It SOUNDS like the piston slap has visted my engine this morning. We just now started getting weather down into the low 50's and when I started my engine this morning I heard the piston slapping for about 10 seconds then went away. I had an old 401 big block that had a piston slapping in it, so I know what to listen for. I called my dealer this morning and told them and they got very quite and said that they would look at it, but you could tell from their voice that they already heard about this problem. Has anyone had good success in getting this problem fix or are you having to fight with Ford to get this problem fixed.

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97 F150 XLT, 5.4, EXTANG,SUPERCHIP, EDELBROCK SHOCKS,
GIBSON SPLIT REAR,
HELLWIG SWAY BAR,
AIRAID, BOSCH +4,
SONY ES-CDX880 HEAD,
SONY ES-XM5046 AMP
BOSTON PRO'S 6.5 FRONT

 

well this is my first post so if its messed up, sorry.
I have a question in reguards to the piston slap problem and since i just purchased a new 1999 f-150 with a 5.4l i have just rolled over the thousand mile mark and as the weather gets colder i know for sure that i have this problem. so has ford came out with anyting "official" as to the fix or am i going to get shafted on this new purchase i've searched but haven't seen a definate fix?

 

Is piston slap only on the V8's?

IU think my 4.2L V6 exhibits this once in a while....

Wes

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1999 Ford F-150 XL Regular Cab,with all the XLT "Stuff" (door moldings, 4X4 Color Keyed bumper pad) Harvest Gold, 4.2L V6, 5 Speed, 3.08, Kenwood Stereo with Self powered Sub, and Kenwood Speakers, KMC 16X8 Rims,
K&N Filter, that I think makes a heck of a difference on this motor.
And NOW, a DynoMax Exhaust with 2 1/4" pipes and 3.5" Echo's...looks good...ask about the sound
Future Mods: Color keyed/Chrome Mirrors and the door handles

 

WCHAIN
My 4.2 had a knocking sound on cold start ups, but it went away when warmed up.
Five other 4.2 trucks I,ve heard also had that sound. I think it's normal with all the dissimilar metals in the engine expanding at different rates.

Does anyone know if 99 4.6 engines have a piston slap problem?

 

I have a 99F150 with the 4.2 and my engine is very noisy when I first start it in the morning. Only mine doesn't quiet down much after its warmed up. My engine noise comes from under the truck through the cats. It sounds like piston slap to me.

Does any other 4.2 owners have this same problem?

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99 F150 XL Sport reg/cab
4.2 V6 3.55 gears m/tran
tinted windows, chrome tube bed rails, class III hitch

 

Has anyone thought of contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at their web site (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/) to have them look into this? This is about the only way to really get this problem solved..if there truly is one. Currently, there are no active investigations into this..(just received a reply to my e-mail to them) and I would seriously doubt Ford will do anything until N.H.T.S.A. gets involved.

Fill out the complaint form: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ivoq/default.htm

"Please provide your name, address, and phone number, as well as specific details about your vehicle and the problems you encountered with it. We would like to have a telephone number where you can be reached or where we can leave a message. This is necessary to obtain more detailed information when required for our investigative efforts. You may want to have your owner's manual handy as you proceed through the several screens of the questionnaire. Required information is marked with *. "

I have a 1998 Ford F-150 XLT, 5.4L V-8, 16,000 miles..and have not heard any piston slap at all. No problems at all from this truck.

 

I've heard this sound like a rod knock since my truck was almost new but, I thought it was just because the oil had not pumped up yet. Is this the sound everyone is calling piston slap and does anyone know when Ford is cutting off help, I already have 53k on my truck.

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'97 F-150 XLT,4.6, 4X4 ORP Pacific Green, Super Cab, w/Raven Cab High Glass Cap, Airaid, Custom Dual Cat back exhaust w/ Flowmaster,Superchip, Rhino Lining, Halogen Driving Lights

 

I have a 2001 F-150, 5.4 SuperCrew with nearly 20K. Since 97 I have had problems with a piston slap on other F-150's, so on this one I used Motorcraft oil. I recently changed to Mobile 1 and the slap comes in the morning and, if real cold, also after a 4-6 hour period of time.

Does anyone have any insights?