I have a 04 f150 supercab with 5.4 . Once it warms up i get a tick or knock. When bringing the idle up the the tick gets faster until idle evens out. This is driving me crazy anyone know what this could be.
The truck starts runs and idles great.. but the noise is terrible.. almost sounds like a diesel

 

It could be that cam phaser noise that the 04 and 05 5.4's are famous for.

 

Is the 5.4 a 3V OR 2V. the 3V cam phasers are know for the noise. they can be replaced but its only a matter of time before they start up again. My 5.4 3V has been making the noise for 80,000 miles and I just turn the stereo up.

 

My 2006 5.4 3V has started making a loud tapping noise, coming from the rear passenger side of the engine. Fuel economy has dropped drastically (9 mpg), and the transmission feels like it is slipping. Took the truck to the dealership, and they want $950 to tear the bottom of the engine apart to diagnose the issue. I am wondering if this is caused by the cam phasers? Truck has 89,000 miles on it. I use Motorcraft oil filters, and use Mobil-1 5W20 fully synthetic motor oil. I tried the Seafoam 3 weeks ago, did any oil change with cheap oil, drove the truck for 2 weeks, then changed the oil again using the good stuff. All to no prevail.

 

i have a 04 f150 with 88k miles...when i first bought it was making the ticking noise but very light 3yrs ago..but now it sounds like diesel and is driving me nuts...i took it to a mechanic and they told me it could be the rocker arms or the timing chain..i read on here ealier that someone had changed the rocker arms,push rods, and lifter and that had resolved the issue...but now im wondering it that could be the issue also??

 

also to mention yesterday i raced a chey truck and i noticed when i had passed 120 and still giving it gas my check engine light came on i let off the gas and let it coast back down to 80 and the check engine light went off..my truck still runs great but that damn noise it frustrating as hell

 

My 04 has sounded like a deisel when idling since new, 87k later it sounds exactly the same, has run the same, and has been perfectly reliable..Why is everyone so concerned? They all sound like that!

I have always used a Ford Filter and have run Mobil 1.

IMO Quit worrying about a little noise at idle...and use the truck.

 

Okay, I took the passenger side valve cover off. Just a note, it can be done without disconnecting the A/C lines. I see a rocker arm that is dark brown in color, all the others are gold. I feel it and it is loose. Using my fingers I can simply pull it out. The roller is locked up and pushed down into the rocker itself. Problem of tapping solved!

Now, I have a new question. The rockers are in all different directions! What the hell? I am the first person to remove this valve cover since it was installed at the factory. Is the way it is supposed to be?

 

thats what i think is the problem with mine but i have to do something about it i noticed today just crusing at 65 my check engine came on again when the rpms were at 1800 i noticed it shakes right at that rpm when i rev it up in the driveway...anyone else have this problem??

 

im going to change out the timing belts,tensioners, the guides and what not this wknd i'll let you guys know if this cures it...im hoping it does cause then the only thing left would be the lifter's or rocker arms...

 

I found new rocker arms for $8.15. Should be here soon. But my question now is what could have caused this? If cam-phaser is bad, and it threw off the timing enough, I wondering if the valve hit the piston or something. I sure miss my Nissan Titan!

 

Sounds normal to me.Not all of the valves open at the same time.

 

........X2

 

My 04 5.4 F-150 has done that since new. Now have 150,000 miles on it. Still doing it but runs great. Dealership says thats normal.

 

I had this same exact problem and it was a couple of my lifters that had broke. Don't let it go on for too long or you will cause more problems.