Hello, been watching this forum for some time, excellent info here, thank you all.

First off, my husband is in Iraq with the Army Reserves and can't be here to diagnose the vehicle, which leaves me really leary cause Ford see's me coming and thinks I'm this endless cash flow.

For the past 9 months the engine ticks on startup, goes away when warm. It has gotten progressively worse, where I'm afraid to go over 25 mph until it's warm (from tick to tap). Taps louder as rpms increase.

I took it into Ford, they couldn't hear it..... but they did change my alt and then my radiator hose which they cut trying to get alt out, I had no problems with leaks or overheating. Tried to charge me for hose.

I then took it to a mechanic who was referred by several friends, I took it on a Sunday night, so he could cold start it on Monday morning, he doesn't hear it....... He replaced my fuel filter, which I had replaced less than 5000 miles previous but I did have Chk Eng light come on with codes (can't remember which ones).

This tap is loud enough that when you drive by buildings you can hear it bounce off them......

I don't know what to do here, I have read the forum on this issue and a male friend has offered to change the oil and add slick 50 to see if this helps.

I don't know if it's lifters or timing chain/belt? (from this forums similar topics).

It's a 97 F150 XLT, 5.4L with 146,000. Always serviced on time.

I'm kinda at my wit's end here, my husband is coming home in Sept and I will be driving 700 miles round trip to pick him up, would like to have this fixed if I can get an idea of what is wrong and why these mechanics can't hear it.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Can you tell if the noise is coming from the top, bottom, or front of the engine? The triton engines don't have lifters but they do have 2 timing chains. Hang in there we will help you figure it out.

 

I have the same condition on a 2000 5.4. To me it sounds like it is coming from the bottom, and also goes away when warm. It almost sound like an exhaust leak but then it goes away. I to am looking for suggestions as to what it could be.

 

Strat with the basics. If you're hearing a tick and believe it to be the exhaust, look at the exhasut manifold and look for any charred areas. The most likely to leak will be where the exhaust manifold and exhaust meet. I have a 98 with an integrated O-ring in which the bolts to join the exhaust to the manifold thread into the manifold itself. These have rusted through and created a loud tick. If you can hear the tick on buildings, this may be a good reference point. You can also try adding a heavier weight oil during the summer (If you're using 5w30, try 10w30. If you're using 10w30, try 15w30) If the sound lessens you may have a bad lifter. Does the ticking increase when you accelerate or remain steady?

 

the ticking remains constant on acceleration. also if you are not accelerating and just cruising say 35 or 40 there is no tick. If you dip into the throttle the tick is there. It goes away after about a mile or two but I can stop at the store and then when I get back in the truck the tick will be there again although the engine is warm. I'll check the exhaust as that is where I figured the problem was.

 

Ok, This is what i have been told by my ford tech (my dad) This is the new hydrolic lifters that ford Started using after 1999. It is a distinct sound of the 5.4 liter triton. its nothing to worry about. I would never take my truck to a ford dealer unless i know exactly what is wrong with my truck

They gave u the old "ya its deffanitly the alternator" thing
And being a lady means your a target for those ford mechanics to get into your wallet.

I have had that same tick since i goy my truck back in 2000 and its still runnin fine today at 71000 with the same tick.

 

Some of the early 5.4 engines have a piston slap that occurs on startup and goes away when warm. When a piston cools down it actually becomes more oval shaped than round. When it heats it becomes round again. The piston slap issue is not a durablity concern. In other words the noise is not related to engine damage or failure. I tend to lean more to a lash adjuster leaking down when the engine shuts off. A lash adjuster is used on over head cam engines verses hydraulic lifters on a push rod engine. The lash adjuster maintains a constant pressure on the valve stem via the use of a follower which rides under the cam. I am sure you could care less about all this you just want your truck fixed right. If a lash adjuster is bleeding down temporarily it will not cause engine failure.If it becomes a constant rattle noise like a marble bouncing around under the cam cover then you need to get the defective lash adjuster replaced. If it is allowed to come off you will more than likely bend a valve. Bottom line is I would not worry to much about the condition at this point. Wish I lived closer so I could help out. Its' the least any of us could do for you with a husband in Iraq. Keep us informed and these guys will jump in to help any way they can. Next time anyone blames the noise on a alternator, powersteering, A/C pump, or belt pully, have them remove the serpetine belt first. If the noise no longer exists the problem is one of those components since the belt drives all of them. Good Luck

 

Just make sure none of your plugs are backing out

 

I just went through about the same thing with a 97 250 with a 5.4L. Whether you see a chared area or not check the studs on the exhaust manifold, especially the passengers side. I didn't find any carbon or anythng untill after I found the stud on the top side. When I finally got a chance to crawl under it and have a good look, I did find a little on the bottom side. There is a posting about this problem in this forum that I just updated yesterday. Look at "BROKEN BOLTS". Hope this helps. Tell your husband welcome home and thanks.