HELP! noisy, ticking, engine when started!

[djbdb]

It ticks pretty loud when i first start it in the morning but once it runs for 5 to 10 minutes, it sounds fine. The vehicle is a 95 4.0 w/160,000 miles

No idea what it could be...

Thanks, Bob

 

[ExploringNC]

Mine does this also, does it at cold startup and also when its turned off for a little while and restarted. I read a thread the other day and it mentioned that it was the tension pulley for the timing chain. Once the oil gets back up to the tension pulley it will stop ticking. The thread even showed how to fix it but looked like alot of work. Sorry for not posting link but I don't have the time right now to find it.

If any of you machanics know of this problem I would like to know if this is something that needs taken care of ASAP or is it just an anoying noise.

 

[NHale623]

When is the last time you changed your oil? Is your oil level correct? What weight oil are you using?

 

[masospaghetti]

mine does this as well. Would be great to know what was causing it. I'm using 5w-30 mobil-1 synthetic and 96,000 miles, OHV engine.

 

[magyarbacsi]

Not sure if this helps the OHV motors, but the SOHC (some) have similar starting noise that lasts usually for a few secs, not for minutes. My 97 did. What I have read on this forum is that your cheap oil filters, i.e. napa, schucks and the like, lack a valve that maintains oil in the system and prevents it from draining back when motor is shut off. I switched to Motorcraft filters and I have not had that problem since. There are other filters that have this valve but you have to check for it.

 

[NHale623]

Try using a mechanics stethoscope (or something similar) and see if you can tell where the noise is coming from. Front of the engine, valve covers, etc... It may be coming from an accessory or serpentine belt.

Might also be worth a try to use a heavier oil the next time you do an oil change.