hey bigtony how many miles do you have and how long ago did you put the 15w40 in

 

My 05 5.4L started the ticking sometime within the last few months. I've got 55K miles. I can hear the ticking from the drivers seat (only when the music is off-lol).
I recently spoke to an EX-Ford Powertrain Engineer (he moved on, he didn't get fired) and he strongly suggested that I change from the Ford recommended 5W20 oil to 5W30. He was part of a large number of mod motor tests. He didn't give me details, but said not to use anything lighter than 5W30-higher is probably better. I've since switched to 5W30 and based on what I've read here and talking to him, I'm going to probably try 10W30 next. The only real downside should be a very minor decrease in fuel economy (likely less than 0.5 mpg). I'd rather have durability and no ticking. Will report back after the next oil change.
BTW-Mine seems to be coming from the pass side valve cover and intake manifold area.
I only use Mobil 1 (recently switched to their newer Extended Performance variety). I run 10W30 in my 4.6DOHC Cobra engine.

Some of the threads on here say that the tick is covered under warranty and some say it's not. Which is it? I don't have the bumper-to-bumper and No extended warranty. I think my powertrain warranty is still good, though, right?

 

Nope. Ford didn't start offering the factory 5/60K until '07. Whether its covered under the factory warranty is really up to the dealer I'm told. Most will not want to do the work b/c the warranty reimbursement from Ford is not worth their time, so they'll say it's not the phasers and make something else up...like my dealer did. He tried to convince me the ticking coming from my wife's '06 Expy was rock stuck somewhere. You will really have to push just to get them to actually attempt to diagnosis the issue...then push harder for a fix.

 

that is kind of what i am wondering.....the ticking is annoying but i am kind of skeptical to put in 15W40 next time with winter coming here in NE

 

Hey fellas! Ive got 10,5xx miles on my truck, and Ive noticed a occasional tick when the truck is ideling. Is this the tick you are reffering to? I just recently noticed it, and it doesnt always seem to be there.

 

My tick was more of a knock on the upper part of the head on the passenger side the dealer replaced the phasers on both sides and the lash adjusters on both sides noise is gone. to me it sounded like I had collapsed lash adjuster from the location of the sound more towards the back of the valve cover than the front were the phsaers are. Mine made the noise when the engine was cold only lasted 2min. tops then went away. plus was intermittent might go two weeks before it would do it again. glad the dealer heard it I hate the old can't replicate problem answer.

 

My update: The ticking is very noticeable when the engine is cold. Once my oil temp went over 160, the tick went away almost completely. It still does sound like of diesel-like even when warm but only when I stomp on the gas.

 

15W-40 multigrade oil in the 5.4 engines can cause some harm to critical engine parts such as piston rings and valve guides. Particulary in the colder climates where the thicker oil will not pass through the oil passages until its temperature reaches 200 degrees plus. This thicker oil can also lead to sludge buildup if its used exclusively year round which can rob the engine of performance over time. I would highly recommend only running this thicker oil in the 5.4 very sparingly during the hot summer months, then switch to the thinner oil during the winter months. Three month oil change intervals would be a very good idea when running the thicker oil in summer months and running the lighter weight oil in the winter months. Doing this should help minimize sluge buildup if not eliminate it completely. Just my $.02 worth.

 

I run the ford 5-20 semi synt... in mine. So far no problems other then a little ticking noise mine dose it more so when it's warmed up.

Mark

 

when i bought my 04 it had a little tick when idling warm i would rev it up over 1000 it would go away it had 100000kms when i bought it 5000kms later and the check engine light went on scanned at work, got codes timing too retarded bank 1 and too advanced bank1. Switched cam sensors from side to side that didn't help then a week later i got the exact codes for bank2 and it started to run very bad poping out the intake and bogging out and out of no where knocking under the valve cover very loud this started to **** me of alot so went to ford got there special little wedge for the tensoner and changed the drivers side phazer i marked the timing chain with whiteout with the letter L on the sprocket just to make sure i didn't skip a tooth. The truck started to run better but still had bank1 codes so i changes the passenger side phazer i loosened the dryer mounting bolts and toke the vct soldnoid out and got the valve cover off it was tight but you can move the dryer to the side a little and i didn't have to remove the refrigrent got it back together and it runs awesome now no ticking and no codes the problem on my phazer was the trigger wheel was loose because the roll pins were sheared off and the little wheel was loose i hope i don't have to change them again, best of all it didn't leave me on the side of the road!

 

Just my 2 cents here I work for a township and we have 6 f-250's with 5.4 motors in them. All of them have over 100,000 miles and have been using 15w40 in them since they were almost new. All year around and never had a problem never been apart. Not one of them have a piston slap at start up. They range from 2000 to 2007 and we just got a brand new one and i asked what oil they will put in it and sure enough 15w40 as soon as the warranty is up. Maybe its not such a bad idea. Again just my 2 cents

 

I have since changed my oil this past weekend and i again used the for 5-20 I also switch to super Gas about 2000 miles ago and i have not had my engin ticking since. What is everyone now adays using for oil? The for oil or heavier weight oil? I'm at 54K on my truck now.

Mark

 

What does the tick come from? Used to be a sticky lifter in the old days, unless the valve train needed some adjustment. My old 390 had a tick, but a new pushrod solved that one. The 15/40 would prob push the oil pressure up too.

 

ever heard of snake-oil car salesmen adding sawdust to diffs, or gear oil to motors to "quieten them a bit"


in effect, adding thicker oil is doing the same thing. Since at least 1997 Ford has been pushing the 5w20 oil.

1. For MPG gains they saw in their Fleet vehicles
2. it's thinner, and the mod motor serious has lot more smaller passages


the engine is designed for a certain viscosity and wieght of oil. going against the grain and figuring you know better than the Ford engineers is a bit of a bad idea IMO.
using anything other than 5w20 is an excellent way to VOID YOUR WARRANTY, and to have a serious impact on the engine's life, and mileage.

the thicker oil doesn't properly oil all rotationg parts, and it increases the oil pressure...which in turn has a parasitic effect on engine HP/TQ and will cause more wear/tear longterm




Some things you can apply little tricks to and you'll be 100% okay. At other times, I highly suggest you follow the Experts advice.

 

I have always run the Ford Syn 5w20 and Ford filter. I have 89k on the truck now and it has had the ticking noise from day 1. I graduated from UF last May with an Electrical Engineering degree. I have to agree with Tylus, if the motor was designed for the lighter weight oil there is a reason. Ford engineers designed the motor for it, so that is what I will run. Just my .02.

PS I know an EE has no business talking motors, but I support the engineers that designed the 5.4L.