engine noise


Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
Hello everyone. My name is Hachi.
This is a post from Japan. This is my customer's car 2006 Ford GT. Immediately after starting the engine, I feel a noise and a slight vibration coming from somewhere in the engine.
The noise stops after about 30 seconds after starting the engine.
Once the engine is warmed up, there will be no sound even if you restart it.
When I start the engine after a gap of about 2 days, the sound comes out.
Has anyone had a similar problem with a Ford GT?
If so, what was the cause? It would be helpful if you could tell me.
thank you.
 

nota4re

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Feb 15, 2006
4,318
A few guesses for you...

On cold start, the GT is going to raise it's idle speed to somewhere in the 900-1200 rpm range. I've noticed too that GT's can have an inherent vibration at these higher rpm's coupled with high (cold) oil pressure. Most likely, this is what you may be describing.

GT's may also have a slightly louder than normal clutch rollover noise... a noise which is common when the clutch pedal is all the way in but which will disappear when the clutch pedal is released.

Finally, you might check the power steering fluid level. GT's have a habit of weeping fluid out of the power steering return hose. If the level gets too low, you could have a noise or vibration coming from the power steering pump which will lessen as the fluid warms up.
 

extrap

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 16, 2020
1,958
Gainesville FL
Consider recording a short video of it and link it here.
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
A few guesses for you...

On cold start, the GT is going to raise it's idle speed to somewhere in the 900-1200 rpm range. I've noticed too that GT's can have an inherent vibration at these higher rpm's coupled with high (cold) oil pressure. Most likely, this is what you may be describing.

GT's may also have a slightly louder than normal clutch rollover noise... a noise which is common when the clutch pedal is all the way in but which will disappear when the clutch pedal is released.

Finally, you might check the power steering fluid level. GT's have a habit of weeping fluid out of the power steering return hose. If the level gets too low, you could have a noise or vibration coming from the power steering pump which will lessen as the fluid
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
I feel a little vibration in the steering wheel when the engine is cold and there is a noise when starting the engine. First I will check the power steering fluid level. Then I will report the result here. I appreciate your advice. Also, I am using a translation software. Please forgive me if the translation is in bad English.
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
Consider recording a short video of it and link it here.
Thank you. Yes that’s good idea. I’ll try take video.
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
A few guesses for you...

On cold start, the GT is going to raise it's idle speed to somewhere in the 900-1200 rpm range. I've noticed too that GT's can have an inherent vibration at these higher rpm's coupled with high (cold) oil pressure. Most likely, this is what you may be describing.

GT's may also have a slightly louder than normal clutch rollover noise... a noise which is common when the clutch pedal is all the way in but which will disappear when the clutch pedal is released.

Finally, you might check the power steering fluid level. GT's have a habit of weeping fluid out of the power steering return hose. If the level gets too low, you could have a noise or vibration coming from the power steering pump which will lessen as the fluid warms up.
I feel a little vibration in the steering wheel when the engine is cold and there is a noise when starting the engine. First I will check the power steering fluid level. Then I will report the result here. I appreciate your advice. Also, I am using a translation software. Please forgive me if the translation is in bad English.
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
A few guesses for you...

On cold start, the GT is going to raise it's idle speed to somewhere in the 900-1200 rpm range. I've noticed too that GT's can have an inherent vibration at these higher rpm's coupled with high (cold) oil pressure. Most likely, this is what you may be describing.

GT's may also have a slightly louder than normal clutch rollover noise... a noise which is common when the clutch pedal is all the way in but which will disappear when the clutch pedal is released.

Finally, you might check the power steering fluid level. GT's have a habit of weeping fluid out of the power steering return hose. If the level gets too low, you could have a noise or vibration coming from the power steering pump which will lessen as the fluid warms up.
Today I went to my workshop and first checked the oil level in the power steering reservoir of my Ford GT. There was oil in it, but it was just below the lower level when it was cold, so I added about 100cc of oil. The oil level was about halfway up the oil level gauge, so I started the engine in that state. The noise stopped. I am very happy. I am truly grateful for your kind advice.
I spent the whole day yesterday searching the internet for information on strange noises in Ford 5.4-liter engines. I found many cases of strange noises coming from the chain due to a malfunction of the chain tensioner in a 5.4L engine, although it was not a Ford GT. Since it was not a metallic sound coming from the chain, I thought it was not the chain tensioner. The Ford GT engine is a dry sump, so if the engine is not started for a while, the oil pressure will drop, and for a few tens of seconds immediately after starting the engine, the oil pressure will be insufficient and the strange noise may come from somewhere. In that case, if the engine is started repeatedly with low oil pressure, the cam and crank metal will be damaged, so I was very worried.
Now that I understand why the noise was caused by a lack of power steering oil, I can calm down and think about it. The Ford GT has an engine in the rear, and the oil line to the power steering rack goes back and forth through the car, so when you start the engine, there is a time lag until the power steering oil returns to the reservoir tank, causing the oil level in the reservoir tank to drop and making it easier for the pump to get air in. This is just my guess, but since the reservoir tank is probably a repurposed tank from another car model, the mid-engine Ford GT's tank capacity is probably too small compared to the return time lag and the rate of oil expansion due to oil temperature.
Currently, I have refilled the oil to near the upper level when the engine is cold, so I will warm up the engine sufficiently as written in the service manual to see if the power steering oil will expand and reach near the upper level. Thank you again for letting me know that the strange noise is caused by a lack of power steering oil. I am truly grateful.
 

extrap

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 16, 2020
1,958
Gainesville FL
Great! (y)
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
Thank you so much 🥰 I took a video of the engine starting up, but it turned out to be a pretty ordinary engine starting video that I don't think anyone would be interested in 😅
 
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STORMCAT

GT
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
May 25, 2006
7,587
Ft. Lauderdale
Welcome. For the record the transmission will / can make a little rattling noise while the engine is idling in neutral which is normal..
 
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drilling

GT Owner
Sep 13, 2018
399
Japanese’s pursuit of perfection always amazes me. Great work!
 
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Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
Welcome. For the record the transmission will / can make a little rattling noise while the engine is idling in neutral which is normal..
Thank you for your additional information. I will keep in mind that some noise from the transmission is normal.
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
Japanese’s pursuit of perfection always amazes me. Great work!
I'm not perfect but I appreciate your comment. Thank you 😊🙇🏻‍♂️
 
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ByeEnzo

GT
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Dec 10, 2005
2,312
Fort Worth, TX
One other thing to check next time the car is getting an oil change and belly pans are off… the oil pump pulley and belt. A worn, failing pulley can cause engine noises and clatter. If the pulley splines are wearing bad enough…oil pressure could drop. Then you get real clatter at the front of the motor from the hydraulic timing chain tensioners deflating. Ask me how I know…

 
Last edited:

nota4re

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Feb 15, 2006
4,318
One other thing to check next time the car is getting an oil change and belly pans are off… the oil pump pulley and belt. A worn, failing pulley can make a noise as the chain tensioners are hydraulic.
Huh? It is impossible to see the oil pump belt and pulley even with the pans removed. Oil pump pulley failure is not a thing and it is belt driven with a spring tensioner.
 
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PeteK

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 18, 2014
2,523
Kalama, Free part of WA State
Hachi, how many miles are on your Ford GT?
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
Hachi, how many miles are on your Ford GT?
Petek san ,
my customer’s Ford GT are 4850 miles.
 

PeteK

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 18, 2014
2,523
Kalama, Free part of WA State
Hachi san, That helps us understand context. At less than 5000 miles, there should not be any appreciable wear on any of the components (except possibly the rear tires!). I’ve been traveling, so it took me awhile to get back to this message.
 

Hachi

GT Owner
Dec 24, 2023
35
Hachi san, That helps us understand context. At less than 5000 miles, there should not be any appreciable wear on any of the components (except possibly the rear tires!). I’ve been traveling, so it took me awhile to get back to this message.
Petek san
Thank you for your reply even though you are busy. As you said, the mileage is low, so I think there is little metal wear. I am worried about the deterioration of plastic and rubber over time.
Thank you for your continued support.