To those of you with ticking 5.4L motors
#196
09-14-2012, 08:10 PM
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Jonathan
Can't comment on intake but had a few thoughts. Are you sure she's not getting fuel? Seems could be not getting a good spark too. I assume a full tune up includes new plugs. Sounds like you have eliminated all the easy stuff. Are you running motorcraft plugs? Have you tried replacing the plug on #7 to eliminate the chance that you have a defective part? Have you closely checked coil or injector wire harness for any damage, another member did an epic search only to find a worn harness on #5 to be the culprit. Two long shot ideas 1) use some dielectric grease on plug, and last thought probably makes no difference but 2)did you reset ECU yet?
Shawn
Can't comment on intake but had a few thoughts. Are you sure she's not getting fuel? Seems could be not getting a good spark too. I assume a full tune up includes new plugs. Sounds like you have eliminated all the easy stuff. Are you running motorcraft plugs? Have you tried replacing the plug on #7 to eliminate the chance that you have a defective part? Have you closely checked coil or injector wire harness for any damage, another member did an epic search only to find a worn harness on #5 to be the culprit. Two long shot ideas 1) use some dielectric grease on plug, and last thought probably makes no difference but 2)did you reset ECU yet?
Shawn
#197
09-14-2012, 08:39 PM
What kind of spark plugs ? Anything but Motorcraft has been known to cause this problem ( not always ). Probably should verify that the injector is actual working. If not check the harness.
Outside chance there is a bad lash adjuster, but it's funny it started after a tune up.
Slight chance, regardless of the plug brand, that #7 plug is bad or cracked.
Dave
Outside chance there is a bad lash adjuster, but it's funny it started after a tune up.
Slight chance, regardless of the plug brand, that #7 plug is bad or cracked.
Dave
#198
10-10-2012, 09:45 PM
no sir
Im rockin a 5.4 in my 97 and it has 310,000 miles. It ticks slightly, almost like a pin hole exhaust leak after it's warmed up, and when its really cold it has an obvious lifter type tick until it warms, but it never has been loud and I dont know if i'd be comfortable running with that kinda noise too long. Probably is a lifter or valve lash, maybe just check valve to cam clearances and adjust accordingly before you end up with irreparable flat spots.
#199
11-26-2012, 12:32 PM
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My 2004 5.4 started ticking from the right valve train a few thousand miles ago, loud enough to sound like an exhaust leak, but it was definitely coming from the valve train. Local mechanic wasn't willing to tear into it, so went to Ford. They confirmed that it's valve or lifter noise and called it 'not unreasonable' for a 5.4 with 60K miles on it. Wow, so sounding like a clapped out school bus is 'normal' after 60K. No wonder Ford is tanking in the marketplace...
Anyway, service manager said not to fix it now, because the 5.4s they worked on in the past for this were a mixed bag. Sometimes, replacing lifters fixed it, sometimes it also required valves, and one never did stop ticking until they replaced the whole motor. He said those engines are notoriously persnickety, and to just keep driving it until the noise becomes too annoying, then think about tearing into it.
I know from searching here that lots of folks have dealt with ticking 5.4s. Anyone just keep driving theirs with the tick? I'm wondering how long before I'm looking at an expensive repair...
Anyway, service manager said not to fix it now, because the 5.4s they worked on in the past for this were a mixed bag. Sometimes, replacing lifters fixed it, sometimes it also required valves, and one never did stop ticking until they replaced the whole motor. He said those engines are notoriously persnickety, and to just keep driving it until the noise becomes too annoying, then think about tearing into it.
I know from searching here that lots of folks have dealt with ticking 5.4s. Anyone just keep driving theirs with the tick? I'm wondering how long before I'm looking at an expensive repair...
Where is Ford "tanking" in the marketplace?
#200
11-26-2012, 12:58 PM
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Switching to Diesel Oil will NOT gum up your engine at all. I ran a 3900 Manitowoc for over 10 years and ran exclusively 15W40 Valvoline S3 Diesel oil in it, and that thing was spotless inside after 5,000 hours. I ran the same oil in my old 79 F150 with the 300 Six and never had the lifter noise that everyone else seemed to have with those. Great oil, and I am going to use it in my 07 with the ticking 5.4 in it now that I have this information. I don't know why I didn't think of it myself. Thanks for that info. BTW, these 5.4 motors are a joke IMO. Way too many issues compared to GM and Dodge. And I am a die hard and really hard headed Ford man to the bone. But you got to admit these things have too many issues to live up to the Ford tough name.
#201
12-08-2012, 11:12 PM
Hello, just wanted to jump in on this topic and thank the members who mentioned about the loose spark plug causing the ticking noise. I've had this ticking noise for about a 1000 miles now once the truck reaches operating temp and was sure it was something internal. After reading about the loose spark plug, I took the stethoscope to each of my COP's and listened for the ticking. I changed my plugs @ 100k miles so I hoped I just didn't torque one down enough. After checking them all, #8 definitely had a noticeable tick. I pulled the COP and sure enough, the plug was loose! I pulled the plug, double checked the seating, reinstalled it, and NO MORE TICKING!
Thanks to everyone for their input on this forum, BTW I pulled all 8 plugs w/o busting them, thanks to the advise here.
Thanks to everyone for their input on this forum, BTW I pulled all 8 plugs w/o busting them, thanks to the advise here.
#202
12-27-2012, 05:54 PM
Tap is not just for dancing!
I have a tapping noise also on the passenger side of my 04 FX4 w/5.4. I have been told it is the cam phasers, the rocker arms, the exhaust, and anyone else that had an opinion has voiced it. It sure sounds like a lifter tapping to me and it does not do it all the time. I have noticed that the longer it runs and the warmer it gets the tapping stays.
I run Mobil 1, 5w20 in it and change it about every 6 months since I only drive 3 miles round trip from home to work and back.
I spoke to one mechanic that told me I should do a cam phaser lockout. The mechanic went on to say the engine would run so much more quiet and he would reprogram it to where I wouldn't lose any top end power.
When I mentioned this to a tech guy from Troyer performance he advised against it and said to just replace the cam phasers. I forgot to mention I have 104,000 miles on the truck.
I would be interested in any input from some of you gentlemen as to your opinions.
Thank you.
I run Mobil 1, 5w20 in it and change it about every 6 months since I only drive 3 miles round trip from home to work and back.
I spoke to one mechanic that told me I should do a cam phaser lockout. The mechanic went on to say the engine would run so much more quiet and he would reprogram it to where I wouldn't lose any top end power.
When I mentioned this to a tech guy from Troyer performance he advised against it and said to just replace the cam phasers. I forgot to mention I have 104,000 miles on the truck.
I would be interested in any input from some of you gentlemen as to your opinions.
Thank you.
#203
12-27-2012, 07:30 PM
jmichaels046
A majority of the time, the ticking is cam phaser/tension adjuster related. Both are at the front of the head. However,, a $10.00 stethoscope could confirm this, or point the "ear" at a bad lash adjuster or cam follower. They also produce a very similar "tick", and from feedback I've gotten, it's usually either #2 or #3 cylinder. The determiner is the location on the head to isolate valve train or cam phaser issues.
Other possible causes are the laminated steel exhaust manifold gasket leaking between the plies, pin hole leaks in the exhaust manifold itself, or as mentioned above, a loose plug.
Dave
A majority of the time, the ticking is cam phaser/tension adjuster related. Both are at the front of the head. However,, a $10.00 stethoscope could confirm this, or point the "ear" at a bad lash adjuster or cam follower. They also produce a very similar "tick", and from feedback I've gotten, it's usually either #2 or #3 cylinder. The determiner is the location on the head to isolate valve train or cam phaser issues.
Other possible causes are the laminated steel exhaust manifold gasket leaking between the plies, pin hole leaks in the exhaust manifold itself, or as mentioned above, a loose plug.
Dave
#204
05-06-2013, 02:30 PM
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#205
05-07-2013, 04:36 PM
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I have been following this problem for a while now, and I would like to share what success I have had. I used a private place that tunes cars or trucks, and they changed the computer (which Ford can't do) We turned up the idle when it's hot at operating temperature and in gear (D), it must be turned up and over 625 rpm this solves the engine shaking (the engine does this to try and save it's self by pumping more oil where it's needed, the ECM current idle is 500 rpm), but also turn up the idle to 600 rpm when it's in park. The shaking only happens during warm weather and/or pulling a trailer. The oil galleries aren't large enough for this size of engine, and the oil pump isn't strong enough to support this engine. Also run the 5w30 instead of the 5w20. This has solved 3 of my shaking/ticking 5.4 engines, 2004, 2006, and 2007. Good luck!
#207
05-08-2013, 09:53 AM
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i feel Ford should have left the Mod motor in the Crown Vic and just stayed with the 302 and 351 motors and put a better EFI system on them in 99 when the Super Duties came out. After 11 years Ford finally wised up and dumped the mod motors and brought back the 302 and the new big boy 6.2...... Gm had the 350 motor for what over fifty years and they still offer it in different displacements throughout their truck line
#208
05-08-2013, 09:57 AM
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#209
05-19-2013, 11:25 PM
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i feel Ford should have left the Mod motor in the Crown Vic and just stayed with the 302 and 351 motors and put a better EFI system on them in 99 when the Super Duties came out. After 11 years Ford finally wised up and dumped the mod motors and brought back the 302 and the new big boy 6.2...... Gm had the 350 motor for what over fifty years and they still offer it in different displacements throughout their truck line
I now have a 05 F-150 with the 5.4L an I too have "tick" sound. Bought the truck with 66,000. It now has 88,000 sound doesn't bother me to much. I too have noticed a shake at idle when warm. I also recently had a check engine diagnosed as a lean condition turned out it was a oxygen sensor. Runs great since sensor replaced and despite the "tick". Still lights them tires up.
#210
05-21-2013, 10:33 PM
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