Motor is making Noise

[yellow98cobra]

The motor was quiet when I drove it home over 100 miles, I set in stop & go traffic for an hour no problems. Yesterday I changed the oil. Now it is noisy sounds like valve clatter (I hope and not a Rod Knock). Any idea what the seller may have put in there that made her run quiet?

I went with 10w 30 but have now switched it to 20w 50 on the advice of my mechanic, still noisy.

Thanks, Eric

[jopizz]

I always put STP in when I change the oil but that doesn't explain the tapping you're getting. I'm hoping it's lifter related but it still doesn't make sense. Was the oil you took out clean. Can you tell how thick it is. It's possible someone used straight 30 wt. Believe it or not I've seen cars run quiet on oil that was older than the hills and sound like a sewing machine when it's changed.

John

[yellow98cobra]

Thanks for the responce. The oil was black it did not feel thick I ran my fingers through it on my drain pan to see there was anything in it did not find anything. One more thing for the shop to look at on Monday.

I always put a qt. of STP in when I change the oil but that doesn't explain the tapping you're getting. I'm hoping it's lifter related but it still doesn't make sense. Was the oil you took out clean. Can you tell how thick it is. It's possible someone used straight 30 wt. Believe it or not I've seen cars run quiet on oil that was older than the hills and sound like a sewing machine when it's changed.

John

[JohnG]

do you have an oil pressure gauge on it?

You might track down the noise with a mechanic's stethoscope. Lacking that, a really long screwdriver does pretty well.

Does the noise get worse as the car heats up?

[Anders]

I also have a slight tapping that I hear during idle, but my "Ford-friends-experts" tells me itīs normal.

[KULTULZ]

Sounds like tappet noise, usually caused by low oil pressure or a poor oil supply (constriction/dirt in system or aerated oil).

As mentioned, a quality mechanical oil pressure gauge to verify proper oil pressure at cold start and after driving for full engine warm-up.

20W-50 engine oil is way too heavy except for certain European applications.

10W-30 or 10W-40 for summer usage. The use of a quality oil requires no additives other than ZDDP.

[Anders]

We canīt get ZDDP in Europe

[JohnG]

Can you tell us some more about your motor? How many miles on it since rebuild (if ever done).

Have you ever had the oil pan off and checked the pickup screen?

I would make another vote for an oil pressure gauge. You get to see what is going on under all conditions. Without it you are groping around in the dark. More information usually better than less.

[c4clewis]

Did you switch to synthetic oil? Change the brand of oil filter? A px change could be the culprit.

Does the noise happen at idle only, did you change the idle speed? FE's have notoriously low oil px at idle.

I too have the noise, so these are just suggestions on why yours started. I too have been told that it's normal on these FE's.

[yellow98cobra]

No it does at all times. I first put 10w 30 in it then I changed it to 20w 50. I just called the shop and was told that the noise is coming from the valve train. But he needed to pull the valve covers to see if he could adjust them or if it was maybe something else. I had him go over the whole car and the only thing he has found so far, that I didnt allready know, is there is a power steering fluid leak at the hose fittings. Cost of repair to come.

Did you switch to synthetic oil? Change the brand of oil filter? A px change could be the culprit.

Does the noise happen at idle only, did you change the idle speed? FE's have notoriously low oil px at idle.

I too have the noise, so these are just suggestions on why yours started. I too have been told that it's normal on these FE's.

[jopizz]

The lifters are hydraulic so there's no adjustment your mechanic can make. All he can do is check the wear on the rocker arms and push rods and look for stuck lifters.

[KULTULZ]

The lifters are hydraulic so there's no adjustment your mechanic can make. All he can do is check the wear on the rocker arms and push rods and look for stuck lifters.

Tappet adjustment is performed on a hydraulic FE (and MEL) by using under and over sized pushrods. These engines are also famous for bending pushrods and valve train parts being galled by lack of lubrication (dirt in oil blocking supply passages).

[scumdog]

20W-50 engine oil is way too heavy except for certain European applications.

10W-30 or 10W-40 for summer usage. The use of a quality oil requires no additives other than ZDDP.

Off topic I know but 20W-50 is all I ever use in evrything I drive including the Thunderbird, have done so pretty much forever.

No issues with it that I've noticed.

[KULTULZ]

Off topic I know but 20W-50 is all I ever use in evrything I drive including the Thunderbird, have done so pretty much forever.

No issues with it that I've noticed.

I am sorry. You guys are on the European standard (lubricating oil types). But the BIRD is not.

I need to observe the poster's domicile more closely.

[KULTULZ]

We canīt get ZDDP in Europe

This is off topic but something just dawned on me.

With all of the American car enthusiasts in Europe, maybe you guys should try and form some type of club whereas you can import and sell certain items to others over the net.

The webmaster @ MEL ENGINE FORUM is domiciled in Germany. He had a few solutions but if enough of you came together maybe you could overcome your import restrictions.



Now watch. Some smart guy will take this and run and become a millionaire and I sit here dead broke...