>I've never heard anyone attribute piston
>slap to a 5.4L and
>you've had four of them?
>
>
I've heard of a bunch of 5.4 owners with piston slap problem. It basicly occurs upon cold start up and sounds like a diesel as far as a taping sound alot like a spray paint can sounds when you shake it. It only last up to a minute or so. As soon as the engine warms up and parts expand, it stops.

I'm now waiting to hear from the dealer (has a call into Ford) as to what they are going to do now. The truck has only 16,000 miles on it.

I've had three different engines so far and waiting for I guess the fourth.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 18-Aug-00 AT 02:13 PM (EST)[/font][p]I think I have piston slap. I think the neighbor's municipal service truck has piston slap.
I can't let them get their paws on my engine. It would never be the same.

8-98 build date.

 

>>I've never heard anyone attribute piston
>>slap to a 5.4L and
>>you've had four of them?
>>
>>
> I've heard of a
>bunch of 5.4 owners with
>piston slap problem. It basicly
>occurs upon cold start up
>and sounds like a diesel
>as far as a taping
>sound alot like a spray
>paint can sounds when you
>shake it. It only last
>up to a minute or
>so. As soon as the
>engine warms up and parts
>expand, it stops.
>
> I'm now waiting to hear
>from the dealer (has a
>call into Ford) as to
>what they are going to
>do now. The truck has
>only 16,000 miles on it.
>
>
> I've had three different engines
>so far and waiting for
>I guess the fourth.

Your description is interesting. FWIW, these symptoms are identical to the symptoms exhibited by the 4.0L SOHC first rolled out in '97. It is universally accepted that the "diesel sound at cold startup" can be attributed to a poorly designed timing chain tensioner.

I'm still interested in hearing when the various engines were manufactured, if you know. I know that improvements to the tensioner on the 4.0L have not solved the problem.

Bob
Mulepick(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
2000 F-250 4x4

 

>>>
>> I've heard of a
>>bunch of 5.4 owners with
>>piston slap problem. It basicly
>>occurs upon cold start up
>>and sounds like a diesel
>>as far as a taping
>>sound alot like a spray
>>paint can sounds when you
>>shake it. It only last
>>up to a minute or
>>so. As soon as the
>>engine warms up and parts
>>expand, it stops.
>>
>>
>Your description is interesting. FWIW,
>these symptoms are identical to
>the symptoms exhibited by the
>4.0L SOHC first rolled out
>in '97. It is
>universally accepted that the "diesel
>sound at cold startup" can
>be attributed to a poorly
>designed timing chain tensioner.
>
>I'm still interested in hearing when
>the various engines were manufactured,
>if you know. I
>know that improvements to the
>tensioner on the 4.0L have
>not solved the problem.
>

After I came to them (the dealer) with the second engine with the slap, the service manager told me he thought it may be the tensioner you mentioned.
He then called Ford, apparently they did not agree because the next day I was told "we ordered a new engine for you" Thats the engine I have in the truck now. I had also heard that some 4.6 engines were having the same problem. Apparently it has something to do with the tolerances with the pistons. Which is why when the parts expand during warm up it brings it back to spec. so to speak.
As far as engine build date, my original truck had a built date of 7/98. I have no idea as to when the two replacement engines I had so far were built. I've also heard that its not a big deal. Then others have said that it could elongate the pistons after awhile. But not sure if its the pistons themselves or maybe the wrist pins..etc.

Spaceace, as far as letting them touch your vehicle,I guess it depends on the service dept. My dealer/service dept. is first class. I've had ZERO problems with anything relating to the install or the truck in general other than the obvious piston slap problem. Because I worried about that too but they have don't an excellent job.....so far..

 

>
>I think I have piston slap.
>I think the neighbor's municipal
>service truck has piston slap.
>
>I can't let them get their
>paws on my engine. It
>would never be the same.
>
>
>8-98 build date.

Spaceace, if I'm not mistaking your in the Spring City Pa. area right??
If so, I'm bascily right above you (northwest)
in Quakertown, Pa.....

The dealer I bought/service the truck is Faulkner Ford in Q-town.....
I took delivery of my truck in Sept. of 98

 

I too bought at Faulkner in Q-town. The only "real" crew cab dealer in the area. My locals are both JFK FLM.

I might pursue it.

 

>I too bought at Faulkner in
>Q-town. The only "real" crew
>cab dealer in the area.
>My locals are both JFK
>FLM.
>
>I might pursue it.

Heck, give it a shot!
I've refered a few people to Faulkner service
center with 100% positive results.
One guy has an older Ranger pickup and was having problems, two dealers told him he needed a new trans. (he's in Philly area) He heard of the good
service I received and took it to Faulkner.
He said the tech just drove it half way across
the parking lot and said "hell its just a bad slip joint". They took care of it and its as good as new!

 

I traded a '97 F-150 W/4.6 engine in on my '99 F-250. The 4.6 had a slight slapping noise when started on a cold morning--lasted only a few seconds. I traded truck w/49000 mi. on it. Never had any real engine problems with it. My brothers '97 has almost 80,000 on it also has slight noise at start up, his is also 4.6. My '99 5.4 has same noise at start up when cold--lasts a few seconds--not very loud-has 28000 mi. on it. If this noise doesn't get any worse, and it hasn't so far, I don't want another engine either.

 

What size tires can you use with the leveling kit... I am going with 16x10 Atlas wheels. What size tire should i buy?

Thanks in advance...