Some 2017-2020 Ford F-150 trucks equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost turbo engine and built on or before Oct. 31, 2019, may exhibit a ticking/tapping or rattle type noise from the top front cover area of the engine on initial startup after a cold soak of six hours or more. The noise may last for two to five seconds.
This may be due to a worn variable cam timing (VCT) unit. Replace the VCT units using P/N HL3Z-6256-CD (intake VCT) and HL3Z-6C525-CD (exhaust).