Nothin' Fancy

I have a 2006 f150 with the 4.6 and I have a terrible tick/tapping sound whenever the truck is hot. It has a little start up rattle after sitting a whole but from what I've read online that's probably due to tensioners or a lifter. Truck still runs great when cold but after you get it hot and get down on it it develops the tick and a noticeable loss of power. I read something about timing chain guides breaking and possibly messing with the timing due to slack in the chain, but it doesn't makes any noise cold. I'm at a loss and about to tear into it just need a little motivation.

Moises

Can't help you with the tick and loss of power.... But as you will probably read throughout this forum there are a lot of suggestions about what the fix is. However I believe it's specific to the 5.4 3 valve engine, not sure though.

Now about that rattle on start up; I have the 5.4 and was getting a little rattle on start up as well. I changed my filter back to a motor craft filter and the start up rattle immediately disappeared. Unless you are already running a motor craft filter I would start there. $4 can't beat that.

Nothin' Fancy

I always run motorcraft filters. Just put a brand new one on Saturday and 5w-20 Mobil 1. Rebuilt the motor around feb last year and reused all the timing components but put all new lifters in.. I don't drive the truck much anymore and I'm at a loss and ready to run it till it blows and drop in a 460

screamineagle

Depending on how hot it is in your area, the 5w20 could be the problem. I recommend 5w30 full synthetic. It's worth a shot before you start throwing parts at it.

Nothin' Fancy

Got it service at a local shop for my last oil change and the put 10w-30 in it.. It was making the noise prior to them putting that in it and it didn't help.. I thought the same thing

Nothin' Fancy

Now I'm back to 5w-20 with no change

Nothin' Fancy

Nobody has any ideas? Only a hot tick, more like tap.. I'll try to get a video if anybody thinks they know what it could be.

Martian

Unplug your VCT solenoids for a few minutes when the truck is hot and see if the tick goes away.

Nothin' Fancy

4.6 doesn't have vct