Do these Engines tend to make a little more noise than "normal"?

[8UWITH6]

I hate to ask this, because I tend to over think things. However, when its very cold out in the morning and I start the car for work in the garage, drive town the street and accelerate out of the neighborhood there is a noticable clicking from under the hood. Once it warms up it is not heard or any signs of a noise. The only thing I hear when the engine is warm sometimes at a very low idle 500-600 is a very slight what I would call is a very subtle clunk or noise but goes away with any throttle input or slight raise of RPM's. Mind you this is with the door open and me hanging my head under the car.

Am I over analyzing this or should I tear into it? I mean its got 32K on it. Oil is 5w20 Synth Blend Motorcraft, 1/2 qt of Lucas, Wix Oil Filter. Car runs out great? Any input is appreciated.

I am new to this platform and Ford/Merc's in general. Always been a GM guy................

[lilmarauder]

A good friend of mine is a Ford mechanic. I drove my car up to the dealer and I pulled next to a car and I heard ticking, I mentioned it to him and he said that 4.6 motors make a little noise in general as far as a ticking noise. Little to no "ticking" is normal from what I've been told. My car runs just fine. I hear lots of ticking noises especially with my headers.

[8UWITH6]

I just read this thread which made me feel a little bit better.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=83932&highlight=engine+noise

I am probably over-reacting............ but I wanted to ask my peers. This is my first Ford/Mercury.................

[Gordy]

I know the exact difference you are hearing. use to drive me crazy. It's a modular motor man, takes time to get use to. Has 32 valves, 4 cams, and more timing chain than you can imagine, its makes alot of noise.

[Mr. Man]

Could also be the fan and/or A/C doing it's thing.

[babbage]

Use a motorcraft filter (fl820s) - has anti-drain back valve. When you start it cold with other oil filters - they will let the oil drain out of the heads and you hear grinding cams (dry oil starved) on start. Also run 5w-30 for extra engine protection.

Yes the 4v motors make a little more noise, so it's normal

[Marauderjack]

Being 32 valve motors they have twice as much stuff up top to make noise so I would say yes......within reason!!:cool:

My injectors have always clicked noticeably!!:confused:

[RF Overlord]

Use a motorcraft filter (fl820s) Good advice. Also stop using the Lucas additive.

As the others said, yes the 4V is a chatty engine, sometime with different voices. Mary's car has a soft "nuk-nuk-nuk" sound off and on that I would have sworn was a bad rod bearing, but it's been there since we bought the car in 2007 with 87,000 miles and it now has over 160,000. I gave up worrying about it long ago.

[WhatsUpDOHC]

............"nuk-nuk-nuk" sound off and on...............Hey Moe!!!

[Roadwarrior]

Use a motorcraft filter (fl820s)- has anti-drain back valve. When you start it cold with other oil filters - they will let the oil drain out of the heads and you hear grinding cams (dry oil starved) on start. Also run 5w-30 for extra engine protection.

Yes the 4v motors make a little more noise, so it's normal

+1 on the oil filter & the oil visocity.

[lilmarauder]

+1 on what gordy said.

[SpartaPerformance]

First off get rid of the Wix filter, use only Motorcraft that may reduce some of the noise sounds weird but I've experienced it with 4.6L. Being we can't actually hear the noise I can only speak from what I know but yes Modular motors are noisy between cast cam followers and hollow cam shafts valve train is noisy also on down stroke the pistons go so deep into bore that at BDC they wiggle in the bore and make noise.

[ncmm]

We should compare one another's.

Going to be out south anytime?

I live just north of MC

let me know

:burnout:

[RF Overlord]

Hey Moe!!!I said "nuk" not "nyuk"... ;)

[Loco1234]

Yah my motor is built & pushing alot of boost... noise like that is norm on my mo0tor... for a while I thought it might be piston slap or somrthing but man im at 700+rwhp & she holds together w/ no lack of power...

[Blackened300a]

Ticking and tapping is the norm. I have a ticking noise for years now and it never affected the performance.

[8UWITH6]

Wow thanks for all the replies fellas. I will change to 5W30 as I wanted to do that but the cap said 5W20. I put Lucas in it because it does help coat things and I wanted to see if it would help. It DID NOT. So all your replies just chalk it up to a little bit of a noisey power plant. I will also try a motorcraft oil filter for fun but have never had a problem with Wix.

ncmm, anytime buddy. I work in Olathe drive the car everyday. :)

[2ndmm]

my car I just bought has 146k on it, and it has a little soft nuk nuk as described above. On initial start up it had the death rattle but after I changed the oil with mobil 5000 5/20 and the motorcraft filter the death rattle went away. That filter is very very important in my opinion.

[Motorhead350]

You are using 93 octane right?

[8UWITH6]

Yes. The sound is not detonation.

[lji372]

i think you should off it before the engine goes.......TO MEEEE!!! sweet ride man. wife wants a few acres up north and i want a blue, what's the chances i'll win lol

[camelgrundle]

Yeah I had a knock at 38,000 miles. Got the car at that and luckily I got a warranty. New motor = 100 doll hairs

[MrBluGruv]

I remember when I first got my MM, my boss at the time swore up and down I had bad rod knock and that that motor wasn't long for this world.


60K miles later it was still rolling along just fine, never changed sound-wise.

[lifespeed]

That filter is very very important in my opinion.

Indeed it is, although the noise it fixes is lack of oil in the engine and cam chain tensioners at startup.

[tbone]

Use a motorcraft filter (fl820s) - has anti-drain back valve. When you start it cold with other oil filters - they will let the oil drain out of the heads and you hear grinding cams (dry oil starved) on start. Also run 5w-30 for extra engine protection.

Yes the 4v motors make a little more noise, so it's normal

I did a little research and found that all the filters I looked up had the anti-drain back valve -Microguard, Wix, Fram, Bosch and Mobil 1. Mobil 1 filters out the smallest particles in my comparison, uses synthetic and natural fibers to trap debris and has by far the largest debris capacity as well, so you can go more than twice as many miles between filter changes. I was a staunch supporter of the FL820 until I realized they all had the anti-drain back valve. Now I go with Mobil 1. Costs a lot more, and I will still change the synthetic oil and filter every 3000 miles, but my engine is worth it! :beer:

[LSp8]

Thought I was tripping when I kept hearing the chatter but at nearly 90, 000k miles and 5 years of ownership, and "0" mechanical issues, I just quit worrying about it. Not to mention i've heard the same clatter in literally EVERY panther ive listened to. My 2 vics, work cars, buddy's MMs, and my Dads 98' Continental

[tbone]

Thought I was tripping when I kept hearing the chatter but at nearly 90, 000k miles and 5 years of ownership, and "0" mechanical issues, I just quit worrying about it. Not to mention i've heard the same clatter in literally EVERY panther ive listened to. My 2 vics, work cars, buddy's MMs, and my Dads 98' Continental


Maybe I'm deaf, but I don't really hear all the chatter you guys are talking about.

[SpartaPerformance]

Wow thanks for all the replies fellas. I will change to 5W30 as I wanted to do that but the cap said 5W20. I put Lucas in it because it does help coat things and I wanted to see if it would help. It DID NOT. So all your replies just chalk it up to a little bit of a noisey power plant. I will also try a motorcraft oil filter for fun but have never had a problem with Wix.

ncmm, anytime buddy. I work in Olathe drive the car everyday. :)


Continue with 5W20, it's not 1967 thicker oil isn't going to do anything but increase the risk of an issue. The gaps and tolerances are designed for 5W20, you can switch to Mobil 1 or Royal Purple (I recommend) but still change at normal mileage. As for filter on paper everything can be made to be "better" then anything else but my experience Motorcraft is the way to go. IF you want to know why, but some of the popular brands and cut them open.....

[8UWITH6]

I changed the oil yesterday. Put 5W30 Motorcraft Synthetic Blend with the matching Motorcraft oil filter. No additives, 6 quarts, and it does seem quieter. I still have the very slight nuk nuk nuk (LOL) at idle in gear under the car. But the louder tapping in the morning leaving the house is considerably quieter. So we will see what happens.

I have changed every fluid in this car except the brake fluid and coolant in the past 2K miles since its 10 years old and has 30K miles on it. I just assumed that none of it was ever changed. Just trying to make it better little by little. Thanks for the replies fellas.

[tbone]

What oil were you using previously? Half synthetic flows much better at freezing temps than conventional, and full sythetic much better than half. The better it flows = less ticking at cold start and the less ticking period. It's just better oil.......

That's why it costs more. But less money down the road when your motor implodes from using the cheap stuff.

[8UWITH6]

Same oil (motorcraft) with a wix filter. I use conventional in my older vehicles. I use blend in the Marauder. I am not a huge fan of full synthetics. Call me crazy.

But again who knows how long it had been since the oil was changed when I got the car. It was only driven 3000 miles in almost 2 years according to the carfax.

[tbone]

You said your engine seems quieter. I thought it was from the syn blend. What did I miss?

[8UWITH6]

Yes, it is noticeably quieter. If you read the 1st page it explains that I changed the oil when I got the car. I also used the Lucas oil additive to help reduce "noise" and it didnt help. If anything it may have made it worse. IE- thicker. Also factor in that the car had been driven very seldom or sitting for a long time probably didnt help. Who knows. Maybe its magic :) IDK

[tbone]

Lucas helps in worn engines. Yours is not worn. These cammers need lots of lube. You made your oil too thick. Oil needs to Fllllooooowwww.
Cold starts in particular. Go with Mobil 1, Royal Purple or Amsoil.

[jwibbity]

Amsoil!!!!!!!!

[8UWITH6]

Sure, and you change the oil every 10,000 miles right? Not a fan......... sorry. Just my opinion.