Engine ticking (5.4)
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: FL
Engine ticking (5.4)
I know it's been said it is a "piston slap" or wrong oil use.
Right now I have had 10w-30 with a cheap oil filter on for about 2 months. It recently started ticking pretty quietly during acceleration for about 1-2 minutes on mornings. I would hope the noise is from my thick oil and nothing else. It's a 99' 5.4 w/ 124k.
Any suggestions comments? Thanks!
I hope switching to 5w-20 with a Motorcraft will solve the problem.
Right now I have had 10w-30 with a cheap oil filter on for about 2 months. It recently started ticking pretty quietly during acceleration for about 1-2 minutes on mornings. I would hope the noise is from my thick oil and nothing else. It's a 99' 5.4 w/ 124k.
Any suggestions comments? Thanks!
I hope switching to 5w-20 with a Motorcraft will solve the problem.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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I personally had the same problem in my 2002 f-150 w/ 5.4. I use 10w-40 due to the high mileage (150,000). I solved my problem by putting in new sparkplugs in all 8 cylinders. It has absolutely no more noise and runs like a top.
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Junior User
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From: FL
My mileage is pretty close to yours, and I read that the lighter the better for oil. It is recommended to have 5-30 anyway. I don't know what to think...
We hooked it to a code reader weeks ago just for the heck of it, nothing showing atleast. Will do the oil to 5-20, then the plugs eventually I suppose.
Would love to do the plugs/wires but heard they are a pain to change, looks like it too...
We hooked it to a code reader weeks ago just for the heck of it, nothing showing atleast. Will do the oil to 5-20, then the plugs eventually I suppose.
Would love to do the plugs/wires but heard they are a pain to change, looks like it too...
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Why use an oil that the engine is not spec'd anywhere near it? Use 5w-20 with a good filter (motorcraft, napa, purolator, wix) and be done with it. Many people on these forums have well over 200K on their trucks and tow with them in desert heat with no ill effects. These motors do NOT like thicker oil. Oil needs to get to the heads as fast as possible.
Using the wrong oil is just throwing money away as you are making it less fuel efficient, giving your engine LESS protection (especially on a cold start) meaning it is wearing faster. These are not old Ford pushrod motors. They are an overhead cam design! I for one like getting oil to those cams at the top of the motor sooner then I would with a thicker oil. And I like using a good filter with a proper silicone drain back valve to help even further.
Using the wrong oil is just throwing money away as you are making it less fuel efficient, giving your engine LESS protection (especially on a cold start) meaning it is wearing faster. These are not old Ford pushrod motors. They are an overhead cam design! I for one like getting oil to those cams at the top of the motor sooner then I would with a thicker oil. And I like using a good filter with a proper silicone drain back valve to help even further.
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Sounds like the beginning of an exhaust manifold gasket leak to me.
I certainly hope your valvetrain isn't ticking for 1-2 minutes. My company F150 with 255k miles makes some funny noises but no ticking for that long after start up.
I certainly hope your valvetrain isn't ticking for 1-2 minutes. My company F150 with 255k miles makes some funny noises but no ticking for that long after start up.
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From: FL
It may not even be 1 minute in the wet humid 60' morning. Its only when I get semi on it in acceleration, a 0-40, not rolling at 25 through the niegborhood. It goes away quick, and is quiet.
I was told my valve cover gaskets need replaced eventually, if that has anything to do with it.
So it's my... oil, ex. manifold, pistons or spark plugs... is what I've come up with so far just searching and reading...?
I was told my valve cover gaskets need replaced eventually, if that has anything to do with it.
So it's my... oil, ex. manifold, pistons or spark plugs... is what I've come up with so far just searching and reading...?
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Joined: Jan 2010
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^^ I have a 98 5.4 and I have the exact same issue. It does it for like a minute when I start it up, and then every so often it does it while I'm accelerating. It is pretty quiet though, I have to turn off the radio and be quiet to hear it, and sometimes I'm the only one in the truck that can. I was recently going to look in to this too. Let me know if you find anything out, and I'll be sure to do the same.
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2009
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i have a very simmilar issue right at start up and for a little after even under acceleration. did you notice that yours only does it when it is cold? 40 or below? i am almost certain it is an exhaust leak of some type possibly the gasket. this is because it goes away or 'seals up' when the engine gets warm.
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From: Michigan
I second what farmer had to say. My truck is the same way. It has the slight tick of an exhaust leak (a ford dealer pointed it out to me after an alignment because I asked them to check it out) but when it warms up it is just fine. I wouldn't let it get to severe as too many cycles and as it opens up more you will warp the manifold and could damage the heads.
I must also add, as you may or may not know, that I had a similar tick that didn't go away. Had the tick for well over a year. Then one day about half way through my drive back to school, out popped a spark plug. The truck sounded like an older tractor from the inside and scared the hell outta me. 3 weeks and $550 (shoulda been 1000 but mechanic cut it in half) it was fixed and running like it was before. That may explain why changing your spark plugs helped the cause.
I must also add, as you may or may not know, that I had a similar tick that didn't go away. Had the tick for well over a year. Then one day about half way through my drive back to school, out popped a spark plug. The truck sounded like an older tractor from the inside and scared the hell outta me. 3 weeks and $550 (shoulda been 1000 but mechanic cut it in half) it was fixed and running like it was before. That may explain why changing your spark plugs helped the cause.
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From: FL
I put in 5-30 MC and a MC filter and the noise I would say is pretty much gone. I'm glad it is... I wanna look into replacing my plugs soon. They might be decent, or awful for all I know. Thanks all.
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From: Barker, NY
It's not always the studs. We've had two 4.6L's and one 5.4 and had broken studs on the rear of one 4.6 and the 5.4. The other 4.6 had a crack in the manifold between two cylinders and it would seal up and stop ticking after it warmed up but you could feel the air blowing out when it was cold.
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