I have a 02 with the 5.4L and only has 6,000 miles on it and i am already hearing what sounds like piston slap. I thought that this problem was supposed to be eliminated as of 2000 models? Apparently it isn' becuase i had a 99 that had piston slap and this one sounds just like it. I am very disappointed, and very aggravated. I did get my engine replaced in my 99 after much hassle and complaining, but it was a major production to get it fixed. I may have to do it all over again now. Thanks Ford Motor Company for fixing the problem, i won't buy another 5.4L again because of this. I guess i will just have to shell out the $$ and get a powerstroke diesel. Anybody know anything about this problem or have any suggestions??

 

I had a '97 that had it REAL bad. I too made the mistake of trusting that Ford admitted to and fixed the problem, so I went ahead and bought an '01. It started slapping at about 6k also. I can feel your pain. It is very disappointing.

2001 5.4
4x4 off-road

 

No Ford did not fix the problem , I been on the phone with Ford customer service and dealer several times . They will not fix it , All they say its normal noise for that engine.. Like I' ve told them ,if it made that noise the first day when I went to pickup the truck , I would have refused it . and saved $30k and alot of headaches. .
Just think about it, you guys walk up to a used car dealer ad start up any vehicle and if sounds like crap you will not buy it. nothing the salesman can say will change your mind. .
Now what about are trade in value ?. I can't sell this Truck to a private buyer. unless its 90 degrees out , in my case i'll have to wait till June or july. .

 

Are you sure you guys just aren't being a little over sensative to noise? All of these new modern alloy/iron/aluminum engines make a little noise at start up. You said it your self you will have to sell it in summer. That tells me that you probably have normal cold weather sartup noise.

What oil and filters you guys using? Do you give it gas when you start it?

No flames intended. I believe that a lot of us on this board (Including me) are over sensative to the slightest noise.

Piston Slap is a very defined noise and doesn't usually last that long. Where valve train, belt, different types of metal heating up at different rates, cats heating up, etc noise can last much longer.

In the end I hope that you don't really have piston slap!

Good luck.

 

I don't know about everyone else , But I had another motor (350 chevy )make this noise and turn out the a big chuck of the piston skirt had broken off. This case all service was done at the dealer .
I notice it more than anyone else ,becauce most of my driving is late at night ,Less traffic most of the time I have the radio off, and it taps and clucks away for more that ten minutes after start up . I wouldn't care so much but we spent alot of money for this truck .

Here are some more problems I had or will have Fixed.
Drivers door Actuator Three times ,
Central Security module Two times.
Now Engine knock , Transmision noise cluck at or below 15 mph.
another Cluck coming from back of truck ,during tight left and right turns.
and Seats that creak( lunbar area) like they are made from wood . and last right front pass. seat belt will not re-track.

 

I had a 1998 F150 s/c 4x4 5.4 which also had this noise it progressively got worse and finally the engine locked up with 80,000 miles on it. I had a insurance warranty on the truck and they replaced the engine with another 5.4 this engine made the same noise just as the other one did.
I traded the 1998 to a 2003 F150 super crew king ranch 4x4 and now have about 6,000 miles on it and i can hear the same noise starting in this one too.
I hope they get this problem fixed for the new 2004's.

 

All 5.4s have cold engine piston slap. some worse than others. its from the "short skirt" low friction design of the piston, combined with the very long stroke of the 5.4

Check out the new 3 valve version of the 5.4, it has redesigned pistons with longer skirts to stop the noise. Short of seeing if those pistons will fit, you'll have to live with it.

 

My experience is very limited with the new trucks (I've ordered mine, but its not here yet). However, are you sure its not just the normal sound forged pistons make when warming up? I don't know if the new trucks have forged pistons, but on my old Nova with a race-built engine and forged pistons, you are required to go with a larger gap because they expand differently, otherwise they would seize up when hot.

 

hey guys,

Thanks for all your replies, sorry i haven't replied, i have been out of town. I don't think this sound is normal because i had a 99 and had the engine make the same noise, had the engine replaced and it never made the noise. If it is normal i think that they should tell people that, so that they are not worrying about it, and more importantly they should fix it, who wants to own a 30K dollar vehicle that knocks, not me. I hope they get it fixed, but as for me i won't ever buy another 5.4L. I will spend the extra 5K for a powerstroke next time, either that or i may have to resort to a dodge, chevy, or gmc, as much as that hurts me to say. I am a big ford fan, but i won't tollerate something like that, as for me i will be taking my truck in next week to find out what is going on with it. Thanks again for all your help.

 

Couldn't agree more. Ive had 2 4.6l F150s, and they sound the same as my 5.4l, but it doesnt have to be piston slap! All of them sound like this in the cold in the AM. Piston slap doesnt hurt the engine at all, if you even have it. Wait for 04 then, the new 3v 5.4l wont have any noise. I wonder what you guys would be like if you had a diesel

 

Good, go buy a Chevy/GMC and have the thing knock louder than your fake piston slap 5.4l.

 

Good post. You're *exactly* right.

 

hcmq's got a good point. They make alot of weird noises when warming up, but i can always tell when my truck slaps. Sounds like someone pounding on the hood. The way i can easily avoid it is to let the truck warm up for 1.5-2 mins in cold weather. It only does it when i crank it, run for 10 seconds, and put it into reverse. Then its "slap slap slap" but when i let it idle for a while its fine. I dont like the "start and go" method. Even in summer i let the truck get all its juices flowing before i make it pull.
Just my .02

 

Will someone explain Piston Slap? What causes it and will it wear out or tear up the engine? I have 2 F150's a 2001 4.2 and a 2002 4.6, havent heard any strange noises.

 

Texcowboy--its basically a "piston to bore clearance" problem that involves the piston slapping a valve or something. THere been multitudes of articles written just do a search. Dont worry most slappers do no damage.