As everyone can probably tell, I migrated from the 6.0 Diesel section. A few weeks ago I bought myself a 2008 F250 with a 5.4. I do have several questions:

It is a 2008 with 116,000 miles on the odometer

The guy I bought it from had replaced the engine in it. The tag on the engine indicates a build date of 4-21-06. It supposedly had 40,000 miles on it. He told me that the mechanic that installed it replaced the spark plugs and replaced one of the timing chain guides.

What model year would the engine be considered for replacement parts and trouble shooting?

I do hear, what I would describe from the old days as lifter noise. It is not a ticking, but more of a swooshing, RPM specific, that is slightly louder when the engine is cold vs. warm. RPM at idle is perfect at 640, fluctuating only about 5-10. It idles very smooth, hardly detectable.

I do not know what kind of oil was used in the truck, but the filter was after market. I changed it to 5W20 with a **** filter the day after I bought it.

The rear end is geared 3.73, and coming from a chipped diesel, this one seems sluggish. I realize this is a very heavy truck for the engine, but should it feel heavy. The "lie o meter" tells me my MPG is 9.4 driving in the city. Have not yet had a good chance to take it on the highway.

So, to summarize in trying to learn the 5.4.

What would the model year be considered

What should I check with the swooshing/lifter noise

Thank you in advance from reading this long one.

 

Looks like the engine is a 06 5.4l 3v. That truck may seem slugish, but it will still work hard. Just won't work as fast as a diesel. The lifter noise you are hearing may he a cam phaser issue but don't take only my word on that. I'm still trying to learn myself...

 

Good Morning and Thank you,

At first I thought so, but from everything I have read the Cam Phazer noise should disappear at 1,200 RPM or above, the swooshing/lifter noise may get a bit quieter or I just can't hear it as much, but it is still there.

 

I just realized that this is in the wrong forum. My apologies. Could someone move it for me. Since it is an engine related question, maybe not a problem.

 

Have you tried sea foaming the oil and in the gas tank? Might unstick the lifter.

 

Hi Fordguy,

so you think it could be sticking lifter. What do you mean by seafoaming? Would the OBD not pop a code if a lifter was sticking?

 

Well had some time to check into stuff with my trusted stethoscope. Did not hear anything what I would consider out of the ordinary on the valvecovers. I was not really look for exhaust manifold leaks. I did place the probe on top of each coil pack and heard ticking on all of them with the exception of the passenger side very back one, more on that one later, and the second from the front. Again the truck idles very smooth. On the very back coil pack mounting bolt the plastic had broken so it is loose. I pulled it out and there was no evidence of burning or leakage on the boot. So I put it back in. I will replace it this weekend.

Now, should I hear a ticking on every coil pack. As mentioned above, I heard it on all but two, but no miss or Code.

Any and all thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Hard to say what it is. I'd try something inexpensive like seafoam first. It is a productfrom the 60's or sometime. Don't really know. All I can say is its good stuff. Put half of the can in your oil and the other half in your gas tank. Read the instructions. I can't remember if you need to change the oil shortly after or not. It has worked unsticking lifters for me before.

 

When I had a sticking lifter, it was a LOUD ticking

 

I don't believe you would get a codeor check engine light from a sticking lifter.

 

My engine sounds just like the one in the video of the post above mine.

 

I don't know what it is, but I watched that video and I can tell you that is excessive chatter. I got a 2004 5.4 with 99,000 miles and it has the familiar tick, but that is all, no chatter like that. Mine does not not sound like the one in the video. So if yours sounds like that then yes it is excessively noisy.

 

I haveheard sticking lifters in other engines before and it was a bot louder than the videos. But it still could be something gummed up. I wish I knew what it is but I dont. Like I say, try some inexpensive things first, then maybe take it to the dealer.

 

Also, you may want to try a oil system flush. Just read the instructions and don't run the engine too long with that stuff in the oil. It is ment to liquify all the sludge that may be slowing your lifters down.

 

^^^ I might just try that with mine (the guy with the videos in the other post). Problem is I just did an oil change last night..


edit:

now that I think about it maybe that isn't such a bad thing. Clean oil + engine flush (sea foam?) and new filter may be a good thing instead of waiting until the oil gets dirty