Noisy F150 engine

[308MATE]

My F150 Lightning (5.4l supercharged V8) has started making a hellish ticking noise when you start it. Its rythmic, intermittent and goes away once the engine has run at normal operating temperature for about 10 minutes.

I cant speak for the entire history of the car but I know it hasnt been thrashed from cold for the last year or so and I cant remember ever taking it to within 500rpm of the redline (5250rpm) so I wouldnt say its been over revved.

My first thought is that its a noisy lifter, but its really quite loud, louder than lifters Ive heard on previous cars.

The other thing I thought of was "pinging", but again its not a sound I recognise as pinging. Plus, Im not entirley sure of the difference between pinging and knocking from an engine. I heard they were different.

The question is: what if any, damage can result from a noisy lifter if its left? Being supercharged, I dont think it will be a cheap repair - the temptation is just to turn the radio up while its cold and ignore it.

Anyone got any thoughts on this? (yes yes you comedians, I know its a F**D - Could be reason in itself!)

PB

[ringram]

Yeah sticky or collapsed lifter.. maybe.
Especially if it goes away, its not anything broken.

[Island boy hsv]

It might sound straight forward, but you have checked the oil level? I know that LS1 engines which don't have much oil in can produce a noise as you describe.

[308MATE]

Yeah good point, I thought that too. I checked it, dipstick showed about 1/3 full. Topped it up to full but noise continued.

Bit of worry. I could understand it if Id given it a good caning from cold or bounced it off the rev limiter, but as I say, none of the above.

PB

[SS HSV]

Any new mechanical noise = friction.

Get it looked at asap, the longer you 'live with it' the more expensive the repair IMO.

Good excuse for a stroker kit, some forged piston/rods and some more boost ?

[scorcher]

Not something like a blowing manifold possibly?Or something else blowing and as it heats up and expands it seals itself and stops ?

[delmeekc]

from memory, the old 8 valve vauxhall's (that used hydraulic lifters) would do exactly the same when cold, so either lifters and/or oil pressure (change the pump). probably b****x but I tried.

[308mate]

Someone from a lightning forum suggested a loose spark plug. Apparently common on these at around 20,000miles (as mine has). Took it to a local place who did indeed find one plug with evidence of blow-by. (plugs very difficult to get to!) But the noise is still there. Although less so. Might have to spend the money and take it to a specialist or something.

Cant really think about it at the moment, just bashed the rim up in a moment of carelessness

PB