The past couple of days I have noticed a bit of a rough idle. Finally poked my head under the hood and I hear a pretty strong clattering sound (for lack of any other way to describe it). It comes from the passenger side of the engine. Went back out later to start it up and give another closer listen...and it wasn't there...no clatter (engine had cooled for approx. and hour). Revved up the engine a couple times...and still no clatter. Drove around for about 20 minutes...and the clatter has returned.

Has anyone else been plagued by a right sided engine clatter? Any off the cuff ideas?

As usual, any help is always greatly appreciated.

Thanks...Scott

 

I've tried time and time again to figure that one out. It's loudest at the front right wheel well, right?

I took mine to Ford on several occasion, but all they said was tht the sound was normal for that engine/tranny config.

you may get some guesses from educated people on here, but you won't fid the problem unless you have Ford take a look at it. Even then they won't find anything unless they tear apart your engine.

I traded my truck for a Stang, and I am now living in complete bliss.

G. Luck

 

Roller follower is my WAG.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

copy that....and i respond...."Lima bean basehit was noodling ARS!"

I'm not quite sure what you mean by that...could you clarify? Was that code for "my engine is going to fall out of the truck"???

 

The closest thing to one in a conventional engine is the rocker arm. The follower rests at one end on a hydraulic lifter and the middle is pushed down by the cam lobe and the other end pushes down on the valve to open it. It follows the cam lobe, hence the name follower. Sorry for any confusion.

JMC

Ps; Wag means Wild Äss Guess

 

JMC

Whew...thought I'd walked into the middle of a spy movie.

Thanks for the clarification...and it even makes sense to me too.

Your WAG was alot better than my WAG. (damn...that just doesn't sound right)

Thanks

 

Mine is a 1997 4.6 with the same issue. It has approx 75000 miles on it. I hear the same clatter in the same spot. It only does it when it is in drive standing still. In nuetral and idleing it doesnt do it. I also have always run synthetic motor oil since it was new and just changed to conventional oil this last oil change. I might be crazy but I think it got louder. Next oil change it gets the synthetic again.
The local people I took it to said the same thing "DEAL WITH IT, IT WILL MAKE THAT NOISE".
So I went and bought a loud radio. Now the noise has gone away

 

I have an 03 f150 and it,s making the same noises that are being described by everyone else here. My truck has less than 2000 miles on it and it sounds like a diesel when the engine is under load at low rpms. The rattle becomes less obvious at cruising speed but can still be heard slightly. The noise is coming from the right hand side of my engine, mostly from the wheel well. The dealer told me they didn,t hear anything out of the ordinary when I took it in. I have since taken the truck back and made several phone calls in an effort to get some kind of satisfaction. To make a long story short, the dealer is just now starting to admit that my truck is making some kind of noise but they continue to insist that it is normal. My only question is, if this is normal why is it getting worse, and why doesn,t my friends 03 sound like mine. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

WAG's a plenty:

PCV

Combination of PCV and Injector noise

Something loose that only makes noise when warm and correct harmonic conditions are present

What JMC said

Bad injector

Clogged oil journal/pcv hose/etc

Over sensitive truck owner

too much egr flow at idle

for the guy with the 03 if it is really loud take it to another dealer for a 2nd opinion

because you say it only happens when the truck is in gear I would venture to guess that something is not screwed down properly and is vibrating.

you can also always buy a mechanics stethascope cheap from harbor freight tools and find the noise then show the stealer

good luck-

 

Thanks for the WAGS. This truck is so loud, when I pull into the parking lot at work my friends thought I bought a diesel. My frustration comes from the stealers lack of concern. They are supposed to be making an appointment with a ford rep. I'm expecting more denials. If this is what happens I'm going to take truck to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. I find it very hard to believe that someone hasn't had this problem identified yet. By the way if anyone thought the head gasket problem went away for 03, guess again. A friends brother in law is having his motor replaced because of a leak on the right side. By the way, he is a mechanic.

More info greatly appreciated.

 

I second the WAG on injector noise and PCV noise. I replaced a worn but not noisey Motorcraft PCV with a Purolator ans soon developed a very loud rattling noise. Tracked it down to PCV and replaced with another Purolator. After about 3 days (200 miles or less) noise was back. Purchased Motorcraft OE type for double the price and noise was gone for good, that was over 15K ago.

Now I got rattling noise is the of the belt system, oh well something else new to track down and fix.

 

My 03 4.6 with 3,300 miles has made the diesel noise since I bought it, thought it was normal, gets less noticeable when it warms up. I thought this was the infamous piston slap everyone talks about, which doesn't seem to cause any problems. I will be watching to see what you all post for resolution.

 

I,m on my way back to the dealer next Thursday. I,m going to leave the truck overnight and go back the next morning and take a ride with the service manager. If they cannot resolve the problem I am going to push for another motor or truck. If this gets me nowhere, I,m going to trade out of the deal somewhere else. I have been able to trace the rattle all the way to the catalytic converters. This is where the rattle is the loudest.

Good luck with the 03 4.6, it sounds like you have the same problem I have. I don,t think its piston slap though because the rattle never fully vanishes.

 

I Purchased a 1997 F150 4.2 V6 with 97,000 miles on it. It had a very slight "diesel" type sound to it that pretty much went away after it warmed up. It has progressively gotten louder to the point where peope wonder if I own a diesel. The truck now has 150,000 miles on it with no noticeable performance or mileage change. The noise is now very loud and I want to do something about it. I too have had it checked out by many "experts" who usually end up telling me it needs an engine.

I have tried to track the noise, and it is definitely loudest on the top end of the engine, although it is loud through the exhaust system as well. I found out today during lots of searching that the injectors can cause this "diesel" sound although I have never heard of anyone that has it as loud as mine? It is embarassing loud. It's "why don't you put some oil in that thing" kind of loud.

I am going to change the injectors and see what that does. If that doesn't help, I'm going to pull the valve covers and check the valve train.

It does sound a little louder on the right side than the left, although it is loud from 30 ft away too.

Mitch

 

Mine too has it and has been getting louder since 34000 miles. Can anyone describe to me what the Intake Manifold tuning looks like. I think it is a flapper door aflapping. Has to be simple and intake related I have thrown parts at it on everything else that could do it. And I KNOW rods that are bad knock at startup
Valve trains that are doing that kind of stuff too will eventually make a cylinder misfire and give themselves away.

Also looking at the possibilty of an injector that is not putting a proper pattern out as well.

I will post for sure if I ever get this dam 5.4 to quit this horrible racket. It totally stinks to drive this around any Chevy or Dodge and see the look they give me.




tom