Pistion Slap
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I have the same thing in my 2000 F150 5.4L w/ 75000 miles on it. i live in Nebraska, it gets damn cold in the winter. Once the truck warms up it's fine. I've tried several different weight oils, it's still there no matter what I run in it. My wife freaked out about it the first winter I had the truck, and had me take it in. They gave me some bulls*&t answer as to what it was. I've put 10,000 miles on the truck since then, no problems at all with the engine.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
Ford has now said to run 5w20 in most mod engines including the 01 5.4s. From what I've read here with people getting oil analysis I'm sold. I run the stuff for 5K in my 2000. The 5w20 is supposed to stay more stable and remain about a 20 weight for the life of the oil. The 5w30 is supposed to shear down to a 20 pretty quickly.
In the winter, I get some piston slap for about 30 seconds if I start it and go right away. If I let it idle for about 30 seconds, I get little to no piston slap. 101,000 miles.
Mike
In the winter, I get some piston slap for about 30 seconds if I start it and go right away. If I let it idle for about 30 seconds, I get little to no piston slap. 101,000 miles.
Mike
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 14
From: Vale, NC
I run the 5w20 synthetic blend from Castrol and get a few sounds every once in a while but nothing consistent. Course, the temps here in NC seldom get super cold and they go up and down all winter - one day its 40 the next 60 the next 30. That may be the reason the noises don't seem consistent. Truck has 140k and runs great.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
Running 5-30 Mobil 1 and she sounds noisy all the time. A quite engine it is not btw, I have the e-fans and when they're not running you hear every mechanical movement in the engine when you stand next to it.
