I have a '05 F150 4x4 with the 5.4l and I am coming up on the end of my warranty. I took it into the dealer because I have noticed a light tapping noise when the engine is warm and at idle. They wouldn't look into it because I don't have the maintenance records regarding the oil changes. The oil has been changed about every 5000 miles give or take 500. They say my lack of oil change record they assume the oil hasn't been changed and there is sludge built up and causing this tapping.

Sorry for the long winded explanation but is this bogus and does anyone have any recommendations that I could try?

Thanks alot!!!!

 

Find another dealer to work with, I think you are being stroked.

 

I agree. Find another dealer. They should at least look at it for the cam phaser TSB that is out for the engine noise. My question to you, however, is what type of oil and filter have you been using?? I ask this because you MUST MUST use Motorcraft 5W-20 oil and Motorcraft oil filter on these engines....if you don't they will experience noise like that. When I bought my 2004 F150 5.4L the engine tapped like that. I discovered it had an aftermarket oil filter on it, and the wrong oil....so I changed it...and after I did that, the noise all but dissappeared. Try that 1st if you are using aftermarket stuff. If not, then def find another dealer and have them check it out before the warranty runs out....because once it does, its like a $900 repair job to change the cam phasers in the engine.

Mr86GT

 

Thanks for the replies!
That's kinda what I was thinking was find another dealer.
I have had all the service done except for 2 at the dealer, and those I used Castrol 5W-20 and a Fram filter.

 

camsc69,
Fram Oil Filters are BAD NEWS in my World, I've seen 3 Motors in the last 4 years that were Oil Starved and Destroyed when the inside of a Fram Filter came apart and Plugged the Oil flow.....(My Friend Owns and Independent repair shop, I've seen the Fram's handy work 1st hand) Being a Tennessee Fan, I like the color of the fram filter, but I wouldn't trust what's inside it for a Million bucks. Just my .02cents

 

Thanks F150 Mann, I had no idea.

But the filter is off, had the 35k service done at the dealer so it's all FoMoCo authorized right now. In the future I will avoid the Fram and advise my friends as well, not worth the risk.

 

It is not reasonable in my view to 'avoid Fram' because of one or two reported problems. Additionally, Fram makes several grades of more expensive filters which are excellent. I have used the 'regular' ones for decades with no problems, even when using a strong solvent internal engine cleaner. On a Cherokee I had for ten years, I always used regular Fram and switched to 'ToughGard' (TG-16 I think) after I saw that it gave me higher oil pressure than any other filter. That little truck is still in service with no engine problems. On my F-150, I probably will buy the Motorcraft oil and filter since I've heard so much good about them here, even though I have the 4.2L V6 which doesn't have any of those issues (good ol' pushrod engine). The dealer did the first oil change and I'll be doing the next one in July. I figure on changing it every July because it'll only have about 2K or 3K max on the oil. The original tires will most likely stay on it until they start to rot from ozone, maybe ten years. I'm going to get a cover for it soon. I had one for the Cherokee after it went into semi-retirement, and they really stay nice that way.

 

I agree with saxman, I have used Frams for several decades and never had an engine prob related to oil. However I'm thinking that maybe the guys that have had probs maybe had a bad filter (which any filter could be, no matter the make), or maybe with long oil change intervals, the filter elements could have deteriorated. maybe something to do with how an oil filter is mounted to the engine, sideways, right side up? A straight up filter will always stay full, why do they mount them sideways, and have the oil run out on your oil change? My older Ford has a remote filter system that has it mounted on the frame rail, straight up. Much nicer deal.

 

Fram HP is a good filter. Rest of the Frams are junk, all cardboard dividing plates inside where others use metal. There was a comparison done years ago that showed the internals of most available oil filters and at what pressure they bypassed. Fram had half the filter material and bypassed around 7 lbs of oil pressure so it was doing very little for you. I use Wix in my toys but not my truck. I used the Ford filter in the truck. Apparently it has a valve in it to prevent the oil from draining back into the pump and pan when the engine is turned off. Kid works for a Ford dealer so it is cheaper to get an oil change done there than home. figure!!.

 

Before I worked for Ford, I used to work for AutoZone. I would refuse to sell my customers Fram filters...espcially the oil filters. They are absolute junk.I wouldn't put a Fram filter on my lawn mower to be honest. We took some of them apart to show customers whats inside all of them....and Fram was the worst of them all. Fram uses all CARDBOARD insides.....thats right, you might as well filter your oil with the box your oil came in!! After we put out that display, noone bought Fram anymore...and at our recommendation, they almost stopped carrying them. All Fram has going for them, is great advertisement, because everyone recognizes the name. As for quality, in my opinion, they are worse than a dollar-store filter.

As for our precious F150's...especially the 5.4L engines, Motorcraft filters are the ONLY way to go. These engines are picky about what they use. Once I removed the Pennzoil filter that the previous owner had stuck on her, and put in fresh Motorcraft 5W-20 oil and a motorcraft oil filter....she quieted right up, and runs like new. I also use Motorcraft filters on my Mustang and my ZX2.
I have heard other ZX2's and Zetec 2.0 engines that tick loud at either startup or when they get old.....mine has 107k on the clock, and no ticking, still sounds and runs like new. I will never use anything but Motorcraft filters for my Ford vehicles.

Sorry guys....I apologize for this post, but the Fram-issue strikes a nerve with me, and I tell EVERYONE never to buy them...ever ever ever.

Mr86GT

 

They may have corrected it, but at one time, Fram was using a drain back tube that would collapse. Our engines must have the drain tube in a filter to get oil during cranking. I won't use anything but a Motorcraft, though I understand that they are made by Purolator and are probably the same thing.

 

The first two filters from left to right are Pennzoil and Fram. These are cutaways of various filters after 3000 miles from our V8SHO site. I'm no rocket scientist, but I can spot junk when I see it.




Here's another article on the Fram Filter.



<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="85%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>I have taken apart several used filters, in an effort to find failure. A design may look bad. but may never have any problems. Or it may look flawless, but fail in use. So far the only failure I've found is from this Fram PH3387A. This does not mean that all Fram filters will fail, but does back up some of my observations.



</TD></TR><TR><TD>----



</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>



</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Click for larger picture This filter element has seen better days. The cardboard end caps are actually intact, but the filter element has been severely damaged.



<TR><TD>----



</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>



</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>As you can clearly see, the filter has a hole in it. This is probably caused by the oil pressure actually pushing the filter right through a hole in the inner tube.



<TR><TD>----



</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>



</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>Here's the most disturbing part. The anti-drain back valve has actually folded over, allowing the oil to completely bypass the filter element. The Fram's thin valve and poor design is the most likely cause. Unlike most of the other filters, there is not a metal end cap to support the valve. Another thing to note is that the valve was rock hard, obviously affected by the dirty oil. This suggest that a Silicone ADBV is a better idea.



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

F150MANNN - Good pics, but I don't see a Mobil 1 filter. I remember reading that comparison a while back. Although more expensive, it was of better quality and seemed to do a better job of filtering than the others.

 

wow ...I,ve always used fram,but after seeing those pics i'm done with them.