2018 expedition making tapping noise

[johnrog4]

My 2018 expedition has been making a very noticeable tapping sound on a warm engine restart. It only lasts for about 10 to 15 seconds after startup. The engine has a slightly higher rpm idle (usually just above 1000 rpm) right after you start it and then comes back down under 1000 rpm 10 to 15 seconds later. Coincidently, that’s when the tapping sound goes away as well so I’m not sure if the tapping sound is related to the idle some how. Like I stated earlier , this sound only happens when the vehicle is still warm. I have never heard it on a cold start. I had the phasers replaced already and it’s a completely different sound than the sound the phases made on startup so I know it’s not a phaser issue. It’s also not the turbo waste gate rattle on startup. It sounds like it’s coming from the front of the engine though but it’s kind of hard to pin point since the sound doesn’t last very long. The sound isn’t always the same rhythm either. Sometimes it quicker and other time it’s slower. I thought maybe a lifter tick but I thought a lifter tick would be more of a consistent sound and not go away after a few seconds. The vehicle seems to run just fine though so I’m hesitant to tear into the engine over an annoying sound. Any thoughts or troubleshooting ideas?

 

[Keeter1911]

My 2018 Expedition does the same thing and I have had the cam paser sensors replaced. I will be following this thread.

 

[johnrog4]

Did replacing the senior fix the issue?

 

[BMW2FORD]

I had this same problem. It was a distinct metallic tap from the top front of the engine on bank 1 pass side only on a hot restart just after the cam phasers were replaced with the updated parts by the dealer. If I put my foot to the floor and cranked the engine longer using the clear flood mode, the noise would not happen and it never did it on a cold start. Eventually after about 5 minutes of driving, it would go away but it was pretty bad. When it did make the noise, I used a long screwdriver and went around the valve cover and heard it best at the VVT solenoids. Long story short after 5 more dealer visits, they replaced the phasers again and it did not fix it, I went to another dealer. The Foreman met with me and I explained what had been done and he started it warm and heard it. He immediately knew it was one of the 4x VCT solenoids for the phasers and replaced all 4x and the engine is so quite now at idle overall it’s amazing.

 

[johnrog4]

BMW2FORD, Thanks for info. Yours lasted five minutes? Mine only lasted a few seconds and that’s why it is so hard to pin point. Did any codes pop up with yours? Mine hasn’t but of course it never did with the cam phasers either. I kind of had a feeling that it could be the VCT solenoids but I have spent lots of time trying to research symptoms of a bad VCT solenoid and what I was hearing was never a symptom.

 

[BMW2FORD]

No codes at all which I thought was strange. Try placing a long screwdriver or mechanics stethoscope on the VCT solenoids while it does it and see if it sounds distinct to that area. That’s what helped me tune into it. The clear flood mode allowing oil pressure to build also helped isolate it to something in the oiling system but for sure it would last about 5 minutes but also some times half a minute.