I have taken my 97 f150 5.4 liter w/ 165k to 7 mechanics 4 of them said i need a new motor.(someting about the crank shaft is bad) The other 3 says i need new heads.Tired of not knowing what is wrong with it,and paying mechanincs. i get a real bad rattle about 3000rpm and start up. Other wise the truck runs like a top. No performance loss at all. if anything it seem like i have more hp and better mpg. In less one of yall has a good fix, I’m just going to drive it until it stop running. Put a for-sale sing it where ever it stops and walk away and buy a new truck.

 

Just out curiosity where and of the mechanics ford dealers? I'm to the point that if I have a problem I cant fix myself I wont even screw around with anyone but the dealer. They just know these engines better. Sounds to me like you have a valve train problem.

 

the dealer told me i needed ne valves because i was hot Roding the truck. the truck is 12 years old and it still looks like a new truck. i don't hot rod i got mad at the dealer and left. They also said it would cost 4000 dollars to fix the valves i did not think a truck that old was worth that kind of money.

 

Maybe you should try a different dealer. Certainly you could get a used 5.4 and have it installed if the truck is in that good of shape it might be worth it.

 

different dealer for sure. you can get port and polish bolt on heads with cams for that price, no labor but for that price.

you could possibly have noisy HLA's (hydraulic lash adjusters, aka lifters). when they collapse or get plugged they tend to make noise.

 

I'd take the belt off and start it and here if the noise still happens. Maybe it's a pully, power steering, tenioner problem. Then check the exhaust for any leaks and if they all look good then move on to the engine.

Using the right oil filter ??

I'd put a real oil pressure gage on it and see what the pressure is when the noise happens. Maybe it's the timing chain's or the tenioner for the chains causing the noise or valve lashers too ??

 

I'am using a motorcraft oil filter. did not seam t help. went to trade it it and bought some motor honey out that in. it did nothing but made me money clip 10 dollars thinner. when i went to the car lots all any of them would give me for the truck was $2000.00 the cheapest motor I found for it was 4000 grand. 800 to put it in. tell yall the truth i'm getting tired of going to the car lots any way. maybe it will last me another year. I will drain the motor honey out of the motor i can't help believe its doing more harm then good.