mde280

I have what I think is a similar noise coming from my 2014 5.0 with 21k on it. It's been in and out of the dealership for a couple of weeks now, and they haven't been able to figure out what is causing it - they say that most things have been ruled out already. Unfortunately they also say that the Ford tech line is pretty slow to get back to them and has not been able to help out much yet, so I've been rock'n a Focus for the past week (at least I have a ride ). (I've sent a PM to FordService to hopefully help move things along, but have had no reply yet.)

What do you guys think? Does it sound like the cylinder #4 issue? Like the video shows, it is much louder near the passenger tire. It drives me nuts when I have the windows down!

FordService

Thanks for reaching out about this, mde280. I've received your private message; I'll be sure to check it out today and get back to you as soon as I can.

Brittany

piperville

I have a 2012 F150 5.0 and have EXACT same issues as you. I have also bin in to Ford 5 or 6 times and get same run around. They say it is normal. Well I say buy my F'n truck then because I sure can't sell it with a knock!!! They are so fast to say it is nothing but my resale just crashed and I am PISSED OFF! I could post my recording but it is same as yours.....

ccdrew

I have a 2012 STX with about 44k miles. Had the knock, probably started around 39k or so (noticed it first in the drivethrough lane, but assumed it was another vehicle for a while, then it became fairly obvious) and waited a little bit to make sure that the sound would be there when I got to the dealer. it would only happen when the vehicle was warmed up AND had been driven a while. Initially, I could make it stop by changing the idle (If that makes sense; putting it into park or neutral from drive seemed to stop it sometimes) and it didn't seem to be completely synchronized to the vehicle's idle. (although having such a complex timing system, maybe I was listening to the wrong thing). When I dropped it off, they did tell me there was a TSB about engine ticks being normal, but that they didn't necessarily agree with it. After four days of diagnosing (evidently, some of the testing they were doing required the vehicle to be cold to set up, and my knock happens when the truck is warm/hot, so each test took a while. It did not knock when I got there, but they said they got it to happen fairly quickly after I left.

They were unable to diagnose it, but since they're getting down the 'lower engine' and running out of replaceable potential causes, they're putting in a new engine.

Not so happy about the ding to my vehicle's resume, but I am glad they're making it right to the best of their ability.

My dealer seemed to have a 'make her happy' attitude about the whole thing. Could be because there are a lot of trucks (and other ford dealers) in this area (Metro Detroit) or could just be a service based culture.

In any event, I thought I'd chime in my experience.

Also, in case anyone is wondering, you do not get the same respect on the highway in a Focus, although I'm enjoying the MPG while I wait to get the truck back.

esb281

No kidding...I've been driving a Subaru rental for the last 2 weeks. I hate the damn thing but the MPG is solid.

jhallgren80

It looks like I am not the only one having the same issue as you guys. I have 2012 with 34,000. Mine is very loud. I have been able to make it very audible with doing the following, You guys may want to try this and see if it does the same thing for you, :
1. Drive the vehicle until the water temp is at normal operating temp (trans temp may still show slightly cold)
2. Pull over in a safe place and get out and observe. A very audible knock will be present.
3. Slightly raise RPS from idle to 1500 and let off. As the engine idles down you will hear the knocking as well. I can also do this while the engine is cold and hear the same thing. Definitely piston slap. Mine seams to be coming from Cylinder 3 or 4.

I have taken it to the dealer as many of you have. They called me back and stated they could not hear it. I told them I can duplicate this every time and would like to drive with the tech to show him. After a test drive with the tech, (performing the steps i explained above), he stated, oh yeah, I can hear it now. They had the truck for 1 day and called me back and said it was normal. This is definitely not normal. I bought the truck used back in Early September and didn't notice until I was in a drive thru. Then I started paying more attention. The only time I don't hear the knock is if I drive for a good 30 minutes. But If i turn off the truck and let it sit for about 15 mins and start it back up, there the knock is. I have read some have their engines replace with either long blocks or short blocks.

Anybody have any luck getting your dealer to state this is an internal engine problem and not say it is just normal noise?

ccdrew

2012 F150 STX with 5.0 engine. 45k miles...

So I have my truck back, purring like a kitten. (It's nice to have a full sized steering wheel and functional mirrors again)

The write-up for my truck said that 'connecting rod bearing worn' and 'camshaft bearing journals scored' which I'm assuming is telling for the final diagnosis.

My limited engine knowledge (gleaned mainly from years of keeping jalopies on the road) cannot comprehend what this means, however I wanted to post it in case it may help others isolate the cause.

As I stated, the service rep said that he had a TSB indicating a normal engine tick, he wasn't sold that it was normal and spent a few days diagnosing it before determining a new engine was needed.

He also indicated that the oilpan was tricky when reinstalling as well as that he had to replace the radiator hoses and connections (Which are supposed to be reuseable, but thankfully failed at the first test at the dealer) so if you end up in this direction, ensure they replace those parts.

LOCO LAPTOP

Rod bearing failing could be caused by a few things, but without seeing the connecting rod bearings, it would be hard to tell. Here a general idea:

Insufficient oil supply (oil starvation)
Breaking the oil film (due to oil contamination or bearing material fatigue)
Misalignment (e.g. out-of-shape grinding, distorted connecting rod)
Poor journal surface finish
Foreign particles embedded in the bearing surface (Could be factory or after the fact)
Low viscosity oil (diluted with fuel or coolant)

I can tell you Ford corp will be taking that engine back for full analysis to figure out exactly what happened, your issue was not related to the tick so who knows what really happened here.

I also notice a pattern here, Most people that have issues with their 5.0 are with 2011 and 2012. Not as much for 13 and 14. So I think they changed something in 13, but it's still early.

Masi1926

^ I have to say it again, because maybe there's some truth to that.
Mine is a 14 and granted it's only at 22,000 miles since November 2013, but it is rock solid quiet.
Maybe.. and this sounds exaggerated being a Ford engine, but this being my 7th new truck (3 Chevy's) it's the quietest I've owned.

jhallgren80

I have an appointment with the dealer Nov. 25th for a second visit. Have a Rep this time to help with this. Will let you guys know how it goes.