I have a 2001 F-150 4x4 5.6L. I think my problem is with the cooling system. It sounds like it has a really high rev until the truck shifts gears then it quiets down. The temp just started getting real hot when idoling with the air on. This only happens when the weather gets hot and the air doesn't have to be on. Changed the air cleaner to a K&N and checked the fan cluch. Any suggestions?

 

How is your thermostat?

 

Is there a way to check the thermostat or do I just need to replace it?

 

Have you actually measured the operating temp of your engine to verify what the temp actually is?

On what are you basing your concern about possible overheating? If the in-dash guage, what is it reading?

Steve

 

I haven't actually measured the temp of the engine, but the in-dash temp gauge's needle is all the way to hot when idle with the air conditioner on. I am not sure it is the thermostat, it was suggested to me that I might want to check it. I have a 2001 Ford F-150, 5.4L and it sounds like it is in a high rev when the temp outside starts to get hotter, never in the winter, and the air doesn't have to be on. It seems like it is taking longer for the transmission to shift gears but once it shifts the sound usually goes away for a period of time. I'm just a girl who is trying to figure out what might be wrong with my truck so I don't get taken at the dealership! I just need a little info so any help would be appreciated.

 

First thing, start with basic checks.

Safely, check the coolant level. Check both the overflow tank, and the radiator. Make certain both are at the correct level.

Same for the transmission.

Is the engine actually running faster or are you hearing a noise from the fan. Trying to understand what you're describing....

Steve

 

I checked coolant levels and added coolant and water(50/50) to the overflow tank. I also checked the transmission fluid and it was fine. The only way I can explain the noise is it sounds like the motor is taking a long time to shift into another gear and it is winding out. It will do this even if it isn't shifting. Most of the time if I shift into overdrive it will quiet down and then will wind out again. It also loses power when this happens. Sorry if I'm not explaining it very well.

 

Sounds to me like you have two separate issues that you are trying to put into one. I highly doubt that your engine temperature has anything to do with the engine "winding out" as you are accelerating. Change the thermostat and check the coolant system for leaks. If you live in a really cold climate I would also check to make sure that all of your freeze plugs are secure, that can lead to a major coolant leak if they get pushed out in the winter.

Also, depending on the amount of miles on the truck. It might be a good idea to have the cooling system flushed out and recharged with new coolant/water.

 

My truck is a 2001. Do you think I should have the radiator flushed and is the thermostat hard to change? Also, I live in central California so the temp is not cold. Thanks for the input!

 

I'll bet you also have a problem with a lot of dirt and bugs. Look through your grill - the radiator-looking thing is your AC condensor. Is it totally covered with bugs/leaves/dirt? Air has to flow through that to get to your radiator. You should try getting behind it and blow through it with some air.

The "revving" sound you are hearing is your cooling fan. The clutch is engaging because you are running hot. When you are sitting and idling you should hear the fan if you are running as hot as you say. If not, I would suspect the fan clutch is bad. How did you "test" it?

 

There are a lot of bugs but it doesn't look completely clogged. How do you suggest getting behind there and cleaning it? Also, I had someone I know check the fan clutch and he said it was fine. I do hear the noise when idle and the engine temp gauge goes all the way to hot. The sound also happens when I'm driving, especially when just taking off and the truck shifts gears, but goes away at times.

 

The problem you are describing sounds EXACTLY how my 2001 5.4L Expedition is acting.

Like yours, cold weather days don't typically produce any strange noises or actions. But like today (it was 104F), I was coming home in rush hour stop and go, and I know the truck had to be getting hot. My temp gauge was staying right in the middle, but after awhile, that fan clutch was roaring and the pressure on the pedal certainly didn't feel as if it was yielding the same power results as on a cooler day.

When I tow my boat (~4000lbs), I better have a LONG runway to get to Interstate speed. The truck just roars and howls as it slowly climbs to speed and sluggishly slips into the next higher gear as the RPM's skyrocket. Of course, when I first start pulling early in the day, everything runs great. Its only after the ambient daytime temps get hot, I've pulled the boat up and out of the water, and run down the road a few miles.

Today, I took my truck to a reputable tranny shop. I didn't have the boat hooked up and the truck wasn't hot. The drove it, checked for codes, and dropped the pan to check the filter. The filter was a little dirty, but not bad. The fluid was clean, red, and unburnt. His diagnosis was that the tranny was fine and I could continue to pull the boat.

On my way home, I too started thinking about the radiator and thermostat. I've never taken the thermostat out of one these. I used to have a camaro that had a bad thermostat. I took it out, heated a pot of water, dropped in the thermostat and it didn't move (open) once the water hit 180F. I knew it was bad. Can I do this with the Triton's Thermostat?

Tomorrow, I will be towing the boat to the lake. Although I don't think the new tranny filter will fix the problem, I'll report back letting you know if it made a difference. If we do have the same problem and this doesn't fix it, save your $125 tranny service for later.

I really think our problems sound the same. I hope we can figure it out. Heat is our enemy when it comes to our vehicles.


On a side note:

I also installed a tranny cooler rated at 20,000# (its pretty big) The tranny should be nice and cool.
I've cleaned my MAF sensor so ambient air temp and air flow reading should be accurate.

 

I've been trying to descrbe the sound the truck makes and a ROAR is it! I did find that the AC condensor looked like there were some bugs but I didn't think there were enough to make my truck do what it was doing. I didn't know how to get behind it to blow the stuff off so I used an old toothbrush and once I started cleaning the condensor the dirt was coming off like a clothes dryer vent. I couldn't believe how much dirt and dust and stuff was in it.

Yesterday I drove and the temp outside was 103. It was a world of difference, however, when I turned the AC on it started roaring again, not as much or for as long.

I don't know anything about changing the thermostat and if you find out that it has helped you, then let me know.

 

I'm back from the lake and I think things may be fixed.

Today it was 96F when we left the lake. While I could still hear the fan clutch, it was not as loud and not as long. Shifting was MUCH more solid and quick. The RPM's stayed lower and any dead spots in the powerband were not evident.

Overall, I'm very happy with the way the truck performed today. I guess it was the tranny filter that made the difference. The shop owner told me that changing the filter may increase line pressure and keep temperatures down.

Sass, when did you last have your tranny serviced? Not back-flushed, because that is what I had done early last year and my filter was filthy already.

 

It's been a little over a year since I last had my tranny done. It's been a few days since you did your tranny filter, is it still running good? Let me know because my truck started making the roar again today , however it IS 111 degrees today, but maybe changing the filter will fix the problem.