Rattle under load
09-17-2013, 02:03 PM
#22
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I have what sounds like the same thing. I hear it sometimes with no trailer going up a hill or almost whenever I accelerate while towing. Like a subtle metal rattle somewhere near the passenger side. I'm still trying to figure it out.
09-18-2013, 11:11 AM
#23
Ryan
I have an '06 5.4 that bad plugs fouled the cats on... I got new plugs and new cats (replaced under warranty) and the issues went away. That being said, good gas with cleaning additives and detergents make these engines run night and day better. I have found that low quality gas doesn't only kill my mpg's, but they make my truck run like ****. Stick with Shell, BP, Exxon, etc. as much as possible..
Now...You will hear endless ranting, raving and arguing on this forum over 5W-20 vs. 5W-30 and which you should be running in the 3V's... Ignore the arguing, and trust me on this one, use 5W-20 (preferably a semi-syn or full-synthetic) Also, use a GOOD oil filter that has an anti-drain back valve in it, like Motorcraft filters have...Fram are garbage... Now before people start typing up their rage filled argument to counter this point...hear me out. Ford didn't say to use 5W-20 just to "meet EPA" regulations or some other b/s gimmick like you'll hear people conjure up and rant about...That is all solely that person's opinion, and just like anyone's opinion (just like my own) it should be taken with a grain of salt. Nobody on this Forum knows better than the Ford Engineers that designed and built these engines regardless of what they think they know (no offense everyone...) but being an engineer myself in the automotive industry, I can assure you these variable cam timing engines have very tight tolerances, so tight in fact that running a 30 weight oil can and will over time with sludge build up and oil viscosities changing over time, as well as the oil degrading over time, a 30 weight WILL clog up cam phasers and cause the infamous cam phaser "diesel tick." I'm just going to leave it at that, because this thread is to help you fix your noise, and not going into more details or start an argument over the cam phaser issues and what causes it...
So, If you've changed your plugs, changed your cats, determined its not a leaking exhaust manifold, and (it doesn't sound like it from your description) it is not the IWE solenoids, then you've eliminated 4 very common issues with these trucks. I would next look for something obvious like a loose or broke engine mount, or something loose under the hood. I had a similar rattle in my '06 and found that it was the pipe from my Gotts mod rattling against the inner fender when the engine was under load, it was at just the right frequency to rattle my plastic pipe against the metal fender...
If you have eliminated all these variables, and running a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through it doesn't help, then go to a Ford dealer and have them diagnose it to make sure its not something that could be catastrophic like a cam phaser or bottom end issue. Just be sure to go to a trusted dealer with a good service department
That was long but I hope it helps you out
Now...You will hear endless ranting, raving and arguing on this forum over 5W-20 vs. 5W-30 and which you should be running in the 3V's... Ignore the arguing, and trust me on this one, use 5W-20 (preferably a semi-syn or full-synthetic) Also, use a GOOD oil filter that has an anti-drain back valve in it, like Motorcraft filters have...Fram are garbage... Now before people start typing up their rage filled argument to counter this point...hear me out. Ford didn't say to use 5W-20 just to "meet EPA" regulations or some other b/s gimmick like you'll hear people conjure up and rant about...That is all solely that person's opinion, and just like anyone's opinion (just like my own) it should be taken with a grain of salt. Nobody on this Forum knows better than the Ford Engineers that designed and built these engines regardless of what they think they know (no offense everyone...) but being an engineer myself in the automotive industry, I can assure you these variable cam timing engines have very tight tolerances, so tight in fact that running a 30 weight oil can and will over time with sludge build up and oil viscosities changing over time, as well as the oil degrading over time, a 30 weight WILL clog up cam phasers and cause the infamous cam phaser "diesel tick." I'm just going to leave it at that, because this thread is to help you fix your noise, and not going into more details or start an argument over the cam phaser issues and what causes it...
So, If you've changed your plugs, changed your cats, determined its not a leaking exhaust manifold, and (it doesn't sound like it from your description) it is not the IWE solenoids, then you've eliminated 4 very common issues with these trucks. I would next look for something obvious like a loose or broke engine mount, or something loose under the hood. I had a similar rattle in my '06 and found that it was the pipe from my Gotts mod rattling against the inner fender when the engine was under load, it was at just the right frequency to rattle my plastic pipe against the metal fender...
If you have eliminated all these variables, and running a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through it doesn't help, then go to a Ford dealer and have them diagnose it to make sure its not something that could be catastrophic like a cam phaser or bottom end issue. Just be sure to go to a trusted dealer with a good service department
That was long but I hope it helps you out