I have a 97 with a 4.6l 83,000 + miles. I bought the truck used in 2000 and so far have put on a 2000 rear-end, driverside front wheel bearing, and timing-chain. I have recently have noticed Knocking noise coming from up front, and on my last oil change I noticed a white greasy looking gunk on the oil cap (blow-by?) I was told that these things are not good and may need a new engine.
Also when driving if I come up on a red-light, stopsign...etc... the RPMs drop and it stalls, I usually have to brake torque it and keep the RPMs at about 600 to 700 to keep her running. I was told this could be my MAF, how do you clean one? Can they be cleaned? If I have to replace it where is the best place to get the part (without getting robbed)?
Also if I do need to get a new power-plant where is a good place(s) to look and is an upgrade to a 5.4l possible without spending alot more than having another 4.6l put in?
I'd appreciate the help.

 

I hope you use your truck for a lot of short trips,this could account for the white stuff on your cap caused by condensation.
As far as it stalling, the cel light should be on and give you a good idea of whats wrong, my guess would be plugs and wires if they werent done yet.
I have a 97 w 4.6 and 125k mi.and plugs were usually my problem, one time it was a bad 02 sensor also. If you replace the wires and plugs use MSD superconductor wires, and Motorcraft 32PP plugs good luck.

 

It has been about a year and a half, but I did replace the factory wires, I think I used Bosch. A while back I changed out the O2 sensor on the out put side of the cat. conv. ( who ever had the vehicle before me cut them off and welded straight pipes)
I do use my truck to go to and from work and occassionally to go around my local area. What is a cel light?
thanks for responding so fast.

 

check engine light

 

thanks, I should have known that, My cel has not ever come on,
one thing that is odd although it has been happening ever since I have had the truck is the O/D on/off light on the shifter starts blinking after a while of driving, I replaced it with a new one but it still does it.

 

That means you need tranny service! Get it looked at.

 

Starting to sound like I need a new ride. thanks

 

The person that eliminated the 02 sensors probobly caused your cel not to be operating,I dont think that was a good thing to do and now you dont know how it was modified to work without them.I never had a problem with the trans. but i do change the oil and filter and drain the tourque conv. every 30k mi, Last time i put in mobil1 snthetic also.
The knocking i cant figure,I hope whoever did the cam timing chains was quilified to do so,I am a backyard mechanic and i dont think i would tackle that one.
I wish you lots of luck and i think the 97s were great trucks,The only things i replaced other than reg. maint. items were ball joints, and rear axle seals.

 

You need to weed out the BS.

1. The milky white in the cap is normal. Caused by condensation.
2. The stalling could be caused by a dirty IAC valve. Simple i/2 hour fix with carb cleaner.
3. You can clean the MAF sensor very easily, if you are careful. Simply spray wires with carb. cleaner.
4. Knocking noise could be piston-slap. Normal and not detrimental. My 97 slapper has 111,000 trouble free miles on it.

 

dont use carb cleaner on your MAF--theres a plastic lining on your throttle body that it will eat off. Use contact cleaner.

 

thanks for all of the input everyone, I have been reading the thread about blown plugs and the noise that comes with it, I'm wondering if this could be my noise issue? As far as the MAF and other I'll clean them tomarrow morning, and also check the torque on my plugs, thanks again.

 

Ummmm hello ..Transmission? Do a search in Transmissions..enter in "blinking light" you'll get alot of info.

 

the binking od light I was told by my tranny shop is commonly
caused be a sloppy speed sensor gear or a bad wire.

 

This doesn't sound like a death sentence for your 4.6L. Just general maint.

 

well I cleaned my MAF, IAC and throttle body, I checked all my plugs torque, (no. 8 was a little loose) it is running alot better, but it does still seem like it occassionally wants to stall at stops while in drive, I did find a cut in a rubber hose leading from the IAC valve to the air duct repaired it.
When I put my code reader on it it gave me the following codes: 0308:cylinder 8 misfire, 0172: system to rich, 0156: O2 sensor malfunction, 0401: exhaust gas recirculation flow insufficient, and P1151 or PI151 which is not in the book, I tightened the 8 sparkplug , checked everything and cleared the codes tried it again and the codes where gone. Any ideas? Suggestions?
Thanks again.