SHAD: Have them replace it as soon as possible. You don't want that engine to knock. I mean,it won't hurt it short term but you paid good money for that truck. I wouldn't think you would be happy with the truck if everytime you cold started it you thought you bought a diesel!

Thor: Did you see the motor before they put it in? If not, did you happen to mark the fuel rail, fuel injectors and coil packs? My "FQR" motor DID NOT come with these components but everything else (heads too - long block.)

KCdan: I would plan on three days! That motor sure is crammed up under there pretty far. My service writer told me two-days too. It ended up being three.

btw - are you from Kansas City "KC"dan?


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'97 F150 Lariat, Flareside, white/sliver, SC, ORP, 5.4 (FQR), Mods: 305/70/16 GY ATS, AR Baja wheels, dual exhaust, Smittybilt Nerf Bars, Edelbrock IAS Shocks, K&N Filter and Carbon Fiber Bug Gaurd. Rigged the fog lights too.

 

For those who had a new motor put in. Are they putting the updated heads on there or the old 235 horse versions.

 

KKIRT1- yes in my mind two days would be the
absolute quickest i would expect to have the truck back and frankly feel that as long as this process has taken i am not going to worry about how long they have the truck, especially since they will provide me with something else to drive, although i am sure it will not be a truck,so in that regard i will be glad to get back into my truck and finally be slap-free. And yes I work in Kansas City, MO. but live about 40 miles south in Lousiburg KS, are you from K.C. area


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97 F-150,XLT,4X4,Supercab,bright Red,5.4,3.55 LS,LT265/75/16 Bridgestone Dueller A/T tires,Downey SST soft tonneau cover,56,000 miles with piston-slap motor about to be replaced.

 

I too am worried about the piston slap issue. My '99 4.6 has a clicking sound that is not obvious at idle but if you know what you are looking for, you can hear it. Anyway, when the engine is loaded, ie accelerating or at top gear ~40mph, bearing down on the accelerator, would cause the engine to emit the clicking sound similar to diesel engines. On Monday, I brought the truck in for the 3000mi oil change and had the mechanic looked at it (yes, I procrastinated...in retrospect, I should have brought it in from the get go since I heard this clicking sound shortly after the purchase). Well, the diagnosis is that the catalytic converters are causing this sound. Hmmm...don't know how, but... The service manager told me that they have to order the cats and they will be in about 7~10 days. Besides, he claimed that "this is a first".

'99 XLT S/C 4.6 3.55

 

William, i don't know if it is the catalytic converters or not but it does not seem to be piston-slap, the main indicator of piston-slap is at start-up of a cold engine usually the colder the outside temperature the more prevalant the piston-slap becomes,
my engine make no ticking/clicking sound after the first 20 seconds or so of the first
start of the day, some days it does not even
do it, and hopefully after next week it will never do it again, just my thoughts........

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97 F-150,XLT,4X4,Supercab,bright Red,5.4,3.55 LS,LT265/75/16 Bridgestone Dueller A/T tires,Downey SST soft tonneau cover,56,000 miles with piston-slap motor about to be replaced.

 

kcDan: Yea, I live up in "God's Country" - north of the river :-)

 

kkirt1, that's cool,what dealership replaced your motor and did they say if they had very many they were doing, I am the only one that my dealership is replacing a piston slap motor for, no one else has complained but i bet a lot of people don't even notice the noise or chalk it up as normal like FORD would like them to do.

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97 F-150,XLT,4X4,Supercab,bright Red,5.4,3.55 LS,LT265/75/16 Bridgestone Dueller A/T tires,Downey SST soft tonneau cover,56,000 miles with piston-slap motor about to be replaced.

 

Hey all....
We have had a warm spell here in Wisconsin, and I haven't noticed the knocking like I did when it was cooler (30-40 F). I guess I will have to wait for the next cold spell to be able hear the dreaded "slap". Got another question....if I am not hearing any knocking I am causing any damage?


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99 XLT,4x4, S/C, 5.4, 3.73LS, Black, 6 Disc Changer, Gibson Dual Cat-Back Exhaust

 

To all that thinks the piston slap problem will be a recall. Because this is not a safety problem, it's unlikely that it will be one. There has to be documented incidences that shows that the problem is a safety hazard. Like, if the wrist pin on the piston shears off, and sends that rod threw the block, into the cab, and decapitates the driver , they might consider a recall. I would thinks it's more of a TSB.

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'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4l, 3.55LS, tow package, K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system w/keyless entry & starter disable // Future considerations: 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's, bed mat, tonneau cover, 4" suspension lift.

 

Shad...
Where in Wisconsin are you from? I am originally from Hudson....near the Minnesota border on I-94.

 

kcdan: Bill Woods. He was vague with his answer when I asked him about others. All he would say is a "few" with a smirk. Very good shop though!

 

Hey THOR, you say you know that your new replacement engine is a 2000 yr model....Well if so you have 265 ponies in that 5.4l...That probably helps you feel abit better, picked up a extra 30 HP, not bad......Take Care

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DOGCAM
2000 F150 Lariat flareside 4X2
S/C
5.4, 3.55 Ls, Tow Pack, Captain
Chairs, White clearcoat/w
harvest gold & wedgewood blue accent,17"X8"
BFG T/As 275x60s on chrome wheels
Mods:K&N Filter, True duals
(Dynomax) with 3.5 chrome
tips out behind the rear
wheels
dog46cam@webtv.net
dogcam@myf150.com

 

Well mine has a motor build date of 5/3/99 no problems with slap yet (3200m). Anybody with this build date and the slap (not to be confused with the clap)

Thanks!

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1999 F-150 SuperCab Flairside XLT 4x4, Black (w/dark graphite int), Sport Package, 5.4, auto, 3.55LS, skid plates, captains chairs, cd changer, keyless entry, tow package, bed liner, & tonneau cover. Aftermarket Mods - Airaid FIPK, Gibson Side Swept Single, Smittybilt Modular Black Textured Nerfs, Deflecta Shield Magnum Deflector, Ventvisors, Code Alarm SureGuard40 Security, Pioneer TS-A6815 Speakers (x4), & Superchip'd.

 

I have 2,000 miles on mine and so far no piston slap. This is my first new truck in 12yrs. I love this thing and hope it cause's me no greif. I just got rid of an toyota 4x and it was great. My build date is 4/29/99 on motor. Its has been cold here 30*

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99 F150 XLT 4X4 s/c orp 5.4 automatic 3:73
Ford soft tonneau cover rubber maid bed mat and mud from the dirt bike

 

The piston slap problem is not very common so I wouldn't waste any sleep over it. I follow the largest Ford truck, F150 and Expedition sites and the number of problems with piston slap are relatively few when compared with the number of members. Naturally because it is an ENGINE related issue it is of greater concern to us all. I personally own 3 5.4L Fords and have only had the problem in 1 vehicle which will be receiving the new fix shortly. The good thing is that Ford will give you a new engine if you are one of the unlucky few.