Hey guys,

I'm sorry if this is a common topic but I have had trouble finding a definitive answer. I bought my 09 Screw FX4 about a year ago with the 5.4L triton, since then I have put around 15k miles on it. Here recently I have noticed the engine ticking, not knocking, just annoyingly ticking and it seems to be loudest on the passenger side. Under throttle, idling, doesn't matter it is always ticking and it really annoys me. I do not have an aftermarket exhaust yet and i'm sure that when I get one the tick wont be noticable, but my question is whether or not the tick is something serious and I need to get it fixed or if this is normal, truck has around 115k miles and it runs great, my buddy said it could be lifter tick or fuel injectors. I read a post from one guy that said his 5.4 came from the factory with the tick and was still running 150k+ miles strong. Any input on the matter would be great.

Thanks,

 

Some tic is normal, according to FORD. The main thing is watch your idle. When it starts going hay wire and shaking all of the place for brief periods of time, like when your trying to back a trailer in place, that indicates cam phaser issues and the truck needs to be seen and heads evaluated. But if all you got is a little lifter tic, drive it. Sometimes some lucus oil stabilizer and lucas oil fluel treatment will quiet that. I hear good things about sea foam as well. Just keep watching for idle issues, so long as they don't appear, your good from what I have been told.

 

The only fluid that should go into the crankcase of a 5.4 3 valve engine is 5w20 oil. No Lucas, no Seafoam, no nothing else.

 

Cam phases for exhaust leak

 

glc is right do not screw around with the 3v's oil. They are super sensitive. Use the manufactures recommended oil and do not use cheap filters! Motorcraft or better!