloon out and pull the seal away from the block causing oil to coat everything on that side of the engine bay. Granted, the car had sat for a few months but still.....