Possible Rod Knock

[02_5.4Ed.B]

My 2000 Ford Expedition with the 5.4l V8 is making a weird lower end engine noise. At the bottom of this post there is a link to the video I made and uploaded to YouTube. It has a slight "diesel noise" at idle. The noise quiets down when I rev the engine up, almost to the point of being silent. The engine has made this sound since I got it over a month ago, and it has not gotten any louder. There is a pretty noticeable piston slap when the engine is cold, but that sound goes away once the engine starts to warm up.

The engine does have new oil in it. I did notice a metal shaving or two on the dipstick when I checked it last week, but i'm not sure if that is a big deal or not. I am really worried, so any help would be appreciated.
VIDEO- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmLNW8UV7VU

 

[stamp11127]

That sounds like every rod knock I've heard before. But usually the knock is more pronounced as the engine speeds up. Plus metal on the dipstick - not good. Tear it down and see how bad things are then make a decision on what your options are.

 

[docraymund]

Sounds like a diesel alright. Its better to resell it now while its still fresh and you haven't poured so much money into it. Major engine overhaul can be pretty costly.

 

[02_5.4Ed.B]

I know I started this thread quite a while ago, but I wanted to make an update.

I had the truck on a lift and used a mechanic's stethoscope to listen to different parts of the engine. There was NO knocking sound heard from the oil pan. I also used the stethoscope on the exhaust pipe from the manifold to catalytic converter, and I could hear the knocking sound that is in the video (link in my original post). The metal shavings that I thought came off the dipstick ended up being dirt from the top of the dipstick.
Recently, I disconnected each of the ignition coils one by one while the engine was running, and the sound never went away. I've driven the vehicle for almost 5 months now, and the sound still hasn't gotten any louder.

The manifolds do leak, but the puffing sound that they make cannot be heard at idle. There is still piston slap when the engine is cold, but that goes away after it warms up.

Any ideas as to what might be causing the sound besides rod knock? It just doesn't seem like a rod knock to me, especially after I disconnected each ignition coil one by one, and the sound never changed.

Thanks.

 

[docraymund]

Other than that it could be valvetrain noise.

 

[hammerg26]

You mention it goes away once warm - any chance there is an issue with the oil filter? Is all of that new? What are you using?

 

[02_5.4Ed.B]

The oil filter is new, and I have been using Fram oil filters for the two oil changes I've done so far. I used conventional 5W-20 for the first oil change, and for the second oil change I used Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic 5W-20 with a quart of Lucas oil stabilizer. It had a NAPA oil filter on it when I got it. The piston slap clacking sound (probably worn rings) goes away when it warms up, but the weird diesel sound does not change at all based on temperature. No issues with oil pressure that I know of.

 

[Hit By Thunder]

Hmmmm interesting. I have a heavy tick in mine from the top front passenger side that I am worried about. If you have run yours for 5 months with that noise mine will last along time.

how many miles on your expy? Could it be a catalytic coverter coming apart and rattling inside????? Just a guess

 

[02_5.4Ed.B]

Hmmmm interesting. I have a heavy tick in mine from the top front passenger side that I am worried about. If you have run yours for 5 months with that noise mine will last along time.

how many miles on your expy? Could it be a catalytic coverter coming apart and rattling inside????? Just a guess

Mine has about 170,000 miles on it now. I've been thinking that the sound could be something rattling in the exhaust system, possibly the catalytic converter like you mentioned. Does the ticking noise on yours sound like valve train tapping noise or piston slap/clack? Does it do it when cold and warmed up?



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[hammerg26]

I have heard of issues with Fram filters in the past. Have you tried Motorcraft filter?

 

[02_5.4Ed.B]

I have heard of issues with Fram filters in the past. Have you tried Motorcraft filter?

I haven't tried a Motorcraft filter yet, but I certainly will for the next oil change. The truck was making the same sound with the NAPA filter as well though. I went underneath the truck again with the engine running, and the sound really seems to be coming from the cylinder banks rather than the oil pan area, so I'm wondering if the engine may just have piston slap that is so severe, it never goes away completely after the engine warms up.

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[dschallmo98expo]

I currently own 2 expeditions a 98 with 185K miles and a 2000 with 246K miles. Both of them do the same thing when cold. I start them. wait for engine to warm up and the noise goes away.... almost. can still hear it if you listen for it. However, ive been told that its normal on these engines. I do not buy it. I do believe that if I am going to go to so much effort to find out what it is and correct it, I might as well replace the motor. then there is no guess work. However anyone has a cheep fix.

 

[02_5.4Ed.B]

Yeah, I've heard the same thing from a lot of people about it being normal, but I've also heard a lot of these engines with high miles that don't make any noise at all. My engine does burn more oil than it should. Does the noise you are hearing when the engine is warm sound similar to the one in my video? Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmLNW8UV7VU.

 

[jlo82585]

you know, I have been wondering about this sound for a long time now. my truck sounds identical and has ever since I bought it, I originally thought it was a exhaust leak until I replaced the mainfolds and the noise persisted. I noticed it gets louder when I use synthetic oil but its been making that noise now for 3 years and over 20k miles and a few long distance hauls to PCB so I guess I stopped worrying about it. It would be nice to know what it is though.

 

[dschallmo98expo]

The noise on the video is similar. however it stops once the trucks are warmed up. No burning of oil. no leaking of oil, no burning of water or leaking of water on both trucks. I also would like to know what it is. Probably piston slap at this point. I was told to prolong life of motor, let it warm up before driving it to insure oil is thru out the motor.

 

[98eb5.4]

i've had a mild idle knock (never traced it) for ~ 110k clicks (kilometers) from purchase @ ~ 380k to current 490k,

engine uses a bit of oil, otherwise all good

 

[02_5.4Ed.B]

Thank you everyone for the replies, it is much appreciated. I'm glad to hear that some other trucks are making the same sound, and aren't getting any worse either.

 

[tcwaltz]

You might try 5/30 on an oil change one time. I know at least through 2000 they were suppose to have 5/30. Might be curious to see if it quiets down with a little thicker oil in it.

I also have a 2001 TA. Aluminum LS1 motor. Sounds like it has ball bearings bouncing around inside until it warms up.

 

[02_5.4Ed.B]

You might try 5/30 on an oil change one time. I know at least through 2000 they were suppose to have 5/30. Might be curious to see if it quiets down with a little thicker oil in it.

I also have a 2001 TA. Aluminum LS1 motor. Sounds like it has ball bearings bouncing around inside until it warms up.

I used synthetic 5W20 and about a quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer for the last oil change. The Lucas oil stabilizer is very thick stuff. The sound quieted down only slightly, but the engine runs noticeably smoother with the Lucas additive. I'll definitely use a heavier weight oil like 5w30 for the next oil change. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Hit By Thunder]

Mine has about 170,000 miles on it now. I've been thinking that the sound could be something rattling in the exhaust system, possibly the catalytic converter like you mentioned. Does the ticking noise on yours sound like valve train tapping noise or piston slap/clack? Does it do it when cold and warmed up?



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ya, mine sounds like it is valvetrain but stickingyour head in the fender area above the tire, it seems louder there. Its quiet when first started for about 10-15 seconds then its loud, when it warms up it is quieter. I am running 15w40 this oil change to see if there is any change in sound, there doesn't seem to be any difference. I have about 600km on this oil change. My expy burns no oil and the tail pipe has a nice white chalky consistency inside, no oily residue