I have a 2003 5.4L F-150 SuperCrew with less than 1000 miles on it and I have noticed a tapping coming from the top of the engine. I can hear it from both sides of the engine with the hood up and I can hear it in the cab with the doors shut and the windows up. In the cab the engine sounds like a diesel but runs very smooth. I hear it most at idle. I read in another post about Fuel Injectors making a tapping sound and it definatly sounds like it is coming from that area of the engine. Does anyone else have this tapping (from fuel injectors?) and is it common on the newer engines?? My 98' 5.4 did not have it. Am I just being paranoid? Just would like to have some ideas before I decide to take it to the stealership and have it looked at.

Thank you!!

-Ekim

 

My 2003 5.4 has the same sound. I haven't had the time recently to investigate further into the source of the problem. The engine runs perfect, just has a diesel-like sound to it.

 

Do a SEARCH on keyword 'slap' in the Engines category and you will find many postings relating to this rapping or slapping noise coming from the 5.4's, my 2001 does the same thing. In one of them someone posted Ford's explanation:

Symptom code information 16403

"1999-2003 Vehicles Equipped with a 5.4L-2V/4V or 6.8L-2V engine – light tick or rattle type noise from engine after cold start.
Some 1999-2003 E-Series, F-Series, Expedition/Navigators, 2000-2003 Excursion and 2002-2003 Blackwood vehicles equipped with a 5.4L-2V/4V or 6.8L-2V engine may exhibit a light ticking or rattling type noise after a cold start which may last until engine warm up. The noise is due to the combination of light load operation conditions and the normal bore clearances present in a cold engine. This noise does not affect performance or long-term durability of the engine."

 

I complained about a similiar noise to my dealer. I really don't hear it sitting in the cab, but I do standing outside while the truck is at idle.

Both the service manager and a technician said it was normal noise that comes from the fuel rails

Don't know if that is true or not, but that is what they said.

 

I have a 01 4.6L that does it. It isn't the injectors either. Do a search, you'll find a ton of info. Also check out the threads about piston slap. I know, I Know, Ford says that they have corrected the problem, but if that is true, how come my 01 Romeo built 4.6 is slapping?

 

What noise I am hearing is definatly not piston slap. I had that on my 98' 5.4L F-150. Very annoying...but never caused a problem.

The tapping or ticking noise is constant whether the engine is cold or warm. It sounds like it is coming from the top of the engine...like the fuel rails or injectors (as DougS Suggested). I dont think Im going to worry about it...new truck...new noises to get use to. I guess Ill worry when I start losing power or gas milage.

Thanks for all your help guys! This site rocks.

 

So I really paid attention to the sounds my engine was making the other day, the tapping/ticking sound was only present when the engine was cold...just like the dealer said. After the engine warms up, after a 32 mile ride down the highway, the noise was gone. Question is why are the fule rails or injectors making this sound when cold?

 

WebGuyRich,

Least your noise goes away after the engine warms up. Mine is always making that ticking sound. I really only notice it when Im sitting at a stop light and dont have the radio on. I will have the stealership check it out on my next service. Im going to have them check my loud whining power steering pump (I think that is what it is?) as well.

 

I had that same problem in my 99 F150 ext cab 4.6 V-8 engine. One day it got a lot louder and sounded like a diesel engine. It turned out that I had a lifter go bad on the drivers side of the engine. I replaced the lifters on that side of the engine and everything is good again.

 

The ticking noise that I complained about to my dealer is also always there, cold or warm engine.

Also, EkimLesondak, have you seen my thread on the engine whine on my '03 that I got resolved? If not, check it out, page 3 has my reply on what they did to fix it.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=97511

 

DougS,

I did read your post on the whining of your power steering pump and I plan on asking my dealer to check the same thing . While I have it there Im going to ask about the ticking sound too...Ill keep you posted on what I find out.

-Ekim

 

I also hear a ticking noise. I park in-between a wall and a wood fence so the sound echoes and is probably exaggerated. I have a 2004 3valve with about 8,000 miles on it. I haven’t asked the dealer about it yet. I’m trying to read other posts to see what everyone else is saying about it before I jump the gun.

 

ford will try to tell you that that noise is normal due to all the aluminum parts in your engine. sounds like a lifter ticking??? well, prob. your heads. isolate the problem with a stethoscope.

 

hydro-lash adjusters