I have noticed in the last month that when i start my truck from cold, right after it turns over, i hear a one second noise that sounds like a light grind or something. It is similar to when there is a leaf stuck in the air conditioning fan and it makes a sound for a second until the leaf falls out.

I have noticed no other problems or issues at all. my check engine light came on 2 weeks ago but it was because of an aftermarket gas cap, no more problems there.

I went offroading but i didnt hit or scrape anything, and nothing got in the engine bay except for dust.

 

nobody has any idea what this could be? sounds like its coming from the bottom area of engine. is it possible the starter is going out or anything like that?

 

sounds like a timing chain issue to me....uh oh... But ti could be a bad bearing in the waterpump or something

 

Sounds like timing chains to me. Cam chain tensioner is operated by oil pressure.

 

Is the timing chain issue anything I have to worry about or is it just an annoyance? I have 160k miles on truck I can live w it if it wont cause problems

 

Mine has done it since I bought it with 40k on it. Now at 110k

 

i had the gf start the truck while i listened to the motor on a cold startup and it did it again, but it sounds like its coming from the valvetrain, maybe poor oil circulation? dunno why it would start doing it now tho.....i recently had an oil change, maybe i need thicker oil?

i also think maybe valve noise because i dont hear any noises while driving thru the rpm band and it seems most people hear noises between 2-3k rpm, i get none of that, runs like a champ.

i had a turbo 300zx and it had a lifter tick, i used the marvel mystery oil with every oil change and i never seemed to hear it again, would that help in this situation?

 

Start it while watching the oil PSI gauge. As soon as the needle centers, does the noise stop?

 

it literally lasts less than a second. i looked at my oil change reciept and paper work and i think i found the problem. i was running full synthetic 10w 30 and this time the dumbasses put in 5w 30 so i have a feeling its valve chatter from thin oil. im gonna get a new oil change sometime soon n see if this will solve the problem, its the only thing different about my truck in the last few months

 

Seeing how your truck takes 5w30, I don't really think that's the issue.

 

well its been about 5 days since i changed the oil back to 10w 30 and im happy to report that the sound has completely disappeared. i got 160k miles on the motor so im sure its not a big issue, just normal wear and tear....hope this helps someone save on an expensive repair

 

That noise is the timing chain. Both the 4.0 SOHCs I have owned have made the same noise. Nothing really to worry about. Mine mainly does it after it sits at least overnight and lasts just a fraction of a second on startup.

 

My immediate guess is starter - If the starter begins to wear, and you hold the key too long it will make that sound. At least thats what my ex did, she would hold the starter for 4-5 seconds after the engine started, and she went through 11 starters when i dated her (2 years)

 

I'm actually having this same noise when I do cold start ups. It seems to be getting worse as it gets colder. and i must say it may have started when i got an oil change not too long ago. do you think it's because they possibly used different oil?

 

Mine does the same. Always has, as with others its probably just the timing chain tensioners and "dry" start up. Overnight the oil will settle and it has to be sucked back up into the valves and timing chain area. This noise also occurs after I change the oil as well. The oil just needs to be re-circulated to the top of the engine again.

 

Well i'd rather it not make that terrible noise at all. i'm gonna do an oil change and use better oil and have my timing chain checked out. I'll post back if it works out

 

I understand man. I switched to Motorcraft Synthetic Blend and it has quietened some of the valve train noise I used to have.

 

I have a 2011 Ranger with a 4.0 L engine with approximately 8,000 miles on it and just recently it started making a strange grating like sound for just maybe a second around 7-8 seconds only after a cold start. I've been using a good synthetic oil. The 2005 Ranger I had with the same sized engine which had maybe around 50,000 miles on it didn't do it.

I would like to find out what is really going on. One problem is that the strange sound lasts such a short time.