4.6L (1996-2004 Modular) Mustang Technical discussions on 1996-2004 4.6 Liter Modular Motors (2V and 4V) within.

knocking on cold start

Old Aug 15, 2007 | 01:12 PM
  #1  
sevilla's Avatar
sevilla
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 83
Default knocking on cold start

I noticed when i start my car, i hear a little knocking but when the motor its getting warm, the knocking gone.
What could it be? 2002 GT
Old Aug 15, 2007 | 01:33 PM
  #2  
yelw02GT's Avatar
yelw02GT
3rd Gear Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 720
From: Connecticut
Default RE: knocking on cold start

i have something like that, i think its normal cus the oil isnt warm and moving around everywhere yet i use 5w30 in mine
Old Aug 15, 2007 | 02:41 PM
  #3  
Jennings Racing's Avatar
Jennings Racing
2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 466
From: Red Bluff,CA
Default RE: knocking on cold start

Your car is going to blow,I'll buy it from you for a $1 LOL
Old Aug 15, 2007 | 02:52 PM
  #4  
Dan04COBRA's Avatar
Dan04COBRA
6th Gear Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 14,917
Default RE: knocking on cold start

There are a few things that it could be...

One would be piston slap, this usually occurs upon initial start up after it sits for a few hours & generally goes away in a matter of a few seconds or in some cases until the engine is warm. If you aren't experiencing any noise when the engine is warm, I would likely blame piston slap. Most times it never becomes an issue & some times it can prove to be catastrophic. I would pinch pennies just to be safe.
Old Aug 15, 2007 | 03:30 PM
  #5  
clarehills's Avatar
clarehills
2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 240
From: California
Default RE: knocking on cold start

I have what sounds like exactly the same thing, I have been trying to capture a sound clip of it but whenever I have the camera with me it doesn't do it. It doesnt seem to make a difference how long the car sits for - what causes the pistons to get out of shape like that anyway?
Old Aug 15, 2007 | 09:26 PM
  #6  
cheddar's Avatar
cheddar
1st Gear Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 89
From:
Default RE: knocking on cold start

It sounds like piston slap which could of been caused by a few things like timing out or assortment or other thing but from the sounds of it i would blame piston slap as the reason like dan said
Old Aug 15, 2007 | 11:28 PM
  #7  
MrChubs1's Avatar
MrChubs1
3rd Gear Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 717
From:
Default RE: knocking on cold start

Are you using a Fram oil filter by chance?

If so, very common on some engines. Not sure about the 4.6.
Old Aug 16, 2007 | 05:32 AM
  #8  
contentsunderpressur's Avatar
contentsunderpressur
5th Gear Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,080
From: Bay Minette Alabama
Default RE: knocking on cold start

+1 for piston slap. If you get a quick rattle when you first start it up then it would be main bearings. I've been through that. When it's cold and you first start the car it'll rattle really fast for a couple of seconds then completely clear up. After a few months of this the rattle will take longer and longer to go away under cold startup until it's knocking all the time.
Old Aug 16, 2007 | 01:51 PM
  #9  
clarehills's Avatar
clarehills
2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 240
From: California
Default RE: knocking on cold start

But what if it does not knock on every cold start up - I would say it only knocks during start up about 30% of the time - could it still be piston slap or main bearings?
Also, I don't use a fram filter - heard they were crap.
Thanks
Old Aug 16, 2007 | 04:43 PM
  #10  
paynecasey69's Avatar
paynecasey69
1st Gear Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 77
Default RE: knocking on cold start

Did you buy it used? Previous owner could have slaped forged internals in it. And forged pistons slap or tick till they warm and expand to the walls better. Just a guess.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:39 PM.