Start up rattle/knock on 2005 F-150 5.4 - 3 valve

[mrsilv04]

Tonight, a friend fired up her 2005 F-150 with a 3 valve 5.4, with 75,000 miles, and it knocked for about 3 seconds after start up before it quieted down. The engine had been completely warm, but had sat for about an hour to 90 minutes in 35 degree weather.

I yelled at her... "What the heck was that?"

Another friend was standing there. He has the same engine in his 2004 F-150, and he says that his will do it too.

Now, with all of the grief that I've heard about "piston slap" on GM 5.3 V8's, I want to know what this noise is on these Ford 5.4's, in which two owners stood there and told me was "normal".

My first reaction was "Fram oil filter". Honestly, that's what it sounded like.

 

[Chris142]

Timing chain rattling? Does this engine use a pressure fed timing chain tensioner?

 

[Art_Vandelay]

Does that engine require an 'S' filter like the 4.6's do? As in the the Motorcraft 820S.

 

[oilboy123]

No silicone ADBV on the filter. Do you run a Motorcraft filter?

 

[mrsilv04]

I don't know what oil filter either vehicle uses, but both engines sound the same.... and both owners consider the knocking "normal".

 

[Michael_P]

I had a 5.4 that made the same noise. It was sporadic so I never worried about it too much. Aside from a spark plug launching itself the truck never skipped a beat.

 

[crazyoildude]

try a motorcraft filter
and use 5w20 or 5w30 and see what happens

 

[bdcardinal]

cam phasers. there is a TSP to replace them as well as the selected lifters.

 

[mechtech2]

It may be a mechanical problem, so any service bulletins should be checked out.
But a proper oil filter often cures things like this. They have anti-drainback valves in them for just this purpose - less loss of oil in the passages and filter for good flow on start up.

Motorcraft has very good oil filters.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
cam phasers. there is a TSP to replace them as well as the selected lifters.


How widespread is this problem, and how difficult (and costly) is the fix? Why have both of these owners decided to live with it instead of fixing it?

Will this problem become worse as the engines age?

I learned of two trucks that both have this problem, in the same night. I never knew that this existed.

 

[bdcardinal]

happens on a lot of the 3v motors, not just in the F-series but Mustangs as well. its not horribly expensive, but it can be time consuming, especially if you dont have the right tools.