Weird noise upon (very) cold startup?

[BrianDye]

So temps here have been hitting 10 and below for the past couple weeks now. My truck usually sits between 6-7pm until about 4:30am when I go out and start it to leave in the morning. When I start it, she cranks over and starts just fine, but once it fires, there's this noise that I don't know how to describe. It's not a belt slipping, or starter staying engaged type noise, but almost like a screech/scratching that typically happens for 1-3 seconds right when the engine fires, ONLY when it's probably 15 or less degrees, and only on that first cold startup. It's done it 8-10 hours after being at work but it's nowhere near as bad.

I have no other issues or noises when it's warming up, or warmed up. Doesn't sound ANYTHING like any of the timing chain rattles and noises I've listened to online. Any ideas? Oil too cold and not circulating quick enough? Seems like I might need to get an oil pan heater if that's the case.

 

[Flag Gibby]

What weight oil do you run and what are the outside temps at when this happens?

 

[BrianDye]

I usually run Mobil 1 or Castrol full synthetic. Can't remember the weight off the top of my head but it's whatever the X calls for.

It's usually under 25 or so degrees outside, the colder, the longer it happens.

 

[bogieb]

I had the same thing happen on Saturday and Sunday. Only difference was both times it was close to 0*F. Just had the oil changed last week (I'm unsure what they put in, but I'm sure it was appropriate for this area). Sorry I'm no help in diagnoses, but hoping someone can point us both in the right direction.

 

[BrianDye]

I wish I would remember to take a video of it in the AM but I'm usually pushing it lately so I don't have much time to spare. It's not like a squeal or screech like a bad belt or pulley, almost like a scratching type sound.

Has your X ever done this that you know of, prior to that oil change? When I lay changed my oil, it was still well above freezing outside, so I never noticed the issue. I'm gonna check my oil level today and add some if needed. Do you run regular oil or synthetic?

 

[michael loibl]

My 06 4.0 makes a similar noise on first cold start of day below 20 degrees of so. I seem to have narrowed it down to power steering pump, but since it goes away right away, I'll deal with it.

 

[bogieb]

I wish I would remember to take a video of it in the AM but I'm usually pushing it lately so I don't have much time to spare. It's not like a squeal or screech like a bad belt or pulley, almost like a scratching type sound.

Has your X ever done this that you know of, prior to that oil change? When I lay changed my oil, it was still well above freezing outside, so I never noticed the issue. I'm gonna check my oil level today and add some if needed. Do you run regular oil or synthetic?

Only had my truck for a couple of months, and this is the first time for these sorts of temps. I have started it at single digits and not had that noise, but can't say if it's because it only does it at extremely cold temps, or just since the oil change.

The work order just says they used Motorcraft SAE, but not the weight. I am an idiot when it comes to vehicles, (that is why I pay others to do the work) so don't know if the SAE tells you if it is dino or synthetic ) I just happened to throw this in while they were putting on my new bumper - yes, some lady ran into me after I had the vehicles for less than 3 months. Her car got towed; my bumper just got scratched and needed an alignment

 

[Dag06XLT]

Mine ended up being the water pump. Turn the wheel during the noise, it will make a straining noise but the power steering will be very obvious where as the water pump is not so as it only slows with the belt.

 

[BrianDye]

So if the noise increases when I turn the wheel it would be the pump. Makes sense, and I could see it being a water pump, would the bearings be freezing or something?

 

[BrianDye]

I'm gonna try to record it tomorrow morning BUT it's supposed to be like 35, so it probably won't happen or be very slight.