5.4 Cold Engine Knock
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
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From: Louisville,Ky.
If you do not like the harmless piston slap, why did you just buy it to start with? This problem isn't unique to the Triton engines. Many Chevy LT1's have the same issue. Short piston skirts causing noise when cold.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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I don't think that this is an issue of "piston slap" or a "knock" in my case but I have just aquired a noise coming from the engine of my 03 Supercrew 5.4 19,000 miles on it. It sounds like marbles or fast rattle at start up only. It will only happen for 1 to 2 seconds at start up. I've been watching the oil gauge the rattle will go away after the oil preasure gauge goes up to normal. It has not did it in real cold temps it was about 45 degs and at first start up in morning and then it would'nt do it the rest of the day even if the truck sat for 8 hours. I use the Motorcraft 5w-20 synthetic blend since day one when I bought the truck and the Motorcraft FL-820S oil filter and is changed every 3000 miles religiously.I can say it has done it about 6 times in the last month and it has not done it since. I am due for an oil change here soon and I thought maybe the anti-drain back valve in the filter could be defective????? Over all the 5.4 has been great to me. Any input on this would be great, Thanx Rich
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
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I'm looking for a 2000 and up f150, but am getting scared with all this engine knocking noises talk. did they clear this problem up in some of the later trucks 2003 or 2004? a friend of mine has a 2002 that just started the knocking thing, and he is just sick about it, he loves his fords and babies them too. but he's really getting tired of fords run around on this issue. they said the knock doesn't effect the longevity of the motor, which maybe true, but he said how am I suppose to sell this truck like this. does this do this on both the 4.2 & 5.4, just curious to know which motor to look for
Posting Guru
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did they have this problem fixed by 2004, I'm interested in a 2004 5.4, but from what I've read here, I'm thinking of passing on it, I don't want to buy something with theses kinds of issues, to bad I'm a ford guy through and through, but this disappoints me
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
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From: Durham, NC
Originally Posted by funfactor
Go to the amsoil web site and check out the article from lube&oil magazine.Amsoil is the only company that sells an extended drain interval synthetic that I know of and they stand behind it.I have used it since the early 80's and I can tell you the oil works.
www.amsoil.com
www.amsoil.com
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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Thanks for the reply Lxman1, I will listen closely if it does it again and I'll post what I find, if any thing. omni, these modular engines are a very reliable engine. You just here the bad things that go wrong and not too much the good stuff. I have had two of these modular engines and no problems with either of them, and was never stranded!!!!
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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Originally Posted by omni
did they have this problem fixed by 2004, I'm interested in a 2004 5.4, but from what I've read here, I'm thinking of passing on it, I don't want to buy something with theses kinds of issues, to bad I'm a ford guy through and through, but this disappoints me
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Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
Likes: 17
From: Louisville,Ky.
True, I have a 2001 with 47,000 miles and we have a 2000 F250SD 5.4L at work with 79,000 hard miles. Neither have had any knocking problems. The only problem that the 2000 has ever had was a bad IAC once under warranty. Very dependable.
And you must also consider that for every problem that you read about here, there are thousands of other trucks that are problem free. Of the millions of trucks produced, there is a very small percentage that you will read about with problems. Most people don't search the web to find a forum just to say " Hi, My 4.6L or 5.4L has never ejected a spark plug or ever had piston slap when cold"
And you must also consider that for every problem that you read about here, there are thousands of other trucks that are problem free. Of the millions of trucks produced, there is a very small percentage that you will read about with problems. Most people don't search the web to find a forum just to say " Hi, My 4.6L or 5.4L has never ejected a spark plug or ever had piston slap when cold"
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2005
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FWIIW, I have a '97 E150 4.6 w/ 187k mi on it. At 6000 mi I installed an Amsoil by-pass filter and started using 5w-30 synthetic oil. I have never changed the oil. Every 20-25000 mile I change the by-pass filter and the OEM filter and top off with 2 new quarts. I run the van anywhere from 1000 to 1300 lbs over gross vehicle weight and to date the engine uses one quart of oil every 4500 to 5000 miles. It has had that start up piston slap since it was new. Same today as yesterday. The motor still runs like a swiss watch.
New User
Joined: Aug 2003
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engine noise
i have f150 2000 5.4 liters engine with the same engine noise look like engine knock. it's been like that for the last two years now , i have 262.000 km ,mine is't worst in the winter (very very cold winter here in Canada 
)but a can still hear the noise when hot . at first i was sure it was the crank so a said to myself i'll drive it till it blows up , that was 100.000 km ago and the noise it still the same i've seen no difference in horsepower and still running good .i dont like the noise but i live with it 
)but a can still hear the noise when hot . at first i was sure it was the crank so a said to myself i'll drive it till it blows up , that was 100.000 km ago and the noise it still the same i've seen no difference in horsepower and still running good .i dont like the noise but i live with it
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 145
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From: So. California
Winter only?
I have been looking at many postings in this thread, which goes back over three years. The "cold engine knock" is news to me. Seems the majority of the postings were made in the winter time...and from cold places.
I have a '98 Ford Club Wagon with 5.4L engine, and it's never been in freezing weather. I have never heard the cold engine knock described in this thread. I must therefore ask...Do those engines that knock in cold winter locations start quietly in the hot summer months?
I have a '98 Ford Club Wagon with 5.4L engine, and it's never been in freezing weather. I have never heard the cold engine knock described in this thread. I must therefore ask...Do those engines that knock in cold winter locations start quietly in the hot summer months?
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
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My van has the 5.4 and it knocks at start up whether it's 20 below or 80 above. The knock is worse in the cold but does not go away in warmer temps. I had a mechanic tell me that it the knock was caused by 2 broken bolts on the manifold. After reading this post I am convinced it's the piston slap.
Not trying to hijack the thread but another note on how helpful Ford service has been.....
When the van had 20K miles on it the hose to the tranny cooler split while I was towing a travel trailer through the mountains of PA. When I noticed the tranny not shifting smoothly I pulled over, discovered tranny fluid everywhere and fixed the hose. I had to put in 3 quarts of tranny fluid at the nearest gas station. When I was able to get the vehicle back to a dealer, I requested a new cooler hose, and to inspect the tranny for any possible damage. The dealer refused to drop the pan on the tranny and told me it would cost $75 for a tranny service. I went to the parts counter and bought the filter and then put in synthetic tranny juice myself.
I also own a chevy truck and their service isn't any better.
Not trying to hijack the thread but another note on how helpful Ford service has been.....
When the van had 20K miles on it the hose to the tranny cooler split while I was towing a travel trailer through the mountains of PA. When I noticed the tranny not shifting smoothly I pulled over, discovered tranny fluid everywhere and fixed the hose. I had to put in 3 quarts of tranny fluid at the nearest gas station. When I was able to get the vehicle back to a dealer, I requested a new cooler hose, and to inspect the tranny for any possible damage. The dealer refused to drop the pan on the tranny and told me it would cost $75 for a tranny service. I went to the parts counter and bought the filter and then put in synthetic tranny juice myself.
I also own a chevy truck and their service isn't any better.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: So. California
another dealer horror story
I've had few experiences with dealers, for service. The routine maintenance experiences have been good, but the more challenging trouble-shooting experiences have been bad... as in "rip off through incompetence." Just "change everything" and charge for it.
Over the years, I have made the acquaintence of an excellent transmission service provider, and their guru is a damn genius. He solved a tranny problem for me over the phone, and faxed me the necessary diagram, so that my then-mechanic could fix the problem. Imagine that. Tipped off by this other fella, I told my mechanic about an O-ring that was causing tranny fluid to foam up out of my dip-stick tube.
So we do value our trusted service providers. And we revile those who treat us badly.
I'm in Southern California, and if you're close by, I'd be happy to recommend my tranny man to you. However, I sense you're in the Northeast.
Over the years, I have made the acquaintence of an excellent transmission service provider, and their guru is a damn genius. He solved a tranny problem for me over the phone, and faxed me the necessary diagram, so that my then-mechanic could fix the problem. Imagine that. Tipped off by this other fella, I told my mechanic about an O-ring that was causing tranny fluid to foam up out of my dip-stick tube.
So we do value our trusted service providers. And we revile those who treat us badly.
I'm in Southern California, and if you're close by, I'd be happy to recommend my tranny man to you. However, I sense you're in the Northeast.