romad01

I have a 2006 f150 4x4 w the 5.4 3v. Its making a tapping noise near the 7 and 8 cylinders and i was told it was a bent rod. This doesnt reallt make sense to me though. Here is the background: two fuel injectors fouled and were stuck open. I replaced those just fine but after the second ond it started making this noise. I thought it might be some kind of carbon build up so i ran some cleaners and changed the oil but didnt yield any results. I took it to the dealership and they told me it was a bent rod but before i took it to the dealer i had already driven it with this condition for a couple thousand miles. The noise is loudesg when engine is cold, it nearly goes away at idle when its warm. It runs slightly rough at idle like it needs a tune up. But there is no smoke, no loss of power or mpg and no miss fires. It runs smooth as long as its not at idle. Any opinions? Need to know before i give the dealer $2500

sniper307

sounds like a cam phaser

racecrew25

Mine did almost the same thing...turned out to be #6 cylinder plug had burned off electrode...installed new plugs (didn't break a single one!!!) Now it runs like new, smooth, and quiet as a mouse with slippers...hope this helps

otto457

^ A cam phaser would be the opposite of what is described there cold, not there warm. It could be the plugs if they weren't changed after the injectors stuck. The stuck injectors could have very easily bend a rod though. Pull the plugs and check them, if they look fine it could be the rod.

Bennyv83

I thought these 5.4 motors had powdered metal rods? Seems like they'd snap before they bent...
You could use a long screw driver as a stethoscope and listen if the noise is in the head or in the block

Blown Ford

It's rare these rods bend. These pencil rods break. Change the plugs if you haven't already. And report back.

romad01

The plugs were changed just recently and then after the last injector went i replaced that plug again