01 f150 supercrew 5.4 has timing chain tapping at startup. I replaced tensors on both sides and chains and the noise is still present. It gets louder when engine is under load but goes away after running for about 3 minutes. I think there is a restriction to the oil flow to the tensor on the passenger side of the engine, but ford won,t give me any help. I am slightly pissed because this started while still under warranty and they said no code = no problem.

 

I don't think the oil or filter are the problem, but have been told by ford that may be the issue. Sounds like bs to me.

 

Sounds to me like piston slap...

 

Where would the sound come fromif it is piston slap? Would piston slap go away at idle after reving the engine for a couple of minutes? Would piston slap noise increase on a cold engine under load?(i.e.applying brake and gas after startup makes the sound much louder)

 

can you describe piston slap and wether the sound remains after warmup or goes away

 

Yes it could make it louder by applying the brake and gas, mine does the same thing, not a good sound, but as soon as its warm, no noise at all...

 

So, what do you do about pistonslap? What is the prognosis if nothing is done?

 

Its actually considered normal for these engines. Nothing can be done, well, unless you bore it and add some nice high dollar pistons. It doesnt hurt anything, so its just one of those things that i dont think about any more now that i know what it is.

 

Mine makes similar noise, but I think it is a lifter that bleeds down too much and makes noise until the clearances tighten up on cold startup.

 

Very well could be

 

The noise is comming from the right front of the engine and seems to be related to something hydraulic that tightens up after the engine warms.

 

Can't recall all the details, but some guy here said he'd changed his oil filter and his noise went away. Are you sure it's not the emission stuff or AC causing the noise??

 

The noise is definately coming from the top right front of the engine and continues wether or not the ac is off or on. I replaced the timing chains guides and tensors, but I think there is a blockage or something preventing the tensor on the right side of the engine from tightening the chain properly at startup. The enginc makes the noise when its hot or cold, always at startup. Also if it sits annd idels after running It will start tapping again until the engine is reved a few times then it stops until it has idled 5-10 mins then it starts again. Whatever makes the tensor tighten seems to be the problem not the tensor.