Piston Slap?
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Piston Slap?
Ok, long story short.....
I have a '00 Expedition XLT that one day decided to sound like a diesel when idling and excelerating. Checked oil, down three quarts (BTW, had 36,800 on it at the time, darn, just out of warranty!). Didn't burn oil or even drip a drop. Took it to the dealer, said I needed to spend $4100 on a new engine. Told them they were nuts! This, BTW, is a leased vehicle that goes back in July!
After going back and forth with the dealership on who was gonna eat the cost of that and having to prove to them that I was not neglectful on maintenence, AND after they had my vehicle for three weeks, they came to the conclution that it was normal "piston slap". They also said that they have new vehicles that sound like mine. Right. After I got it back the sound was not as noticable, but each time I get my oil changed I'm usually down a quart or so. I have 45K on the truck now. Parked it and bought a van.
Does this sound like a dealer trying to get out from it's responsibility or what?
Wrote a love note to Ford about it, no response. Great.
BTW, this WAS my third new vehicle purchase in a row from Ford and this dealership. It will be my last.
Lumpy
I have a '00 Expedition XLT that one day decided to sound like a diesel when idling and excelerating. Checked oil, down three quarts (BTW, had 36,800 on it at the time, darn, just out of warranty!). Didn't burn oil or even drip a drop. Took it to the dealer, said I needed to spend $4100 on a new engine. Told them they were nuts! This, BTW, is a leased vehicle that goes back in July!
After going back and forth with the dealership on who was gonna eat the cost of that and having to prove to them that I was not neglectful on maintenence, AND after they had my vehicle for three weeks, they came to the conclution that it was normal "piston slap". They also said that they have new vehicles that sound like mine. Right. After I got it back the sound was not as noticable, but each time I get my oil changed I'm usually down a quart or so. I have 45K on the truck now. Parked it and bought a van.
Does this sound like a dealer trying to get out from it's responsibility or what?
Wrote a love note to Ford about it, no response. Great.
BTW, this WAS my third new vehicle purchase in a row from Ford and this dealership. It will be my last.
Lumpy
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Annapolis, Maryland
Piston Slap?
I remember hearing that these engines are prone to piston slap because of the short piston skirts. I have also been told of dealers telling people that it's perfectly normal, and that the engine normally consumes oil.
Have you thought about putting a heavier weight oil in there to keep it quiet?
XXL
Have you thought about putting a heavier weight oil in there to keep it quiet?
XXL
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Piston Slap?
The dealership may have done that and that's why it was far more quite when I got it back. IE, when the problem first developed, it was a pronounced noise you could hear inside the vehicle with the windows rolled up, and when a window was down, you could really hear the clacking. It may be fine, I guess I don't know? I am just suspicious when at first I'm told the engine is bad (No real reason given as to why, they just wanted a few hundred dollars to pull the pan and covers to tell me), then the "never mind", it's fine. It just developed all of the sudden and the loss of oil was alarming. For warranty coverage they wanted proof of oil changes, on a leased vehicle I don't save reciepts since I'm turning it in and not reselling it. They pulled the pan to see if there was sludge (wanted me to pay for that too). If they found any, it was their proof that I didn't maintain the oil changes. They pulled, no sludge, they lost their own bet. So then it was diagnosed as "normal". Considering the cost of these vehicles, I expected a little more than what I got.
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Piston Slap?
I also have a "little" piston slap usually when the engine is cold. The dealer told me that this was quite the norm on the 5.4.
I've been running synthetic oil for the past 100,000 km ( 60,000 mi ) and have not noticed the sound getting any worse. Don't know whether the synthetic has anything to do with it. Currently I have 200,000 km on my 1997.
Dave
I've been running synthetic oil for the past 100,000 km ( 60,000 mi ) and have not noticed the sound getting any worse. Don't know whether the synthetic has anything to do with it. Currently I have 200,000 km on my 1997.
Dave
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Piston Slap?
I would say far more noticable when cold, however the sound can be heard whether the engine is cold or not.
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Piston Slap?
I know In My Cherokee.. the 4.0 is extremely Noisy (93) To the point I thought it was going to explode, that was at 53,000, now with 180,000 I dont seem to worry about it as much.. I have done no work to it. I DID however change to Mobile 1 oil, which brought operating temperature down about 4 degrees and really quited it down. Iam unfamiliar with the 5.4 and the Piston Slap, as my expy has the 4.6.. But I know the cherokees were notorious for it, and didnt correct it until many years later.. Yes the sound was annoying "dieseling" ..but it remained very reliable . I sold it to my neighbor.. and still no problems.
Hope Yours holds up.
Hope Yours holds up.
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Piston Slap?
Kinda Curios as to where a mechanic gets off suggesting a new engine for a nock?? So many things it could be.. from simple rings, to mains, to the piston slap you mention. Even Predetonation from bad gas. Did he even do a compression or leakdown test?
Even If you lost a cylinder, your still looking at a new piston, rings, and hone.. possibly a bore depending on damage. should come nowhere NEAR 4600 dollars!
Even If you lost a cylinder, your still looking at a new piston, rings, and hone.. possibly a bore depending on damage. should come nowhere NEAR 4600 dollars!
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Durham, NC
Piston Slap?
Originally posted by ktmguy70
I know In My Cherokee.. the 4.0 is extremely Noisy (93) To the point I thought it was going to explode, that was at 53,000, now with 180,000 I dont seem to worry about it as much.. I have done no work to it. I DID however change to Mobile 1 oil, which brought operating temperature down about 4 degrees and really quited it down. Iam unfamiliar with the 5.4 and the Piston Slap, as my expy has the 4.6.. But I know the cherokees were notorious for it, and didnt correct it until many years later.. Yes the sound was annoying "dieseling" ..but it remained very reliable . I sold it to my neighbor.. and still no problems.
Hope Yours holds up.
I know In My Cherokee.. the 4.0 is extremely Noisy (93) To the point I thought it was going to explode, that was at 53,000, now with 180,000 I dont seem to worry about it as much.. I have done no work to it. I DID however change to Mobile 1 oil, which brought operating temperature down about 4 degrees and really quited it down. Iam unfamiliar with the 5.4 and the Piston Slap, as my expy has the 4.6.. But I know the cherokees were notorious for it, and didnt correct it until many years later.. Yes the sound was annoying "dieseling" ..but it remained very reliable . I sold it to my neighbor.. and still no problems.
Hope Yours holds up.
the operating temp is controlled by the thermostat, if radiator
and everything else is working correctly...
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Piston Slap?
On the Older Cherokees, during any extended off-roading which I did alot of ( mine was mildy built, not extensive) The temp would start to creep past the 210 mark.. Cherokees of that era up until the mid 90s were notorious for it, fact we have a fleet where I work, and during drill exploration if out for very long periods they all have creeped up over 210.. Mine had 180 degree thermostat in it. WV state trropers have whats called an "extended idle switch" to combat the problem, which all it does is turn on the elctronic fan intead of waiting for the temps to do it. Cherokees run both a clutch fan and electric fan. I ended up wiring a switch to mine also.. ANYWHOOO.. back to the question, yes I did notice it running cooler during offroad excursions, about 4 degrees cooler, but still above thermostat temp.
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Piston Slap?
As to the $4600 engine diag, believe it or not they didn't do any troubleshooting on it. They wanted to charge me labor to diag it. Since it was just over warranty, I refused to pay it. Technically, I suppose that's my responsibility, however a bum engine at 36,800 miles (or so they said), irked me and I felt it was Fords problem to figure out what was wrong with it. The whole experience was tiring to say the least. If it's true that the 5.4 is know for the clattering and oil loss, then fine, I can live with that. However, their first reponse to looking at the truck was that it needed a new engine. So, flags went up and I always have that unsettling fear that the engine will fry as I'm tooling down the highway......
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Piston Slap?
When it was all said and done, I questioned the service manager as to why the radical swing from a new engine to within "normal" specs. His response wasn't too clear, however a misdiagnosis leaked into conversation somewhere. The dealership had their district service guru come out and look at it, and boy, that's all he did. Didn't test a darn thing, just listened to it. He then diagnosed it as normal. So, this is why my sceptisism is high. It seems to me the dealership didn't want to fix anything, just get out having to occur costs. But now, I am consumer aware and the dealership won't be getting my business when I return the Expy in July. BTW, before the Expy I had a '98 F-150. It was a fantasic vehicle and I wish I would have kept it!
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Piston Slap?
Well this is my first expy.. Although not much problems.. Am wondering now If I made a wise choice after reading these forums, havent heard much good about them, only problems!! I chose it Because I couldnt afford the suburban, and the tahoe was a bit to small.. I am not brand loyal in any way, I drive what works.. And If I receive too many "small" problems with this, then its down the road and I will change brands, because after reading these forums, its seems nothing ford does FIXES the problems, Only PATCHES.. as of right now though, i am very happy with the vehicle!