2004 5.4 overhead cams, ticking like crazy on rt. bank of cylinders. any suggestions?

 

just stab here....but most likely your cam phasers and tensioners guides for the timing gears and chains are on the way out.

does it run fine other wise?
Does it have any codes tripped?
How many miles are on it?
Does it go away after awhile , like when it gets to operating temp? Or does it appear after it is warmed up?

 

If it's not the phaser on bank #1 (passenger side), the the most likely reason is one of the roller rockers on either cylinder #2 or 3 is bad. The 3 valve rockers are smaller then the 2 valve original version, this is to fit all three in the same space. With the smaller rocker arm came a smaller roller bearing which is easer to fail. The rocker arms on cylinder #2 & 3 seem to get a little less oil splash or see a little more load causing premature failure. It's easy to replace them AFTER you get the valve cover off. I don't use the special valve spring tool, I just loosen all the cam bearing bolts evenly and let the cam "float" up slightly, replace all the rockers on bank 1 and evenly tighten them back down.

Put a stethoscope directly on the cam cover over the cylinder in question. A bad rocker is easy to detect. you should also notice a slight lose in power with this problem.


The other reason for a possible "tick" is an exhaust manifold leak, should be easy to also detect.

 

Fuel injectors can be noisy as well. If the ticking is only for a few seconds /minute after startup then your oil filter may be the problem.The 3v lash adjusters unlike the 2v lash adjuster are designed to leakdown when the engine is shut off so on startup they will be soft until full oil pressure is reached, this is for emissions purposes at startup. If you are not getting good oil pressure to that cyl head they will remain soft and generate a ticking noise. Check the oil pressure at that head or for the entire engine for that matter. Another possibility is a camshaft that the lobes were not heat treated right and they are wearing down. Or as others have mentioned,phasers, etc.

 

Thanks to everyones response to my problem, Iceman59

 

the engine only has 116k

 

I love my F150, but ill have to say, ive never had to drive my Ranger with fears that something like one of the above problems might happen(although they dont get these problems, you get the point) because they are so widespread! Im gonna say the Ranger 4.0 SOHC is proabably the most reliable engine I've ever had

 

The 2v modular s are pretty bullet proof. Hopefully Ford got it right with the new engine line up..