OK, I've had something happen to my 02 5.4 last week that I can't figure out. Quick run down...02 5.4L FX4 4x4 with 21000 miles and about 2500 miles on the current oil change using Mobil 1 Super-Syn 5w-30. Oil level on dipstick showing exactly in the middle of the min and max lines.

I cranked my truck up after sitting about an hour and a large puff of smoke came out of my drivers side exhaust pipe (I have true duals coming out of the rear corners). I noticed it in the side view mirror and quickly opened the door to see what was going on. I hit the throttle a few times and no more smoke at all. I didn't notice any out of the passengers side exhaust.

I killed the engine and opened the hood. Nothing was out of the ordinary so I closed the hood and restarted the engine...this time, no smoke at all.

I drove to the gas station to get gas. No smoke at all for the 2-3 miles to the station. After I filled my truck up, I of course, cranked the engine. My engine made a sound like a tire squeal for about 1/2 second. It was a metal on metal sound like the crank was sitting on the main bearing with no lubrication at all. On the drive home, my truck felt like I had dropped a cylinder.

To make a long story shorter, neither of these events have occured again. I dropped the truck off at the dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong. The mechanic and myself went for a short ride and I pulled over to tell him what it had done since the idiot service advisor wrote down whatever he wanted to on the ticket. When I put my truck in park, the idle would surge from from about 800 to about 1200...back and forth and back and forth. It had done this in the past, and I had almost forgotten about it.

Well, he replaced the IAC...(idler controller) and that problem is fixed. The truck now runs great and still hasn't messed up again.

My question is "Does anyone know what could have happened to cause the smoke and noise?"

Just curious if I may have a problem starting to rear it's ugly head.

Later

Creole

 

I had a similiar experience the other day with my truck. I don't know if our experiences share any of the root problems since mine is a 99 4.6 but here it goes. After rotating my tires on my truck at my house. I started my truck to park it, when I started it, it smoked quite a bit for about 5 seconds. Bad enough you probably would not have been able to see my truck if you were standing in the right place (next to my stock exit tailpipe). After some research here, I found the smoke to be "normal". I had started my engine cold (parked overnight), ran it for about 2 minutes and shut it off for about an hour. After I started is when I got the smoke. I am sure there is actually a problem here, FORD just calls it normal so as not to have to fix millions of these trucks. But as far as the root problem I don't know. My truck also has been making a growning or growling sound at first startup (cold). But only for about a second. But it has never missed, like you said your truck did after the smoke. That is the only thing I have noticed out of the ordinary. I also have the rough idle coming on pretty strong know too, but that is probably nothing to do with our problems. I hope you do get ford to do something since yours is under warranty yet. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

 

PCV...it,s sticking

 

My old 99 F-150 would do this if I did not use the Motorcraft oil filter #FL-820S. Something to do with the anti drain back valve being made out of silicone. I could only use the MOtorcraft filters. Others that should have worked didn't either.

What type of filter did you use?

 

The smoke problem may be head gaskets. Keep a close watch on your coolant level and check the plugs to see if they are roughly all the same color. I also hear a noise similar to what you have heard but it only does it when the heater control is NOT in the "off" or "floor" position. I assume it is engine fan or fanbelt related because the a\c compressor runs in every position except those last two.

 

I only use Motorcraft parts for maintainance items( plugs, oil filters, wires etc).

 

I had the "puff o' smoke" after running my truck for a VERY brief period of time (like 3 seconds) and then shutting it off... I understand that it's not an uncommon occurance for it to do it this way...

Not exactly sure why but, I understand that it's not uncommon...

*shrugs*

RP

 

I only use the Motorcraft oil filter.

One of the first things that came to mind was my headgasket. I thought I had possibly gotten a little antifreeze into one of the cylinders.

Usually when you are having a headgasket problem, the vehicle will run hot since you are pumping exhaust gases into your cooling system. I watched the temp very closely and didn't have a problem. I would try to "sniff" the exhaust to see if it is sweet smelling, but it hasn't happened again. Lastly, you normally get a lot of bubbles in your radiator when the HG is leaking and I haven't noticed that either.

I did state that I cranked my truck after sitting about an hour. What I didn't say is that I had simply backed the truck out of the garage and killed it about an hour before.

On the PCV valve, how do I convince the folks at my dealership that the PCV valve may be sticking?

Later and thanks for the replies.

Creole