Help with Son's Expedition

[GreyOwl]

My son called me last night concerned about his 97 Expedition w/ 5.4 engine & 180K miles. He had all the fluids changed a couple of days ago and yesterday one of the lifters started clattering after it warmed up good, (he also lives in Las Vegas).
He did some checking and found out they used 5w30 instead of the 10w30 he has been using the past couple of years. It didn't clatter later after it cooled off but after running it for a while it started clattering again. Seems to be only one lifter making the noise. I told him to try a bottle of additive just to see if it quiets down but haven't heard back yet.
Question is should he have them change the oil again to what he has been using or just run an additive if it works.
Thanks for any ideas,
Charles

 

[mikeceli]

w/ 180,000 MILES, the engine probably does better w/ 10w-30 Vs. 5w-30. Although, Ford, I think specifies 5W, regardles of mileage (read the owners manual).

I would add a bottle of STP Oil Treatment, which will raise the viscosity approx. 1 point (5W becomes 10W). See what happens.

If this does not correct the noise, try going back to 10W-30. If the noise STILL persists, after a 50 miles. Add a bottle of Rislone Oil Supplement, which works well on dirty /clicking hydraulic lifters. Give IT about a thousand miles, to work.


OF COURSE, IF THE NOISE IS BAD/LOUD, you probably don't want to wait a thousand miles.

 

[White04mach]

Could be the hydraulic cam chain tensioners going bad and what you are hearing is the chain slapping the front cover. With 180k on the motor it's probably due. My uncle has about 175k on his 97 and they are shot.

 

[brownbagg]

the oil has nothing to do with the chatter except its a little thinner, so the chatter was there before the oil change. something worn out. thicker oil not going fix the problem, it might mask the problem but the thinner oil did not hurt the vehicle.

 

[treasureseeker]

You are describing a low oil pressure problem. Your oil pressure goes down after an engine gets hot and the thinner oil will also give you slightly lower oil pressure.