Scotty my name is Charles and I'm having some problems with an 04 ford f150 5.4l 3v triton.
The engine is purchased and was installed brand new. I have a ticking noise coming from the valve train only in bank 2 #8 cylinder intake side. I pulled the valve cover and found no wear in any of the roller followers and no play in any of the lash adjusters. I have no stored codes but when I monitor the live data at hot idle I see the long term fuel trim for bank 2 flutters at 4.89% and 5% while bank 1 sits steady at 2.34%. short term trim is anywhere between -2% and 4%. Idle is also intermittently rough in park and while in drive however gets noticeably rougher as I drive and come to a stop while in gear or in park.
When I monitor long term trims with the truck in park but engine speed at 1300 bank 2 and bank 1 match at 2.34% however bank 2 flutters between 1.95% and 6% but generally settles at 2.34% for a majority of the time with the ac and accessories off.
The ticking noise is loudest when the engine is cold but is sporadic. While the engine is hot the ticking is consistent but much quieter. I've searched for exhaust leaks, popped sparkplugs, loose and or damaged exhaust manifolds, lash issues, roller follower issues, adjuster issues, ignition and vtc issues. And found nothing as of yet. I did find some awkward cam adjustments being made in the live data while at idle. ~10-19 degree changes while at idle.
I've located several vacuum leaks and haven't found any others that have changed the issues I'm having.
Please help.
I use an autel maxidas. It helps but it's slow.
Thanks.
I bought my 05 Triton two years ago unaware of the problems that triton engines had. Right away my truck started making the clunking sound at every drive-through and when I was stopped at lights. I even had overheating problems often and the check engine light was always on.
One day I broke down and I couldn’t believe it all the oil was gone out of the engine I’m not sure if it’s related in anyway or if I just had a leak somewhere. I did end up having a leak in my cam shaft bearing and had that replaced months down the road. Anyways I pulled into a gas station and was forced to buy the only oil they had available to fill back into my engine which was 10 W 30. My triton requires 5W 20 as far as the specs. I noticed on the drive home that my truck seem to be OK.
The next day or so somebody mentioned that 91 gas helped their vehicle run better. So I filled it up with 91 gas and ran the 10W-30 oil the following week and I couldn’t believe it the check engine light went off and the truck started purring like a kitten. The check engine light remained off for about six months. Once I replaced my camshaft seal I continued using 10W-30 and 91 gas and my truck runs like a dream. I really can’t believe it still. I also put fuel injector cleaner in every couple of tanks which really seems to get it running good. I have to tell someone about this because I see these trading engines all over the place and I can’t help but wonder if some of them that have been written off because of the camshaft issues if they were just to run 91 and 10 W 30 in them. If their vehicles might do what Mine did.
My check engine light comes on every once in a while but when I run fuel injector cleaner it goes away for a month or two. In two years I’ve put 40,000 miles on this truck I depend on it every single day
My truck currently sits at 211,000 miles
Thinking that there are more vacuum leaks because the fuel trim. That or the map or maf sensor may be throwing the timing out as it adjusts for the lack of air. Could even be the intake or plenum gasket.
Thicker oil can often cover up bigger problems, but glad to hear it worked for you. I agree with Cjbman about the ignition timing being off.
Car Wizard made a video about this engine. Starts at time mark 2:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcN_WcGr4BU
