Have a bad engine knock?

Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 FORD F-150
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 230,000 MILES
Hi, so over a year ago I did a timing job and cam phaser swap on my 5.4l v8 3valve triton, it’s been running great ever since. Well about 3 weeks ago I was driving down the road and I turned my ac on and a knocking started. Only on driver side. So when I pulled over, I knew it wasn’t the timing because of the sound! It wasn’t the tick! And it didn’t happen until I turned the air on so it had me thinking maybe ac compressor or something so I got home and I took my belt off and unfortunately the knock was still there. So then I thought maybe a loose spark plug, made sure they were all torqued to 25 ft pounds and nope not the problem so next I went to my vct solenoids and tested to see if they were good and they are. So I crawls under the truck and noticed I had a bad oil leak coming from my oil filter housing, I went and got a felpro gasket replaced it, and tried again, still knocking. So I decided to go ahead and pull my driver side valve cover off. Checked my cam phaser it’s still straight up and down, it’s not cocked out, chains are still tight everything looked good. Check to see if there was any slack in my roller followers and they all felt fine. So I had a buddy listen to it and he thinks I have a vacuum leak somewhere and said it could be a exhaust manifold gasket leak. I’m lost at this point so I figured I’d try this page and see what everyone says. I’m trying to upload some videos and a couple pictures
Friday, December 12th, 2025 AT 6:06 PM

31 Replies

Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
The second video is another issue I’m having. It takes forever to get it to crank
Videos (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, December 12th, 2025 AT 6:19 PM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
I tried to get a picture of a spot on my manifold. That’s the only bad looking spot on it.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, December 12th, 2025 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
It does not sounds like a rod knock, exhaust leak or anything like that. This sounds like a classic lifter/roller rocker issue, which was a weakness besides the timing chain guides/phasers. I would remove the valve covers for inspection. Here is a video to help you with the replacements. I would get the full set, also, the engine oil is full and clean and the engine has good oil pressure correct? If so do the lifters and roller rockers.

https://youtu.be/XRdG1ZEUSAc?si=Ph-LvUEMX4-faoBG&t=1294

The camshafts will need to be removed to replace the lifters. But I would see if the needle bearing inside the rockers have fallen apart and if so replace those first to see if that helps. Thanks for the video, it helps.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 13th, 2025 AT 9:24 AM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Yes I put new motorcraft oil and motorcraft filter in it after replacing the oil filter housing gasket. I also replaced my oil pressure sensor today to see if that would help with the cranking issue but I haven’t tried to crank it again. I’m going to work on getting valve cover off tomorrow and replacing everything. I will let you know what I find! Wish me luck!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 13th, 2025 AT 9:51 PM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Well, I came out today in this freezing cold wind and took my valve cover off... The last set of three rocker arms, the middle one, the side that is supposed to sit on the keeper, it’s not on it. I can touch the valve stem. So I’m going to replace the roller followers and hopefully that solves my issue
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, December 14th, 2025 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
And yes I know the inside of my engine is trash but I just need this baby to last me a little longer until I get financially stable enough to afford another truck! But you can see
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, December 14th, 2025 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
Yep, you found the problem, nice work. Did the roller follower jump off of the lifter? Thanks for the image, it helps.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, December 15th, 2025 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
No it stayed on my lifter. The valve stem and spring slipped out from under the roller follower. I’ve been fighting with it every evening this week but I can’t seem to keep the valve stem from slipping out from under the roller follower. Probably because the edge of the valve stem got sheered a little when it messed up. I took a picture. Do you have any suggestions? I’m REALLY not wanting to pull the head! I’m constantly working and can only put my hands on it maybe 30 minutes after work! If you look real close at the picture you can see where it’s a little flat on one side. And does it look like my keeper is broke? I see it has a bigger gap than my other ones. Maybe that’s why? Any suggestions would be grateful! You’ve been a lot of help!
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, December 19th, 2025 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
I got ya, yep I see the valve damage, the reason I asked of the rocker fell off of the lifter is because it looks like the valve is bent outward and that is why you have that kind of wear/failure. So the head will need to come off. Here is a video that can help, you will need to deal with the timing chains as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuNLrE3rrb8&list=PLe3kz1i_LrtW1Jw7wWI-3jSsaml8EjQVb

Go over this service so you can see how the work is done.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 20th, 2025 AT 11:46 AM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Ok so I’m almost ready to pull the cylinder head off! Im down to just fighting my exhaust manifold bolt, my front cover and the head bolts. So far I have only found that my main vacuum hose coming from brake booster was off, and I need to flush my cooling system really well! I can see my intake valves and they all look well seated. Sorry man this is my first time getting this deep into a motor since my dad passed. He would always be here to kinda supervise me! So it’s kinda scary, emotional and anticipation all at the time!
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, December 21st, 2025 AT 3:13 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
Yep, I am sorry to head about your dad, tough to say the least, hang in there and I will help you, did you go over the videos I sent you? They should be able to help you. Can you eyeball the exhaust valve stems to see if the problem child is out of line, bent? Upload an image so I can see please.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, December 22nd, 2025 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Yes sir I watched the whole 5.4 rebuild series about a year ago when I replaced my timing chain and phasers. I just now got my phaser and camshaft off and I’m sending you pictures of the valve spring and picture of what I see inside the holes where my intake sits. So inside cylinder 8, it doesn’t look like either valve is fully seated like they are in the other 3. You can see in the second picture (cylinder 8) then the 3rd picture is cylinder 6.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, December 22nd, 2025 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
Yep, that's a bummer. The valve is open when on rocker is on it, this means the head needs to come off and a valve job done. Sorry, it looks like the valve seized in the guide which happens. Thanks for the images. Let me know how it goes, Ken
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 AT 10:13 AM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Good afternoon Mr Ken, I finally got the cylinder head off my truck! It wasn’t that bad of a hassle! I also found that my passenger side cam phaser was broken so I have to get it replaced but luckily it’s got warranty. I’ve ordered my gasket kit, head bolts, valves, springs, keepers and valve seals. Just waiting for them to come in and since I’m already this deep into the top end I’m going to also pull my passenger side head and rebuild it also! I’d rather do it now than to just do the left side and end up having to tear it all out again in order to do the right side! I sure can’t wait to get this all done! I miss my truck and I miss not having to beg for rides to work every day! I’m adding some pictures also!
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 27th, 2025 AT 12:49 PM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Welp I got the bad valve and spring out and now I found that the valve guide broke also! Any advice to getting the broken guide out?
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 27th, 2025 AT 8:18 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
Nice work, yep that is the problem there. The valve guide will need to be installed by a machine shop or I would get another cylinder head (used) from ebay. Is there piston damage on that cylinder?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, December 29th, 2025 AT 9:27 AM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
No piston damage! Everything looks fine, I’m currently in the process of rebuilding the head. Will let you know how it goes!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 AT 9:09 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
Nice work! Happy new year :)
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, January 1st, 2026 AT 12:52 PM
Tiny
DANNYBOYATWOOD
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
So I got it all finished and put back together, it crank right up. But then once it warmed up it started running ROUGH! So I hooked my code reader up and I’m getting P0022- Intake camshaft position timing over retarded bank 2 and P0207 injector circuit open cylinder 7. So I figured maybe it was my vvt solenoids, I replaced both, crunk it up to start testing my injectors by unplugging one at a time and listen for the idle change, but all of my second bank there was no change un plugging them or re plugging them back in, I go to bank 1, unplugged the first one and the truck died. So I have no fuel to my bank 2 injectors. Check my fuse and it’s fine. I’m at a loss. I have no idea where to begin! I’m almost to the point of taking it to a shop but financially can’t.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, February 2nd, 2026 AT 8:04 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
So you now have two new problems please start two new threads of each of these. Please post your new question here, you must be logged in.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Cheers, Ken
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 AT 3:48 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Knock Content

Engine Knock - Ping
GUIDE
Engine Knock - Ping
An automotive engine knock, and engine "ping" are two different things so it can be a bit confusing, here is an explanation to help avoid confusion when reading ...
VIEW MORE