2013 f150 w/ 5.0 motor - got a tapping / snapping sound with throttle in warmer temps - help!

When it is warm out 75 degrees AND the motor has a load while accelerating - I hear what sounds maybe like spark knock or an electrical snapping / Tapping sound. If I were to guess, it sounds like its on drivers side of motor - you can not hear sound with open windows.

This only occurs when warm, when there is a load on motor ( discovered it towing a 7500lb trailer) the sound is RPM related and only occurs with foot into throttle at least 50% - 75%. Also can be re created with trying to load motor down with brake. Can NOT duplicate in cool / cold weather.

Sounds like spark knock (or like a snapping sound as if a coil snapping in an old 70's car) only occurs with strong ( not full) throttle and goes away abruptly when throttle decreased. Currently has a 50/50 mix if 87/89 octane. When under load, the sound is always there unless throttle is reduced. Tapping / snapping sound increases as rpms gain. I think I heat the sound around 1500-3500 rpm range

What is it???!

 

It's probably just knocking a little. I wouldn't worry about it. My 11 5.0 has done this since new and now has 98K on the clock with no issues. You can get your dealer to check it out but based on my truck. I am going to say this is normal.

 

Try some chevron techron in your tank and Lucas oil Oil stabilizer for your next oil change. Those seem to work pretty good for me. And there's a few others I've heard that it worked great for them too. Just my .02!

 

It's most likely the gas. I had to switch from Shell (E-10 blend) 87 octane to Conoco (E-10 blend) 87 octane in the summer months, to keep from pre-detonation knock/ping. Try at least three tanks of gas from a different brand. No additives should be needed in a 2013 vehicle, unless you have exceptionally high mileage.

I would use 91 octane or better when towing or hauling a heavy load.

 

I doubt I have bad gas. This has happened on 2 different times (only 2 times it has been warm here recently) and 2 different batches of gas from different stations - this first batch was higher octane.

When this noise happens - the pinging/knocking sound is unrelentless until I back off throttle. It never happened last summer!
Needless to say - this SHOULD NOT happen.

Kinda disappointed in these new Ford motors - I got this 5.0 because of the issues I was having with the Ecoboost. How are the 6.7 diesels??

 

Maybe take it in to the dealership and see if they can reflash the computer? Sounds like its pinging due to crappy gas but i would definetly take it to the dealer.

 

BillR,

Have you taken your truck to your dealer to have them take a look? Send me your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info, and I'll look into some options.

Ashley

 

I never said it was bad gas, when Shell added "Nitrogen molecules" to their fuel, is when it started.

That fuel blend and hot/humid weather does not agree with my truck.

It doesn't take much to change fuel brand for three tanks, but it's your truck.

 

Truck been at dealer all week. No idea on cause of noise.

Getting frustrated!

 

any loss of power?

 

Hi,
I run Pennzoil 5/30 semi synthetic only.
The dealer oil is usually any bulk oil on sale, a lot of dealers are too cheap to even run Ford oil.
My new mustang ticked and clunked away, dealer said it was the injectors, fat chance....I went and did my own oil change with good oil and no more noise.
Perry.

 

You should be using 5w20 in a 5.0. The only modern F-150 engine that 5w30 is recommended for is the 3.5 EB.

 

For the last 10 years every ford dealership i have went to all you do is tell em you want a oil change and its been motorcraft oil and filter everytime. One time with my old truck i asked if they carried mobil one, Got a strange look and he said only motorcraft fluids.

 

Same with me.

 

Dealer here uses bulk oil unless you ask for (and pay extra for) Motorcraft oil. Reason they do that is to be competitive with the quick oil change joints, and they will do oil changes on any brand vehicle.