5.4 Cold Engine Knock
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I took my 2002 F-150 SuperCrew to the shop yesterday afternoon and left it overnight so that they could hear it on start this morning. This afternoon they showed me SSM 16403. Basically it says something like -- "noise on start is normal. Have a nice day." I'm not sure what I'll do. Lot's of people have come up to me and complimented me on my nice truck. My Granny used to say "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Guess I'll be quite.
New User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: East Coast
Standard Response
Hi Guys, I just got my truck back from some tranny work and also to have the "cold knock" looked at. Attached to my work order was a written standard response that the ford guys must have come up with. It says it is normal and will not affect the angine long term. I am guessing that they are no longer replacing engines over this. Mine is doing it when it is warm when I am about 2K miles into my 3K miles oil change.
Rayban
Rayban
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,701
Likes: 4,824
From: Itinerant
I have the same noise at times on a 99' F250SD 5.4, Having 203,000miles on the truck and I'll bet I have started the truck at least 1,200 times and that's a low end #. I think it's not that big of a concern. But then there always some that will prove different.
New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I have 2001 Supercrrew with a 5.4. Within the last couple months I have noticed the so called "Piston Slap" when I start it up after it has been setting for 8 or more hours. I took it into the local dealer and they told me it was normal and quoted a TSB about why it is happening. This last week they offerred to reimburse me for my extended warranty, but followed that up with the fact that if I got new motor it would be rebuilt and not a new create engine. I am concerned with the fact that they want to correct the problem that way. The knocking in my truck lasts about 1 to 2 minutes after start up and then goes away. I have noticed no drop in performance but I have a problem with a motor with 31,000 miles knocking when you start it. Where I work we use this same 5.4 engine in about 75 of our company vehicles. They get driven hard on daily basis and to my knowlwdge none of them have this problem...HHMMMMM.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
I would say that a very large % of the engines they replace are rebuilds.
A friend had his engine replaced due to the piston slap & they used a rebuild. It was smoking by the time it had 50k miles on it. I've never heard of a failure though on the factory motors with the piston slap.
Rick
A friend had his engine replaced due to the piston slap & they used a rebuild. It was smoking by the time it had 50k miles on it. I've never heard of a failure though on the factory motors with the piston slap.
Rick
Last edited by RTHuckster; Nov 23, 2004 at 07:50 PM.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
New User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
My 97 5.4 Scab had the slap to the point of sounding like a 7.3 diesel on start up on a cold day. I traded it at 93k miles but at 80k started using 5w-30 Ams oil in it and had no more issues with it. Most any synthetic would flow better on cold start up I would think.
New User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
1997 F150 5.4L, 200,000 km, when cold engine knock from drivers side wheel well. Once warmed up it goes away. Use 2/3 Lt oil every 5000 km, not burning it, no leaks, not sure where it is going. Horsepower is same as when I bought it new.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
I know this is going to sound a little crazy but it's working for me. My 98 F150 5.4 has done the same thing, I started running Mobil 1 semi synthetic 5w20 and the problem has almost gone away except on really cold mornings. I also have a kill switch and when the temps get below 20 degrees in our New Jersey winters I usually will leave the switch off and crank the engine for a few seconds and then I switch it on and start the truck and I have no slap at all. I have a private mechanic that recommended this...like I said it works for me.
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
97 4.6 knocking on cold starts
my 97 f-150 w/ 4.6L has a knocking sound after cold starts. even in the warmer months, if I don't let it warm up for a few good minutes, when I start driving off I can hear a knocking or pinging noise coming from under the hood. After the temp. hand has moved a little it will go away. It doesn't do this at idle speed. Anyone with any ideas or suggestions.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
hi, how many miles are on the engine, how often has the oil been changed, and are you running a thin enough oil? also, do you run nothing but 87 octane? sometimes i will run a tank of 93 octane just to help clean out the injectors a little. this could help to reduce an any carbon that may be built up on your valves, causing them to knock a little until hot. good luck, let us know what you find out.