You really don’t know the noise is piston slap. You're correct, I don't know for sure what it is. But from a little online research and listening to several videos showing what piston slap sounds like, I feel it is somewhat likely that is what I have. It ONLY does it when it's cold outside and has been sitting several hours and then it completely goes away once the engine has warmed up (maybe 2 or 3 miles of driving). It NEVER make this sound at all if it is warm outside (say 60 degrees and above).
What viscosity oil have you been using? Pennzoil 5W30 from day ONE (and I purchased it new)
What oil filter? Motorcraft FL-820-S from day one also
Oil level proper? Between dots? Top dot? Bottom dot? When I change the oil, I fill it to the top dot. It has never used oil between changes ……...……. that's not to say the oil level hasn't dropped a little when I go to replace the oil, but the level hasn't dropped but just a very, very small amount; basically negligible! ON the flip side, this vehicle has never gone over 4000 miles between oil changes either.
