under normal conditions, my f150 (04, triton, 5.4, 3 valve) seems to sound like a diesel (rod tapping sound). Is this normal?

 

This is not normal. Do you have a check engine light? I would get a diagnostics quick, these trucks have a history of injector problems.

 

Is it really loud? I can usually hear the injectors firing and they do kinda sound like a diesel but not that loud.

 

Welcome to the forums! There have been several threads already regarding the noise your are describing, if you use the search feature you should be able to pull them up and hopefully they will answer your questions.

-Brian

 

If it's kind of a metallic double knock near the front of the motor then it's cam phasers. There's a TSB for it and it's covered by warranty (if you have any left).

 

tsb whats that, im 500 under the 36k milage and my truck makes the ping too but everyones told me thats a "characteristic" of the engine

 

Technical Service Bulliten. Ford issues these with fixes when an issue develops but it doesn't warrant a recall for the problem.