i don't believe my s-crew makes any unusual engine noises upon cold startup. the only strange noise i hear coming from my 5.4l is a sorta raspy/gurgly intake or exhaust (not sure which) noise that occurs when the truck is fully warmed up and the engine is lugging (ie...not enough pedal pressure to cause the tranny to downshift). of course, i've had the local dealership check it over twice for any leaks but it has checked out fine both times. anybody else notice this noise? the sound is also sorta reminiscent of a slight spark knock/ping.

 

no noise here but i only have 1500 miles on it. with my luck it will prob start after i put my mods on which will screw up my warranty. oh well--such is life in the fast lane.

------------------
2001 F-150 4X4 Supercab
XLT 139" WB style side
5.4L V8 3.55 LIMITED SLIP AXLE
MODS:
AIRAID FIPK
SUPERCHIP(FLIP CHIP)
ROLL & LOCK TONNEAU

sitting in garage mods
GIBSON CAT BACK
GIBSON HEADER
REFLEXX COBRA HOOD
STREET SCENE GRILL
HOLLEY THUNDER SUPERCHARGE
ALL TO BE INSTALLED IN 20 DAYS

 

No P.S. 14,000KM. I don't know if other Ford engine had this problem. But my 93 Aerostar had the classic symptoms of it. Actually a number of the 93's that I drove did. Because I drove a number of them I concluded that that's the way they are. If I had not it would have scared me real bad as sometimes when cold it would sound like a diesel for a few moments. Its a 4.0L same motor as the rangers and explorers but it now has 230,000 KM's on it and the engine runs fine yet. and still does not use oil and pulled a 22foot trailer for tens of thousands of miles.

------------------
2001 Silver XLT 2x4 SuperCrew (Gen II) 5.4L 3.55LS Tow Package (now with 2.02" rad) & Cab Steps

Mods: K&N Filter, LoRider by Raider Fiberglass Tonneau, Stull Billet Grille (Black)

Tow: 31FT. Glendette Deluxe Camper Trailer

 

No Slap here.
5,500 miles, some mild towing, plenty of cold weather over the past 4 months.
To me, the motor seems to be getting stronger and quieter ... and I now have a SC Radiator.

------------------
Craig Brossman
2001 SCrew 5.4L 4WD Lariat
Az Beige/Wedgewood Blue
Cpts. chairs, Moon roof, Tow package, CD changer
3.55 lim. slip, Rear slider, Skid plates
Mods:Ford Bedliner, Ford BugGaurd, Westin Step Bar, WeatherBoot Floor Mats, SC Radiator

 

I have a 99 Expedition with a 5.4 and a month old 01 SCrew with a 5.4. No "slappin" going on here but boy do they drink like a couple of camels!

------------------
1999 Expedition XLT, 5.4, Oxford White, LLS
2001 SuperCrew XLT, 5.4, Metalic Silver, Gen III (Loaded - Even has Rear Ent. Sys!)
1999 30' Wilderness Travel Trailer

 

I have a PS'n 5.4 in my Gen I with about 23,000 miles. I believe I have one of the earlier SCrews made, ordered January 00 and delivered in March 00. It is my contention that these first run SCrews got some of the late 99 5.4's that were still effected with PS. Don't know for sure, just speculation on my part. I have followed all the rules that FoMoCo has specified (motorcraft filters, 5w-30 then 5w-20 oil, etc) Started PS'n at about 14k miles, no satisfaction from Minnesota's largest Ford dealer (All you folks from the twin cities know who I'm talking about). Taking it back in a week, guess I gotta start getting ornery. I just found out a couple weeks ago about the tow pkg mis-build fiasco, so I guess that will be another issue to discuss with them. Any of you minnesota owners that had the PS problem fixed by Ford, please let me know what you had to do to get it resolved, also where you got it resolved. Sorry for making this so long. I love my SCrew.

------------------
Gen I took delivery 3/28/00
Lariat Amazon Green
5.4 Litre (has PS)
Tow Pkg (Wrong Radiator)
K&N air filter w/airbox mod

 

No PS here at 5600 miles. It would be nice to know how many new build engines on a percentage basis have the problem. You could conceivably get a lemon. Who knows, but I suspect (hope) the odds of either are low.

 

If the PS problem is due to the type of metal the pistons are made of then why would it matter haw many miles are on your vehicle. I have no noise and I only have 3500 miles on it. If it is too small or mis-shaped pistons it would also not matter how many miles you have. The mileage is not going to change the size, shape or type of piston material. I am confused, there seems to be too many different examples of this problem and explanations of it. What does Ford actually say it is.

------------------
01 Black XLT 4x2 Screw Gen I, 5.4, Moonroof, 3.55LS, Cloth Captains, Slider, Extender, ClassIII towing, 6 Disc etc.
Mods planned:
Gibson Single Sweptside, AirRaid, Superchip, Line-X bed liner, Fog/driving lights, Tint, Speed grill.

 

Over 25K, running Mobil One 5W30, no noises at all!

------------------
www.f150world.com/HouScrew
Truck Specifications: 2001 Ford F150 4X4 Lariat SuperCrew (Gen.I) Amazon Green w/Harvest Gold Trim, 5.4L V-8, HD Tow Package, Bed Extender, Moon roof, Captains Chairs(front only), full leather interior as well as standard features in Lariat package.

List of current modifications so far: Stagecoach bug guard,
Billit Grill,
Westin chrome nerf bars, front windows tinted, wood grain kit, AudioVox 6.5" flipdown TV and VCP(DVD soon to come), Sony M610 flipdown head unit, Code SureStart Remote Start and Alarm system.

Waiting to be installed: Sony 10 disc changer, AudioBahn 5 1/4 component system front and rear, 3 AudioBahn 8" subs, 2 AudioBahn Amps

Future Modifications: AirForce One FIPK, Chip enhancement(don't know which one yet), spray in bed liner, bed cover, dual exhaust sytem

 

Supposedly the piston slap problem is fixed. It was done with new pistons.

With all the talk on these boards about the Piston Slap problem, it seems as though any startup noise on these engines is attributed to this, even though it may be something else as normal as the lifters bleeding down (yes, this SOHC engine does have these, they take up the lash in the valvetrain so you don't have to adjust the valves all the time like you have to in a Honda).

In this thread alone I see many instances of this being attributed to "Piston Slap" when the symptoms just don't match.

cpafay wrote "Mine slaps on cold startup in the morning. Just started a month or so ago. (About 15k miles.) Last about 3 to 5 seconds. D*mn! Born on date: 3/00.". This definately doesn't sound like piston slap (it will do it longer than 3-5 seconds). This problem would probably be solved with an oil change using an oil filter with a better-sealing anti-bleedown valve. 3-5 seconds is about as long as it takes from a cold start for the oiling system to pump up dry lifters.

CanadianSCrew wrote "(snip) but my 93 Aerostar had the classic symptoms of it. Actually a number of the 93's that I drove did. Because I drove a number of them I concluded that that's the way they are."

That 4.0L OHV engine was not noted for piston slap, but it is common for OHV engines with high miles (and worn lifters) to bleed-down, causing this noise when the engine starts before the lifters are pumped up, casuing this noise. So that would be a much more likely cause for that noise. Especially since in modern engines, piston slap is most likely to occur in long stroke engines like the 5.4/6.8 than in others and even in that engine family, when supposed "slappers" were dissected often the noise wasn't from piston slap but from the valvetrain.

Sorry cpafay and CanadianSCrew for singling out your posts on this one. They just happened to be good examples from this post of possibly diagnosing one problem as another based on reading message board posts and not actually diagnosing the problem physically on the actual vehicle.

------------------
2001 SuperCrew Lariat 4x4
Deep Wedgewood Blue/Graphite Captains chairs
5.4L, trailer tow, sunroof, bed extender

And a list of mods that will have me busy (and broke!) for months!

'92 Stealth RT/TT
Feelin' the need for more boost!

 

Does anyone know if the use of a synthetic oil makes any different with the Piston Slap issue? I use Amsol, d*mn espensive ($10.00/liter) butt symply the best out there!

 

Synthetic will definately help. It will flow faster and better at lower temps, and by the looks of where you live, you'll need it. Don't neglect putting in a good oil filter. Some are way better than others, especially in filtering area, media, and the anti-drain back valve. You would never use a Fram, Penzoil, or Quacker State filter if you saw how they were built.

------------------
- 2001 F150 Harley Davidson Special
- 1993 Mazda Miata, wifes car
- 1994 Harley Davidson Heritage
- 1976 Honda CB750K, Original
- 1965 Honda 305 Dream, Original
- 1971 Triumph Trophy 650, Original
- 1971 Norton Commando
- 1970 Honda Trail 90, Original
- Yamaha 500 Short Tracker, racing #69
- 1984 Yamaha Virago 1000, wifes bike
- 1981 Honda Passport 70, wifes bike

 

getting rid of piston slap may also help explain why ford is now recommending 5w20 oil in its truck engines.

 

In response to the the post about 5w20...This oil is going to protect just as well as any conventional at start up with a "5" rating when cold rating.

About Amsoil synthetic... by the numbers, is the best synthetic oil on the market right now, however the numbers are not great in difference with the Mobil One. Because of the highprice, Mobil may be a better alternative.

------------------
www.f150world.com/HouScrew
Truck Specifications: 2001 Ford F150 4X4 Lariat SuperCrew (Gen.I) Amazon Green w/Harvest Gold Trim, 5.4L V-8, HD Tow Package, Bed Extender, Moon roof, Captains Chairs(front only), full leather interior as well as standard features in Lariat package.

List of current modifications so far: Stagecoach bug guard,
Billit Grill,
Westin chrome nerf bars, front windows tinted, wood grain kit, AudioVox 6.5" flipdown TV and VCP(DVD soon to come), Sony M610 flipdown head unit, Code SureStart Remote Start and Alarm system.

Waiting to be installed: Sony 10 disc changer, AudioBahn 5 1/4 component system front and rear, 3 AudioBahn 8" subs, 2 AudioBahn Amps

Future Modifications: AirForce One FIPK, Chip enhancement(don't know which one yet), spray in bed liner, bed cover, dual exhaust sytem