I have a 2004 5.4L F150. 18,000 miles. It sounds like valves rattling when I crank up first thing in the morning or after several hours of sitting. I'm thinking I might up the fuel octane. I had a '98 Mustang that did it during acceleration with the a/c on with over a half a tank of gas (weight). I put mid-grade in it and it solved the problem. I guess I'll try it with my truck and see. It just sucks with the gas prices and that big tank. Anyone else had this problem?

 

I currently have the same problem with my '97 4.6. It only does it when I start it and it quits after a couple of seconds and that is the only time I hear it. I have no idea what it can be.

 

Do a search here for piston slap and see if that is what you have

 

What oil and oil filter are you using?

 

Change you oil or use a thinker blend like 10/40. Lucas Oil Stabalizer works wonders on my '95. Lifters used to knock bad at startup for a few seconds untill the oil got up thier, but with 10/40 and Lucas Oil Stabalizer, not a problem even after a long cold night.

 

I would NOT recommend going to 10w-40 oil at all. A 1995 Ford truck engine is a whole different beast than you've got. For that matter, a high mileage truck is a bit different matter. Ford recommends 5w-20 oil for a nuber of reasons. I'd talk to a repuatable dealer dealer about your "problem" since you're still under warranty. My '05 rattles a bit on some hot starts and it's not piston slap. My dealer has shown me a number of reasons this might be happening and we're working on whether it's real problem or not.

 

Mobile 1 5w20 fully synyhetic with Fram PH2 filter.

Same stuff I use in my 2000 Expedition and used to use in my 4.6L Mustang. My 4.6L Expedition has never done it. Not a peep out of it and it's about to roll over 100,000 miles.

Thanks for the replys.

 

I kind of figured it was the Fram, but wanted to make sure first. I suggest you go back to the Motorcraft FL-820S or try Purolater Pure One or Wix. Try the MC first. Frams are notorious for weak anti-drain back valves, which allows the oil to drain back into the pan from the top end. Something you do not want with an overhead cam engine. Basically you are getting dry starts on the overhead cam causing the noise. I use the MC and the only time I get noise is the first start after changing the oil, and that can be limited by pre-filling the filter.

Edit - Stick with the 5w-20. There is no need to go to thicker oil, and I have heard of it causing problems. As to why the 3v is more suseptible to dry starts, I don't know. My last 2 5.4s never mad noise after an oil change, and I never pre-filled the filter. I have heard of problems with the Frams, not only on these engines, but others.

 

My other mod motors have done fine with the Fram. I'll give it a shot next oil change. I'm going to swap my 3.55 ring and pinion gear, and get a Predator programer and custom tune for maximun performance along with a couple of other light mods. A good dyno tune should let me know what's up. Also my friend that owns the performance shop (Panhandle Performance) here in P.C. FL that will do the tune and mods is one of the Docs in the "Ask the Doctor" columns in Muscle Mustang and Fast Ford mags. He's a modular motor wizard. One of the few.

Thanks again for the advice. I'll definitely try the oil filter change.

 

You might want to try changing the filter sooner. Those dry starts cannot be good for those camshafts.