2006 V8 4WD. In the last 2 weeks I have noticed what sounds like someone shaking a can full of pennys when I am on the interstate. It only happens in overdrive when I go uphill. If I let off the gas for a second it stops immediately. Back on the gas it starts back up until I get back on level ground. I tried adding 1/2 a tank of premium gas, no change. I tried different brand of gas no change. Is this caused by ethanol or what? I only have 13K miles and am at a loss as to what is causing this noise. Runs fine when it happens, no miss or lack of power. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks for any advice.

 

This could be a stupid response but I'd check (Actually I don't even know if the f-150s have one) your heat shield near the cat converters. I've never actually looked at my cats yet since I've bought the truck, but will be doing so this week when I install my magnaflow system.

My buddys 95sn mustang had a sound on the highway that sounded like someone shaking pennies when we were on the gas.

Turned out his heatshield was coming loose, so we pulled that bitch off on the side of the highway.

 

its possibly detonation from ethanol gas yes. have u put it to the floor to see if u still got this rattling noise? theres probabaly to much timing in the engine to run ethanol

 

I doubt ethanol in the gas would cause detonation, it's actually an octane booster.

 

I'd check the heat shields first, then try a different brand of fuel.

 

ethanol blended fuel if not propely tuned in the PCM. can cause detonation from it burning so poorly alcohol causes petroleum to burn less efficiently. makes much less power. which is why ur fuel economy take a big hit with ethanol and ethanol blended fuel. its not a way to save the environment because it causes us to buy more fuel and have more unburned fuel emitting through the tail pipe its way for the oil industry to make more money selling fuel because they can blend ethanol with it and use less petrol per gallon.

 

And - It takes more oil to make a given quantity of ethanol than it takes to make the gasoline it replaces.

I suppose we could use ethanol power to produce & deliver the biomass and distill & deliver the ethanol.
I wonder what that would cost?
-Bill

 

I checked the heat shield today and found it to be tight. I added a bottle of HEET today just in case I have an ethanol /water problem. Have tried different brands, but don't know who is using ethanol and who isn't. I will try kicking into passing gear next time it happens and see what happens. Thanks for the replies.

 

Almost all vehicles built since 1980 can run gasoline with 10% ethanol added with no problems. The O2 sensors and the PCM's can easily compensate for 10% and yes, you will lose a bit of gas mileage.

In fact, your 06, assuming it's NOT flex fuel, can handle up to about 35% ethanol before you run out of richening ability and throw a CEL.

I would take it back to the dealer - you are still on warranty and see what they say. Take the service writer for a ride to demonstrate.

 

yeah, if under 36/36 bring to dealer... diaging this over the net sounds a bit difficult.