5.4 Cold Engine Knock
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: in a house
I wanted to add another statement, I am not trying to defend the design of the 5.4. I think the stroke is WAY too long and the engine would have been better designed with a shorter stroke and larger bore. The stroke is so long that the piston ends up sitting .120 down the bore! Even with the piston down the bore that far you need a 18cc dish to run 8.5:1 compression with the PI heads! With a shorter stroke and larger bore the chance of piston slap would have been nearly non-existant.
But Ford doesn't listen to me... So we live with what they have. I don't know about the rest of you but I think the 5.4 is a pretty good motor! I am happy with mine even if I would change a few things....
But Ford doesn't listen to me... So we live with what they have. I don't know about the rest of you but I think the 5.4 is a pretty good motor! I am happy with mine even if I would change a few things....
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Flat Rock, Michigan
MOTOR magazine December 2003 issue: http://motor.com/
Service Slants
Ford Truck
Engine noise, driveability complaints. Some 1997-2000 Ford trucks equipped with the 4.6, 5.4 or 6.8L V8 may exhibit a ticking noise after startup in extremely cold temperatures (below 10*F). According to Ford, the noise may be accompanied by a rough idle or misfire, and is most likely the result of the roller rocker arms becoming disengaged from the hydraulic lash adjusters. New design valve lash adjusters and rocker arm retaining clips are available to eliminate the problem.
New design lash adjusters Part No. YL3Z-6500-AA
New design retaining clips Part No. YL3Z-6A539-AA
Trucks that can benefit from the revised parts include 1997-99 F-250 light-duty pickups; 1997-2000 Econolines, Excurisions, Expeditions and F-150s; 1998-99 Lincoln Navigators; and 1999-2000 F Super Duty pickups.
Thought that this may be of some help to someone out there. The above article is not accessable on the internet, you need to have the actual magazine. But there are other links on their site that you can access
-hooD
Service Slants
Ford Truck
Engine noise, driveability complaints. Some 1997-2000 Ford trucks equipped with the 4.6, 5.4 or 6.8L V8 may exhibit a ticking noise after startup in extremely cold temperatures (below 10*F). According to Ford, the noise may be accompanied by a rough idle or misfire, and is most likely the result of the roller rocker arms becoming disengaged from the hydraulic lash adjusters. New design valve lash adjusters and rocker arm retaining clips are available to eliminate the problem.
New design lash adjusters Part No. YL3Z-6500-AA
New design retaining clips Part No. YL3Z-6A539-AA
Trucks that can benefit from the revised parts include 1997-99 F-250 light-duty pickups; 1997-2000 Econolines, Excurisions, Expeditions and F-150s; 1998-99 Lincoln Navigators; and 1999-2000 F Super Duty pickups.
Thought that this may be of some help to someone out there. The above article is not accessable on the internet, you need to have the actual magazine. But there are other links on their site that you can access
-hooD
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 695
Likes: 3
From: Metro Detroit
I don't buy it. If tolerances are the issue, wouldn't every engine made have piston slap? They don't. It's a design flaw. Maybe not fatal but embarassing. The GT gurus had to modify the crank and use aftermarket rods and pistons at 500 hp. Why didn't they use stock rods and pistons if they're good for 3 x's the power?
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 1
Sounds like oil flter drain back to me. Personally I found fram filters particularly bad at this, try a otocraft filter with the anti drain back valve or a Wix brand.
Lots of Jap sports bikes have piston skirts so short you can see their underwear ;-) yet dont exhibit piston slap like you describe and I have heard
Lots of Jap sports bikes have piston skirts so short you can see their underwear ;-) yet dont exhibit piston slap like you describe and I have heard
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 340
Likes: 1
From: NY
Well, at just under10K I have it too. It is 5 degrees out.
Looking through different threads I am confused as what to do next. Try reporting to the dealer or grin and bear it?
I don't see how the oil filter has any effect since it is upside down and the drainback valve doesn't do anything.
Looking through different threads I am confused as what to do next. Try reporting to the dealer or grin and bear it?
I don't see how the oil filter has any effect since it is upside down and the drainback valve doesn't do anything.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
I am not at all concerned about the cold piston slap. I work for a car rental company that has 3 airport shuttle van's with the 6.8 v-10. They have all have had the slap since new. It usually goes away between 15sec to a minute or so, depending on how cold it is. The oldest one is a 98 with 102,000 miles on the clock, the newest is a 00 with 71k and the middle child is a 99 with 90k. However the mileage does not tell the full story, they run anywhere from 8-22 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you were to translate hours run into miles, the oldest would have over a million miles on it! None of them have ever been apart for anything! The two older ones do have some lifter noise for a couple of min after a cold start, but thats it! They run great, and after they are warm, are quiet as a mouse. And for anyone who does not know the 6.8 is just a 5.4 with two extra cylinders. So the bottom line is if you don't like the noise just put in a remote start, fire it up from inside, wait a minute, then go outside and forget about it, she's going to last a LONG time!
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
My 2001 5.4L made the same cold start noise. I was using 5w30 blend motor oil. Since I own an auto repair, I contacted my Pennzoil rep. about the oil because the truck calls for 5w20. Not a fan of 5w20, I always put 5w30 in. He told me the Pennzoil 5w20 is a syn-blend oil and was designed with Ford (they also make the Motorcraft oil for Ford) I put it in and have not heard the noise again.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I use Amsoil 5w-30 change oil every 25000 miles or 1 year and change the filter after 6 months. Makes using synthetics cheap
I have done this for many years and you just can't beat it.
plus better mpg,protection and the engine is clean clean clean
millions of miles can't be wrong
I have done this for many years and you just can't beat it.
plus better mpg,protection and the engine is clean clean clean
millions of miles can't be wrong
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, Arizona
So is that a common practice with syn oils? What I mean is the length of time between oil changes. I haven't gone to syn yet due to cost and the fact that I reach 3,000 miles every 6-8 weeks! I live in a desert climate so I am a little nervous about all those sand/dust particles being sucked into the engine and doing damage.